Kodak Six-16 art deco No. 1 Diodak rear lens removal

[Lewis Francis]

Hi all,

I have a beautifully preserved Kodak Six-16 art deco model with some fungus on the rear element. Anyone know how to remove the rear element from the No. 1 Diodak shutter assembly?

As far as I can tell the rear element doesn't simply screw off, the ring holding the optic in place looks like it might be of a snap-in design, but I'm reticent to try to pry it out without knowing for sure.

Any suggestions welcomed!

 

[Steve M.]

Can you tackle it from the front by getting the front element off?

 

[Lewis Francis]

Can you tackle it from the front by getting the front element off?

Possibly. The front element is the focusing optic and is easily removed, before the aperture is a middle optic that looks like the same snap-in mounting method. I've yet to disassemble the shutter body to see if I can get behind this middle optic and aperture, or at least go through the open aperture.

I'm kind of reluctant to disassemble the shutter due to the mint condition of the camera -- it really looks and even smells like it just came off the factory floor. Sadly, haven't found much info on this model shutter. The shutter is in my window now facing the sun to at least arrest the spread of the fungus.

 

[Lewis Francis]

While working on another restoration project, my grandfather's 1917 Kodak 1A Autographic Special, I noticed that the paint had come up around the shutter body where the threaded rear element mated -- this gave me the idea of scoring the outside edge of the rear element on my Six-16 and with some effort I was finally able to unscrew the lens. That paint was locking it tight. Woot!

Now that the lenses are clear I need to figure out if the front element is screwed on correctly (I didn't pay close enough attention when I first took it off), guess I'll try the cellophane-as-ground-glass trick and see how lucky I am.

Now if I can only find the rear bellows frame for my grandfather's camera...