Help -- Contax carcass found need pix of guts!

[BrunoK]

Going through more of my dad's collection, I came across a comfortably used leather case labeled Zeiss Ikon. Opened it up to find a Contax carcass with no guts or lens.

It appears to be a Contax II with self Timer.

Knowing my dad, he had disassembled it for repair and or replacement of parts. They are no doubt among the many clear fishing lure type compartmented boxes in his old study/museum.

I know that their are at least two boxes of parts with shutter curtains, etc. One would be for the Nikon rangefinder that was also disassembled.

Can anyone direct me to a source for interior photos or good drawings that might help me distinguish one from the other?

 

[steamer]

For starts the Contax shutter looks like the shutters that shopkeepers roll down in front of their shops. Metal and segmented, make sense? While the Nikon is usually cloth.

 

[BrunoK]

For starts the Contax shutter looks like the shutters that shopkeepers roll down in front of their shops. Metal and segmented, make sense? While the Nikon is usually cloth.

It sure does. I didn't spend forty years in design and construction for nothing you know ;>)
I'll ask some interior desecrators about the curtains.


Thanks for getting me started.

 

[ZeissFan]

Here's a page that I put together years ago for the disassembly of the Contax II. On the third or fourth page, there is a photo of the shutter.

In any case, the complexity of the camera makes it unlikely that you would be able to take a box of parts and make a camera from them. I can't recall the exact number, but the number of parts in a Contax II ranges is either roughly 750 or more than 1,000.

However, it might look pretty sitting on a shelf next to the Super Ikonta!

 

[ruben]

Here's a page that I put together years ago for the disassembly of the Contax II.....

Dear ZeissFan,

I am not jocking at all by telling you this is the first time I see this interesting webpage. My love for the Kievs and admiration for the Zeiss design demands I apologize.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[BrunoK]

ZeissFan,

Are you Mike Elek? If so, the other day I had sent an e-mail offering to scan several camera manuals as thanks for your terrific pages, especially the Contax one. Let me know which ones you would like, so I can do those first.

I really don't envision myself doing a reconstruction jigsaw puzzle even on a Contax. And knowing my dad, if the camera was complete when it came into his possession, all the parts are neatly stored in a box....some where. With extra screws, springs,etc. from his old friend, Jensen the Swiss watchmaker par excellence.

My hope is to find that box/boxes and offer it up with the body for someone inclined to restoration or as parts for restoration.

 

[ZeissFan]

Yes, that's me. My apologies for not replying. We had to fly out for a wedding, and then by the time I got back, I had forgotten about the e-mail.

Let me go through that list again. As you know, I have some manuals on my site now. Thanks for the very generous offer.

-Mike

 

[BrunoK]

Not to worry about lag with emails. Happens to me all the time.

Here's the list again:

By way of thanks to you for the site and particularly the manuals, let
me offer to scan what I've found so far. I would be happy to mail you
an original copy of the Zeiss Contessa Manuals (Eng) if you would
like it.


Super Richoflex TLR & Ricohflex Color Back English

Zeiss Contess blue cover three copies English

Agfa Carat 3,5 German

Rolleiflx 6x6 German

Zeiss Super Ikonta I 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 English

Zeiss Contaflex IV SLR English

Argus Model A2

Minolta A2 with Rokkor 2,8 35 mm RF English

Ikonta & Super Ikonta Guide Book 72 pages English ( and Nettar) pub circa 1952