Can this be done?

[GeneW]

A question for you folks who know how to repair things from an all-thumbs user ...

I have an old (1929) Voigtlander 6x9 folder that works. No light leaks, shutter close enough, lens okay -- not super sharp but okay. It has no rangefinder and the little glass viewers are impossible to see anything in so I use the wire sports finder to frame. It's not seriously accurate, but I have cropping room 😉

What it lacks, and what I'd like, is an accessory shoe. Is it possible to glue on an accessory shoe on the side, on the leatherette? If so, where do you find a shoe?

Thanks for any replies!

Gene

 

[pshinkaw]

Anything heavy might tear the shoe off the leather. You might try one of those L shaped flash brackets that screw into a tripod socket. Some of them allow variable angles, so you can re-orient it for horizontal or vertical shots. That also solves the problem of where to find a shoe. A 1929 Voigtlander probably uses the 3/8 inch socket, so you will need a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter.

-Paul

 

[bmattock]

Re: Can this be done?

A question for you folks who know how to repair things from an all-thumbs user ...

I have an old (1929) Voigtlander 6x9 folder that works. No light leaks, shutter close enough, lens okay -- not super sharp but okay. It has no rangefinder and the little glass viewers are impossible to see anything in so I use the wire sports finder to frame. It's not seriously accurate, but I have cropping room 😉

What it lacks, and what I'd like, is an accessory shoe. Is it possible to glue on an accessory shoe on the side, on the leatherette? If so, where do you find a shoe?

Thanks for any replies!

Gene

Hey Gene:

I think you might find something you're looking for here:

http://www.camerastore.com/dl_cat_E/-E06_flashadap.html

I have this one:

"DLC PC to Hot Shoe Adapter"

I find it works great for me, since I have a lot of cameras that don't have hot shoes, but they do have a cold shoe - (aka accessory shoe) and a PC connector.

I notice that they have some that kinda bolt on - I guess that might do the job for ya, and not get knocked off by trying to stick it to the leather.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[GeneW]

Paul, Bill, thanks to both of you for the suggestions. Dang, I have an L-bracket from years back that I forgot was in the closet. I'll try that first.

Bill, thanks for the links. If the L-bracket doesn't work for me, I can get one of those accessory shoes that fits into a tripod socket.

The folder has the European 3/4" socket and I have an adapter so I'll try it out.

I know this may sound daft, but what I want to put in the shoe is my 50mm external VF for a rangefinder. It may not match exactly what the cam takes, but the folder has a 'normal' lens which should be close in terms of the 50mm view and anything will be an improvement over the wire frames 😀

Gene

 

[rick oleson]

With a folder, you should be able to drill safely through the side/top/whateveryouwanttocallit to attach a shoe, if you'd prefer to have one permanently attached; for best results, drill small and tap the holes in the metal (you can get US sized minuiature screws, nuts and taps at model railroading shops; since you don't have existing tapped holes to match, it doesn't have to be metric).

(Just be careful not to drill through the bellows! there should be plenty of room, you might want to wrap tape around your drill bit as a guide to keep from letting it go too deep)

One source for a shoe to use is the large number of cheap nasty 35mm "cameras" that have been foisted on an unsuspecting public since the 1980s. Though the cameras and lenses are pretty much worthless, they generally have a working hot shoe for their equally worthless flash, and you can take the shoe off and put it on your Voigtlander. They'll even have screws that you can use for it, though Lord knows what thread they'll be.

rick 🙂=