Kodak Retina II model 142 focus adjust

[carbo73]

Hi,

I've just bought a lovely little Retina II model 142. The one made before WW2 with rangefinder and separate viewfinder (two round windows and a rectangular one). The camera looks great and the shutter works perfectly (probably speeds are slower, but I'm used to that in all these old cameras).

But the rangefinder, apart for a quite dim double image, is misaligned both vertically (a bit) and horizontally (a lot). As the top cover is held by 4 quite obvious (but tiny) screws, I think this must be to easy reach the rangefinder and adjust it. But having reached that level, I don't know which screws to touch. Some months ago I adjusted a Plaubel Makina II rangefinder on my own having found not a single clue about that model in the whole web, but it was easier than this one in the Retina II.

I've even searched through Chris Sherlock's website but found no ideas of how to adjust this model 142 rangefinder.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

On the picture, inside the camera, the lower lever full of screws seems to move with the focusing of the lens, so probably the key is there, but I'm afraid to mess it. I've found a page with this same problem (and picture) but with the next Retina II, the model 150. It has a different rangefinder.

 

[dxq.canada]

I have a suggestion: https://oldcam.wordpress.com/2018/09/02/retina-i-can-see-clearly-now/
Rick might have a better way.

 

[carbo73]

I have a suggestion: https://oldcam.wordpress.com/2018/09/02/retina-i-can-see-clearly-now/
Rick might have a better way.

Wow, many thanks. It really helps. It looks like it is it 🙂

 

[dxq.canada]

Nice to hear that I am useful.

 

[carbo73]

Damn, I reached for those screws again, but somebody, probably in the last CLA decades ago, covered them in a kind of black glue (Loctite?) that bonds them. One could be manipulated, but the smaller ones do not move, and even in one I've damaged it a bit :bang:

I've heard that this kind of glue must be dealt with hot water or hair dryer, but I'm not putting my camera in these dangers. Others say nail polish remover (acetone).

🙁🙁🙁

 

[dxq.canada]

Hmm, I have encountered was some shellac covered screws ... sorry I got no advise on this.

 

[Moto-Uno]

^^ If localized heat is the fix , I might suggest a low wattage (25w) soldering iron that has the single point heat source . Most loctite products work in the absence of oxygen and so are not used on the outside of a fastener ( and I don't know of any the dry black ). If using any chemistry I'd suggest dabbing a bit on from a tooth pick of moistened q-tip . Let us know if you have any success . Peter

 

[carbo73]

^^ If localized heat is the fix , I might suggest a low wattage (25w) soldering iron that has the single point heat source . Most loctite products work in the absence of oxygen and so are not used on the outside of a fastener ( and I don't know of any the dry black ). If using any chemistry I'd suggest dabbing a bit on from a tooth pick of moistened q-tip . Let us know if you have any success . Peter

Thanks for your tip. But now I think, due to the dark brown / black colour, that this is not loctite but shellac. There's quite a lot of it to be loctite, IMHO. So I could try with a bit of acetone, or maybe even isopropyl alcohol. There's a decal inside the camera, indicating that it was serviced in London in 1951 (the camera was made c.1938-39). Maybe it was then that someone "glued" the rangefinder. But now indicates about 6 m. when it should be infinite.

I think I'm going to disassemble all the top cover, because I would also find a substitute half mirror (the image is extremely dim). But before all of this maybe I'll seek advice of Chris Sherlock at www.retinarescue.com 😱