vickersdc
Established
Hi there, I'm fairly new to this rangefinder thing and bought myself a FED-1 (although it's engraved as a Leica). The lens mount is brass and when I went to unscrew the lens the metal ring with the distances engraved on it stayed on the camera and not with the lens!
Clearly someone has been tinkering with this camera in the past and I have to admit that the reason I bought it was as a project - something to CLA and try out.
However, I can't get the body off because I can't reach the lens mount screws as they are under this brass ring! I hope that all makes sense?
Does anyone have any ideas on how to get this ring off? I thought about trying to knock it round with a small piece of hardwood againt the infinity lock bit? Maybe I'll just cut it off and buy another lens!?
Cheers, David.
Clearly someone has been tinkering with this camera in the past and I have to admit that the reason I bought it was as a project - something to CLA and try out.
However, I can't get the body off because I can't reach the lens mount screws as they are under this brass ring! I hope that all makes sense?
Does anyone have any ideas on how to get this ring off? I thought about trying to knock it round with a small piece of hardwood againt the infinity lock bit? Maybe I'll just cut it off and buy another lens!?
Cheers, David.
w3rk5
Well-known
Hi David and welcome. Just a word of caution before you try any of these suggestions...........you could potentially mess up your FED 1.
Try applying a little penetrating oil into the threads?
Try sticking it in the freezer for 1-2 hours and try unscrewing it again.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
Try applying a little penetrating oil into the threads?
Try sticking it in the freezer for 1-2 hours and try unscrewing it again.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
As w3rk5 says, PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
The ring should unscrew with a little help to break it loose. The "oil & cold" mentioned should help. Also, there is a screw hole near the 10m mark and another close to the 1m mark? Maybe a pair of small needle nose pliers GENTLY inserted in these two holes and turned CAREFULLY ccw would break it loose and then be unscrewed by hand.
There are screws missing from these holes that would allow the ring to come off with the rest of the lens. If you can find screws to fit these holes, the lens will be worth re-assembling and keeping. (see screws in attachment photo)
Good luck.
The ring should unscrew with a little help to break it loose. The "oil & cold" mentioned should help. Also, there is a screw hole near the 10m mark and another close to the 1m mark? Maybe a pair of small needle nose pliers GENTLY inserted in these two holes and turned CAREFULLY ccw would break it loose and then be unscrewed by hand.
There are screws missing from these holes that would allow the ring to come off with the rest of the lens. If you can find screws to fit these holes, the lens will be worth re-assembling and keeping. (see screws in attachment photo)
Good luck.
Attachments
vickersdc
Established
Well, I threw caution to the wind and found a hardwood wedge and whacked it with a hammer - actually when I say whacked, I really mean gave it a few gentle taps .
It actually came off quite easily (fortunately); of the two screws in the lens flange, one is missing (between the 5 & 7 markings) - any ideas on where I can find a replacement?
I really want to give this camera a CLA and look after it - it may not be a real Leica and it may be brass but I'm kinda surprised just what a hefty beast it is! Quite well made actually.
The lens needs to come apart as it is filthy, but apart from a bit of dirt accumulated over the years it's in very good condition - the shutter curtains are pristine.
I am sort of intrigued about the serial number - 10530, which as a Leica serial number would make it a 1928 Leica I (which it isn't) and as a Fed would make it's manufacture around 1935 - but it's got the 1950's wide flared shutter button collar and later B-25-50 settings.
Anyway, thanks for the helpful advice, it's useful to know these little tricks (I have a feeling I may be getting more of these Russian rangefinders!).
.It actually came off quite easily (fortunately); of the two screws in the lens flange, one is missing (between the 5 & 7 markings) - any ideas on where I can find a replacement?
I really want to give this camera a CLA and look after it - it may not be a real Leica and it may be brass but I'm kinda surprised just what a hefty beast it is! Quite well made actually.
The lens needs to come apart as it is filthy, but apart from a bit of dirt accumulated over the years it's in very good condition - the shutter curtains are pristine.
