Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Recently traded one of my World War 2 period Military Kodak 35 cameras for another "Luftwaffen-Eigentum" Robot II camera with 7,5cm Tele-Xenar.
It originally came in a lot with two Robot cameras that a buddy of mine bought a while back. Both were not working.
My first plan was to send it to Robot Kamera Dienst in Dusseldorf, as I did with my first Robot camera. But it seems they're no longer in business.
Nothing to it but to see what was wrong and try to fix it myself.
Luckily it was not the blade springs in the spring motor. There was definitely tension building when I wound it. But the mechanism wasn't catching so the spring would unwind as soon as I let go of the winder.
Unscrewing the cover of the motor housing I spotted the problem right away. The pawl and ratchet gear were worn down so far that the pawl wasn't catching at all.
Example of what it should look like from micklem.com robot camera page:
Asking around for parts yielded little results beyond: "buy another one for parts". Which was a bit of a disappointment.
Studying the worn-down parts some more I decided that it might be worth trying to restore them to working condition with a dremel tool. So I used a small grinding bit to give the pawl back it's tooth and deepening the gaps between the teeth of the ratchet gear to give the pawl a chance to catch them.
Trying the motor I discovered that the ratchet was working flawlessly again. Yay!
Unfortunately when I was reassembling the camera I discovered I had misplaced the frame counter reset button...and I had vacuumed the room. :bang:
But using a strong rare-earth magnet I was able to pick the minute part out of the vacuum cleaner bag. That was lucky Pfew!
All that I needed now to complete this camera was a T-cassette to feed it. A quick search on Ebay Germany yielded one in fair condition and not overly expensive.
So now I've got a working Robot II camera sitting on my desk here, loaded with some Fomapan 100.
I fear this has made me somewhat overconfident in my camera repair abilities. And of course my friend wants me to fix his remaining Robot as well now.
It originally came in a lot with two Robot cameras that a buddy of mine bought a while back. Both were not working.
My first plan was to send it to Robot Kamera Dienst in Dusseldorf, as I did with my first Robot camera. But it seems they're no longer in business.
Nothing to it but to see what was wrong and try to fix it myself.
Luckily it was not the blade springs in the spring motor. There was definitely tension building when I wound it. But the mechanism wasn't catching so the spring would unwind as soon as I let go of the winder.
Unscrewing the cover of the motor housing I spotted the problem right away. The pawl and ratchet gear were worn down so far that the pawl wasn't catching at all.
Example of what it should look like from micklem.com robot camera page:
Asking around for parts yielded little results beyond: "buy another one for parts". Which was a bit of a disappointment.
Studying the worn-down parts some more I decided that it might be worth trying to restore them to working condition with a dremel tool. So I used a small grinding bit to give the pawl back it's tooth and deepening the gaps between the teeth of the ratchet gear to give the pawl a chance to catch them.
Trying the motor I discovered that the ratchet was working flawlessly again. Yay!
Unfortunately when I was reassembling the camera I discovered I had misplaced the frame counter reset button...and I had vacuumed the room. :bang:
But using a strong rare-earth magnet I was able to pick the minute part out of the vacuum cleaner bag. That was lucky Pfew!
All that I needed now to complete this camera was a T-cassette to feed it. A quick search on Ebay Germany yielded one in fair condition and not overly expensive.
So now I've got a working Robot II camera sitting on my desk here, loaded with some Fomapan 100.
I fear this has made me somewhat overconfident in my camera repair abilities. And of course my friend wants me to fix his remaining Robot as well now.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Have you tried to call by phone or sent a letter? His site is down (or rather, the DNS expired), but the camera repairman generation generally is not internet conscious (quite a few of them still consider even fax too modern to use). http://www.robot-camera.de/ (which as far as I can make out is part of the same collectors club) was last modified three weeks ago and still lists it as a repair source.
btgc
Veteran
That's for sure great feeling, to get thing working after even being ready to send it out for repair. Looking forward pictures, square tele should look not very common.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Last time I contacted them through email I received a prompt reply (within a day). My friend tried to contact them through email a few months later but was never got a reply.
