Pax-35

[Vintage35]

I bought a Pax-35 today, (the one with the 2 round RF windows and the rectangle window in between) the later model with the 1/300 speed. I knew it was dirty and frozen when I got it and thought it would be a good project. Later I discovered it is missing the shutter cocking lever :bang: I have seen the shutter gears area, it's very simple, just remove the front lens group then the shutter speed ring comes right off (goes back on easy too)

I can't see where the lever might have been before. or how it powered the shutter. Is there anyone out there that has a Pax-35 that could take some close up images of the shutter gears? it literally only takes 10 seconds to get the shutter speed dial off.

 

[Vintage35]

Here is a shot of the shutter, the lever goes at the top. red arrow shows where I believe it attaches

 

[rick oleson]

The closest that I have is the M2. in which the shutter is cocked from the film winding mechanism. However, looking at my camera it looks like the cocking lever might just be an extending tab coming outward from the master ring that fits around the center lens cell. Is that whole ring missing, or did you remove it for your photo above? Email me at rick.oleson@gmail.com and I'll be happy to send you my sketches and notes from the M2; I'll also be happy to send you a photo of the front end if that's helpful.

rick

 

[Vintage35]

Thanks Rick, I'm missing several components of the shutter. The Helical is locked as well as the rewind knob. I've even soaked the Helical. I cleaned up the exterior and it's now a paper weight:bang:

 

[rick oleson]

The only thing I've found that will free up the helical in these is Xylene. Naphtha, acetone, and of course alcohol won't touch it. Immersing the shutter assembly for 2 or 3 days in a closed jar of Xylene should remove the hardened grease. That won't make up for the missing shutter parts .... but you'll have a paperweight that has a movable focus ring.

(the Xylene will also take out the paint from the engraved markings on the mount ... you can repaint those later)

rick