I am sort of intrigued about the serial number - 10530, which as a Leica serial number would make it a 1928 Leica I (which it isn't) and as a Fed would make it's manufacture around 1935 - but it's got the 1950's wide flared shutter button collar and later B-25-50 settings.
Anyway, thanks for the helpful advice, it's useful to know these little tricks (I have a feeling I may be getting more of these Russian rangefinders!).
Jocko
Off With The Pixies
Hallo David! It's an unfortunate fact that "Leicas" are often made from rather knackered cameras - but once it's sorted out you'll have a real joy. I have a Leica IIIf, but for some intangible reason actually prefer the FED. It's a fine little thing!
All the best, Ian
All the best, Ian
oscroft
Veteran
I should think that's pretty much guaranteed
My first one was a FED 1 too, and I too was impressed by its solid feel and its build quality. I had no plan at all to buy any more at the time - it was just a one-off thing that took my fancy, but now I've got four fsu bodies with another on the way, and a boxful of lenses. And I love using them
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
Know anybody that works on clocks or sewing machines? Or you might give DAG a call.
It's Soviet Crack... one use and you're hopelessly hooked. Your checking account will slide to zero, your credit cards will skyrocket to max and your left eye develop a permanent wink... but you get to grin alot.
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vickersdc
Established
CVBLZ4 said:
Great idea - there's a guy who lives just down the road from me who used to repair watches and clocks (and he lives in the rather aptly named Tick Tock Cottage!).
w3rk5
Well-known
Glad to hear you've taken care of your lens issue. I also had a missing screw issue with my J-12. A local watch repair person took care of that for me.vickersdc said:Well, I threw caution to the wind and found a hardwood wedge and whacked it with a hammer - actually when I say whacked, I really mean gave it a few gentle taps
It actually came off quite easily (fortunately); of the two screws in the lens flange, one is missing (between the 5 & 7 markings) - any ideas on where I can find a replacement?
Buckel up your seatbelt.............here we go.vickersdc said:
LOL! I like the "permanent wink" remark. That just killed me.CVBLZ4 said:
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vickersdc
Established
Things are getting serious - I've started browsing evilBay and I'm focussing on 35mm rangefinders. Not happy with checking it out once a week, or even once a day. this is something that needs to be looked at on an hourly basis - just in case! HELP!!!
However, back to more mundane matters, and my Fed 1G which currently is sitting on my table in a state of partial disassembly. Can I just confirm that before I start ripping the shutter assembly apart, that it should not be in a 'cocked' state?
Thanks, David.
However, back to more mundane matters, and my Fed 1G which currently is sitting on my table in a state of partial disassembly. Can I just confirm that before I start ripping the shutter assembly apart, that it should not be in a 'cocked' state?
Thanks, David.
Xmas
Veteran
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
You are correct. And Jay's site mentioned above is excellent.vickersdc said:
ZorkiKat
ЗоркийК&
vickersdc said:
Even if it was in a cocked state, the shutter would likely fire somewhere along the way as you take its pieces apart.
Jay
vickersdc
Established
Thank you for your help everyone... it's a whole voyage of discovery and I'm enjoying it so far!
vickersdc
Established
It's not a FED-1 at all (I think)!
It's not a FED-1 at all (I think)!
I've managed to scrouge half an hour as the wife is out to disassemble my camera a bit further (I'm supposed to be doing the decorating ).
This turned out to be quite interesting - I'd assumed from the shape of the rangefinder coupling, shutter button and spring at the base of the camera that I had a FED-1G. However, when I removed the rangefinder housing and looked under it was perfectly obvious that this was a Zorki (or a FedZorkinstein). Can anyone help identify this camera further? The top engraving for a Leica is very well done (i.e. in hiding the Zorki name) and the Zorki name itself is in Cyrillic rather than Latin. The serial number (10530) would suggest an early Zorki wouldn't it? Could this be a camera from the Fed-Zorki period - before Zorki broke away from Fed?
It has the early Zorki / Fed type spring, the cover is held on with 3 screws front and back, the early serial number, Cyrillic writing and Fed-style rangefinder coupling certainly hints at it. I wonder when it was converted to be a 'Leica'? It's also in brass, as is the collapsible 50mm lens it came with.
