Asahaiflexes....

[Luddite Frank]

For a number of years, I've been intrigued by the original Asahaiflex and Asahaiflex II.

I have a saved search for them on e-Bay...
Every single example seems to be non-functional - shutter issues.
Can anyone describe what their Achilles' Heel is, what fails ?

I like for my collectibles to also be usable... is this a fairy-tale with this camera?
With a WL-only finder, and squinty, slow lenses, it doesn't have a lot going for it as a user...

Any thoughts ?

Thanks,
Luddite Frank

 

[kangaroo2012]

I was gven an Ashaiflex many years ago with the shutter non working.
In my ignorance I treated the shutter with a small dose of WD40.
The shutter has worked ever since and the smell has gone.
Perhaps the WD40 just loosened the lubricants that had hardened over the years.
Cheers
Philip