Balda looking through clouds

[eartweeker]

Just recieved a beautiful Balda Baldinette from ebay- It is in pristine condition except for the view finder! Looking through thick fog. Looks like a spun moth cocoon in there. Help!
Does anyone know if this is repairable and where/ who can do it?
:bang:

 

[FallisPhoto]

Just recieved a beautiful Balda Baldinette from ebay- It is in pristine condition except for the view finder! Looking through thick fog. Looks like a spun moth cocoon in there. Help!
Does anyone know if this is repairable and where/ who can do it?
:bang:

Yes, it is repairable and you can do it yourself. It is not worth sending it off for something this easy. Go to the hardware store and get a pack of precision screwdrivers. They will cost about $20. Use the screwdrivers to remove the screws holding the top on. Once you have it off, clean the viewfinder. Clean everything else while you are in there, with naptha (lighter fluid) and Q-tips. Finish up with distilled water (still using Q-tips) on the optics. Use gun oil, very sparingly, to relube. Then put the top back on and replace the screws. From start to finish, it takes about 30 minutes, and that's if you dawdle. When you remove the screws, do it over a white towel. The screws are tiny and if you drop one on the floor you probably won't find it again.

Or you can send it to Essex Camera and they will fix it for about $160.

 

[eartweeker]

Thank you so much I will give it a try

 

[eartweeker]

so close and yet....
I got 3 out of 4 screws, isnt this typical? Is there a way to remove the rewind knob? one screw under there is obstreperous and not cooperating. 3 out of 4 aint bad generally but in this case...

 

[dnk512]

Most times this last screw can be reached after you remove the rewind lever. Do this: Open the back of the camera. Notice that when you turn the rewind lever, on the inside there is a 2 prong axis that rotates (in practice to rewind the film). Place a wooden pencil between the prongs to prevent them from rotating and gently try to rotate the rewind lever backwards. It should unscrew.

 

[FallisPhoto]

so close and yet....
I got 3 out of 4 screws, isnt this typical? Is there a way to remove the rewind knob? one screw under there is obstreperous and not cooperating. 3 out of 4 aint bad generally but in this case...

Sounds like dnk512 has done this before. I usually use a bamboo chopstick instead of a pencil, but that is exactly it. Open the back of the camera, stick whatever you have that won't scratch the paint between the two prongs (to keep them from turning) and turn the rewind knob backward to unscrew it. With a more modern camera, be sure to put a piece of tape over the latch when you do this. If you don't, and you accidentally close the back of the camera, you might not be able to open it again. Shouldn't be a problem with the old Balda folders though.

 

[eartweeker]

Sing-A-Long:
I can see clearly now the fog is gone, no obstacles in my way...
Ha! my first repair - successfully accomplished with you guys' help. Uh oh...now I am eyeing my Leica lllc, mini screwdriver in hand....
Thanks again!

 

[FallisPhoto]

Sing-A-Long:
I can see clearly now the fog is gone, no obstacles in my way...
Ha! my first repair - successfully accomplished with you guys' help. Uh oh...now I am eyeing my Leica lllc, mini screwdriver in hand....
Thanks again!

We're just getting started. Now comes the fun part. How are your shutter speeds? To get a rough idea if they are good enough for the camera to be useful, set the shutter speed at one second and trip it while timing it with the second hand on a watch.