I hope someone out there can confirm or comment on the camera! Cheers, David.
PS: I'll upload some pictures when I work out how!
It's not a FED-1 at all (I think)!
I've managed to scrouge half an hour as the wife is out to disassemble my camera a bit further (I'm supposed to be doing the decorating
).This turned out to be quite interesting - I'd assumed from the shape of the rangefinder coupling, shutter button and spring at the base of the camera that I had a FED-1G. However, when I removed the rangefinder housing and looked under it was perfectly obvious that this was a Zorki (or a FedZorkinstein). Can anyone help identify this camera further? The top engraving for a Leica is very
well done (i.e. in hiding the Zorki name) and the Zorki name itself is in Cyrillic rather than Latin. The serial number (10530) would suggest an early Zorki wouldn't it? Could this be a camera from the Fed-Zorki period - before Zorki broke away from Fed?It has the early Zorki / Fed type spring, the cover is held on with 3 screws front and back, the early serial number, Cyrillic writing and Fed-style rangefinder coupling certainly hints at it. I wonder when it was converted to be a 'Leica'? It's also in brass, as is the collapsible 50mm lens it came with.
I hope someone out there can confirm or comment on the camera! Cheers, David.
PS: I'll upload some pictures when I work out how!
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
sounds like you have a REAL project there then! Good luck!!
I like to tinker but I refuse to ruin a camera (again). My current project is restoring a Rolleiflex, so now that there's a new brighter focusing screen, I need to go to a watch repairer for a small screw, then order the replacement leatherette from tinkertools, buy or borrow some cutting tools to cut it to shape and apply the new leatherette.
All that is a helluva lot easier than your project! I'm not even keen on readjusting the rangefinder in my Fed-2 which is out at infinity and vertical alignment is off.
Keep us posted
I like to tinker but I refuse to ruin a camera (again). My current project is restoring a Rolleiflex, so now that there's a new brighter focusing screen, I need to go to a watch repairer for a small screw, then order the replacement leatherette from tinkertools, buy or borrow some cutting tools to cut it to shape and apply the new leatherette.
All that is a helluva lot easier than your project! I'm not even keen on readjusting the rangefinder in my Fed-2 which is out at infinity and vertical alignment is off.
Keep us posted
vickersdc
Established
I've uploaded my pictures to my member gallery - I just hope you all know how to view them! I've also just noticed another number under the shutter speed dial - which is 119715; any ideas? David.
vickersdc
Established
Photos of Zorki...
Photos of Zorki...
Hey, hey! Look pictures... (I'm using this site just like a real pro now ).
The middle picture shows the Zorki name under the housing and also the 'tombstone', but with an arrow - this suggests a later Zorki doesn't it? But the body is held on with 3 screws - which suggests an earlier Zorki doesn't it?
Maybe I'll just CLA it and see if it works
Photos of Zorki...
Hey, hey! Look pictures... (I'm using this site just like a real pro now
).The middle picture shows the Zorki name under the housing and also the 'tombstone', but with an arrow - this suggests a later Zorki doesn't it? But the body is held on with 3 screws - which suggests an earlier Zorki doesn't it?
Maybe I'll just CLA it and see if it works
Attachments
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Jocko
Off With The Pixies
Hi David: I would ignore the serial number: I suspect that this is a 1951-3 Zorki (Princelle's 1c), perhaps a "parts camera", with the missing original components replaced by organs from dead FEDs. It probably became a Leica quite recently. A veritable Frankenzork, the Elsa Lanchester of fotoapparat!
Nurse the poor little mite back to life! (but paint her honest proletarian black!)
Cheers, Ian
Nurse the poor little mite back to life! (but paint her honest proletarian black!)
Cheers, Ian
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vickersdc
Established
Jocko said:Nurse the poor little mite back to life! (but paint her honest proletarian black!)
Cheers, Ian
Funny you should mention that as I keep changing my mind about whether I should paint it black or not! I would rather it was black personally but, and this may sound a bit silly - if I paint it black what about all the engravings? Thanks.