I was informed by another photographer that one of the two people behind Robot Kamera Dienst (Andreas) is/was very ill. That might be the reason.
I was informed by another photographer that one of the two people behind Robot Kamera Dienst (Andreas) is/was very ill. That might be the reason.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Framing is a bit of a problem without a viewfinder. I need to make some kind of accessory finder for it.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Great that you've brought another Robot II back to life! It's always nice to see a classic like these come back to life.
And I'm sad to hear that RKD is in trouble or gone, that Andreas is very ill. He and Fritz did a wonderful job on my Robot II and Star 50. When last I communicated with them (in 2013), my emails were relayed through Fritz' daughter to be translated.
You might contact Christoph Blau through flickr. He was my initial contact into RKD and might know more.
G
And I'm sad to hear that RKD is in trouble or gone, that Andreas is very ill. He and Fritz did a wonderful job on my Robot II and Star 50. When last I communicated with them (in 2013), my emails were relayed through Fritz' daughter to be translated.
You might contact Christoph Blau through flickr. He was my initial contact into RKD and might know more.
G
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
These German airforce ones have double-spring motors (unlike the single-spring civilian ones), making the knob extra tall. They allow you to take about 50 shots on a full wind and also makes it easier to wind the motor with gloves on.
The Robots were used as an alternative gun camera to the BSK-16 (Ballistic shot registration) cameras used in Messerschmitt BF-109, BF-110 and Focke-Wulf FW-190 fighters. And could also be used hand-held by crewmembers on bigger aircraft.
Both cameras in my possession were war trophies brought back to the USA by some lucky GIs after the war.
The Robots were used as an alternative gun camera to the BSK-16 (Ballistic shot registration) cameras used in Messerschmitt BF-109, BF-110 and Focke-Wulf FW-190 fighters. And could also be used hand-held by crewmembers on bigger aircraft.
Both cameras in my possession were war trophies brought back to the USA by some lucky GIs after the war.
R
rick oleson
Guest
This is wonderful stuff! I had a Robot II once, but unfortunately it was working well so I've never been inside one.
Great story, Rick, with ups and downs and a happy ending.
hanskerensky
Well-known
Great job Rick !!
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Thanks for the ego boost everyone
I wouldn't have agreed to a straight trade for the Kodak "PH-324" camera if I thought it couldn't be salvaged.
I'll probably get around to filling up the roll at a music festival this upcoming Saturday.
I wouldn't have agreed to a straight trade for the Kodak "PH-324" camera if I thought it couldn't be salvaged.
I'll probably get around to filling up the roll at a music festival this upcoming Saturday.
Muggins
Junk magnet
Sorry, Rick, but I had to laugh at that statement - I recognise that feeling, just that you are much much better than me!
Tickled pink to see the link to micklem.com - I'll let him know next time I pass him on the cycle track (really).
Adrian
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Shot with Sunny-16 (probably overexposed by at least a stop) and developed on a very hot day.
Wolluk-Stock 2015 music festival
Wolluk-Stock 2015 music festival
Godfrey
somewhat colored
These look great!
G
G
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
I'm sure they would've been a less grainy and flat if I hadn't forgotten my light meter that afternoon.
Muggins
Junk magnet
Think of it as grit, not grain.:angel:
Adrian
Adrian
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Heh, Grit. you could say that
I still need to fabricate some kind of viewfinder for it. I aimed the camera by looking along the top edge of the 'vf' housing closest to spring winding knob.
This, at least, gave me an idea of what I was aiming at, but I had no idea what exactly was going to be in the frame.
Also; zone-focusing with a Tele lens at short range takes a LOT of practice
I still need to fabricate some kind of viewfinder for it. I aimed the camera by looking along the top edge of the 'vf' housing closest to spring winding knob.
This, at least, gave me an idea of what I was aiming at, but I had no idea what exactly was going to be in the frame.
Also; zone-focusing with a Tele lens at short range takes a LOT of practice