Black dial Contax IIa Shutter release

[cschwer]

Can someone tell whether the Contax IIa /IIIa Blackdial cameras develop the same inconsistent shutter release problems as the Color dial versions. The problem seems to stem from old lubricant that becomes rubberized with age. I have heard that this is very difficult to clean completely. Just looking for a little insight from someone who knows.... Thanks!

 

[Highway 61]

Can someone tell whether the Contax IIa /IIIa Blackdial cameras develop the same inconsistent shutter release problems as the Color dial versions. The problem seems to stem from old lubricant that becomes rubberized with age. I have heard that this is very difficult to clean completely. Just looking for a little insight from someone who knows.... Thanks!

There are two famous problems re. those cameras.
The main problem comes from very much friction within the upper geartrain beveled gears, and the matching shafts being sealed in some bushes you can't have access to in order to clean them.
The only way to try to address this problem is to totally strip down the camera and clean the upper geartrain module using an ultrasonic tube. It sometimes works - but sometimes not (in that the shutter capping/blanking comes back after having left the camera on a shelf for some weeks...).
Because the least hesitation of the first curtain due to rubberized lubricant within those very narrow sealed shafts bushes will lead to shutter capping and /or blanking (but the shutter will fire nonetheless).
This is a common problem of both the Black Dial and Color Dial cameras.
The Color Dial models have another peculiar problem due to how their flash sync. was designed, which is a shutter sometimes not wanting to fire at all.
So, always prefer the Black Dial models, which are less difficult to service.

 

[cschwer]

Thanks for your response. I have both IIIa and IIa color dial cameras. both were working perfectly and all of a sudden they have the problem where the shutter will not fire. It id so hard to imagine that this can occur so quickly. I love these cameras but I guess I'm out of business until I have then properly serviced.

 

[Dez]

I think the shutter mechanism is quite similar in both cameras, although the flash sync differences are reflected in many parts of the camera. The basic design flaw with Contaxes is that most of the bits that need to turn when winding the shutter also need to turn when firing it, unlike the Leica (and almost everybody else) where such gears are uncoupled when firing the shutter. Having the shutter cap at high speeds is a very common problem when things get crudded up a bit, and it is quite a chore to get at these parts. But if your shutter is not firing at all, I think you may have something more basic, accessible by just taking the top off, an easy job.

It may be that the slow speed escapement is jamming. They need to be squeaky clean to work reliably.With the top off, remove and clean the slow speed assembly in mineral spirits or just about any other sort of volatile solvent.

With the slow speed escapement removed, you will see a maze of levers, pivots, shafts and springs. The operation of all these bits is far from obvious, and I have come to the conclusion that at least some of these moving parts are there just to move out of the way of other moving parts. Of the two rotating shaft ends, the right hand one is the leading curtain and the left hand one the trailing curtain. Don't adjust anything here unless you are sure you know what you are doing.

Holding the camera upside down over a bowl, brush the exposed gearing, levers, etc over and over with mild solvent such as varsol. You will probably see the drippings get brown and sometimes show solid flakes. Don't overdo the amount of solvent, and take care to keep it off the rangefinder glass surfaces, as it can quickly spoil the clarity and contrast, and they can be difficult to clean. This can often free up a balky lever and cure shutter problems. Try to keep the camera inverted until everything dries out. If the issue is deeper inside the gear trains, it is a difficult and expensive job, which can cost more than the value of the camera.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Highway 61]

I think the shutter mechanism is quite similar in both cameras, although the flash sync differences are reflected in many parts of the camera. (...) But if your shutter is not firing at all, I think you may have something more basic, accessible by just taking the top off, an easy job.

Nope.

The shutter release mechanism is very different on the "Color Dial" cameras from what it is on the "Black Dial" cameras.

To sum it up it relies on a sliding curved bar which releases the shutter catch and also closes the very complex insulated X-sync circuitry, which is all within the upper shutter controlling drivetrain (no electrical contact at the bottom of the shutter box like Zeiss Ikon did it on some few prewar Contax cameras, and like the Zavod ingeneers installed it on the Kiev).

A shutter totally refusing to fire when you depress the shutter button is a problem which is very typical of the "Color Dial" Contax IIa and IIIa cameras.

It can be serviced but it's a very nasty problem. It's often due to corrosion on this very sliding part which will have to be taken apart etc etc.

The postwar Contax rangefinders are very nice cameras but at some point I got tired of their cantankerous behavior and I switched to Nikon rangefinders on which I still can use my 35/2.8 and 21/4.5 Biogons.

 

[cschwer]

Thanks Guys for the information. I will be having the cameras serviced. It is no small chore to find a reliable service person to do this. Henry Scherer informed me his wait list is now 5 years..Who in their right mind would wait this long for service? There are a few others who have stated that Essex camera is reliable for contax repairs. We'll see. I love the IIa in use. It feels right in my hand.

 

[Highway 61]

The "5 years waiting list" is probably the most stupid thing invented ever - this is one perfect example of how somebody odd could use the Internet to build up something totally off the tracks.

As for servicing the camera : Essex can do it, and some competent people located in Germany can do it (Sevo posted their coordinates here already).

It's not the Holy Grail, it's a mechanical film camera, the schematics and factory setup specs. are still available everywhere, so it doesn't require any magic spirit to be serviced, just competent and serious enough people.

Once in the hands of people like that, the total teardown, cleaning - relubricating and calibrating time is roughly 5-6 hours (push it to 7-8 hours if some very long ultrasonic cleaning is mandatory), so you can think what you want of a "5 years waiting list". 🙄

 

[cschwer]

I completely agree... 5 years is ridiculous... You have to hand it to him though he sure knows how to market his services.... MY camera is on the way to Essex as I write this.... Thanks again!