tunalegs
Pretended Artist
So reading the 100 year old camera thread inspired me to try another old folder. I found a Folding Conley Kewpie. Although I generally avoid Conley cameras because of their fragile bellows, this one had what look to be replacement Kodak bellows fitted. So I took a chance and bought it.
It all checked out fine, so I loaded it up with film, and set out to run a test roll through it. First shot - shutter release feels wrong. The shutter jammed open. I try gently pressing the shutter release to get the shutter to close (as one may do on these old ever-set shutters) it closes after a few tries. Try testing the shutter again. Nope, just sticks open when fired. Fiddle with the shutter speed dial. Nothing. Forget it. Go home.
At home I figure I'll give it a little flush with lighter fluid, maybe it's just sticky. But when I get home, the shutter works fine. I try it on all settings to make sure. I figure maybe it was just cold outside (although cold in Texas is not that cold).
Take it out the next day. I test the shutter several times before winding on to the next exposure so I don't waste more film. It's warm. The shutter is working. Go to take the shot. It jams. No coaxing will get the shutter to close. So I head back home. Get inside, pull out the camera, this time I'm going to dig into the shutter and find out what's going on - but the shutter is firing fine now. 😱
What is this? A camera that will never take a picture when you want to take a picture, but works fine when you don't? A cursed camera? Maybe I'll mail it to a photographer I hate. :angel:
It all checked out fine, so I loaded it up with film, and set out to run a test roll through it. First shot - shutter release feels wrong. The shutter jammed open. I try gently pressing the shutter release to get the shutter to close (as one may do on these old ever-set shutters) it closes after a few tries. Try testing the shutter again. Nope, just sticks open when fired. Fiddle with the shutter speed dial. Nothing. Forget it. Go home.
At home I figure I'll give it a little flush with lighter fluid, maybe it's just sticky. But when I get home, the shutter works fine. I try it on all settings to make sure. I figure maybe it was just cold outside (although cold in Texas is not that cold).
Take it out the next day. I test the shutter several times before winding on to the next exposure so I don't waste more film. It's warm. The shutter is working. Go to take the shot. It jams. No coaxing will get the shutter to close. So I head back home. Get inside, pull out the camera, this time I'm going to dig into the shutter and find out what's going on - but the shutter is firing fine now. 😱
What is this? A camera that will never take a picture when you want to take a picture, but works fine when you don't? A cursed camera? Maybe I'll mail it to a photographer I hate. :angel:
