02Pilot
Malcontent
I picked up a Zeiss Tenax I (pre-war, J-code 1938/9) and I'm in the process of trying to refurbish it. Other than having to replace the front leather (it disintegrated when I had to lift it to get in the shutter assembly), it's going smoothly - except for getting into the lens.
It's a Novar triplet, and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get into the front optical block. The rear element lifts out once the retaining collar is unscrewed; the aperture is between the second and third elements, and is accessible once the rear element is removed.
This leaves the front and middle elements. Once the aperture adjustment collar is removed (it is removed in the photo) a grub screw becomes visible just above the level of the aperture assembly (similar to an Elmar or FED-50/I-22/I-50), leading me to believe that removing it should allow the forward optical elements to be removed as a block, either by lifting them it as with the rear, or unscrewing it. At this point, however, they show no sign of wanting to do either.
I know it's an obscure camera, but has anyone ever dealt with one of these? Any suggestions, informed or otherwise?
It's a Novar triplet, and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get into the front optical block. The rear element lifts out once the retaining collar is unscrewed; the aperture is between the second and third elements, and is accessible once the rear element is removed.
This leaves the front and middle elements. Once the aperture adjustment collar is removed (it is removed in the photo) a grub screw becomes visible just above the level of the aperture assembly (similar to an Elmar or FED-50/I-22/I-50), leading me to believe that removing it should allow the forward optical elements to be removed as a block, either by lifting them it as with the rear, or unscrewing it. At this point, however, they show no sign of wanting to do either.
I know it's an obscure camera, but has anyone ever dealt with one of these? Any suggestions, informed or otherwise?
02Pilot
Malcontent
Got in from the back. With the aperture assembly removed, the middle element simply lifts out, allowing access to the back surface of the front element. It's clear the front can be removed (unscrewed, I'm assuming), but exactly where it separates I'm not sure. In any case, it's apart.