Porst - Lisette (Baldax)

[HLing]

I'm hoping that even though a search for Lisette didn't turn up anything, there are still experts here who can spare some knowledge.

The "Lisette" on the right in the picture is puzzling me. I've shot two rolls of film through it. There is potential, but I need to find out what's fixable.

As of now, the whole front element is turnable when I arm the shutter. Should it?

Is the "compur-Rapid" lettering in the wrong position?

I'm having a difficult time asking the right questions, but if someone has experience with this camera, I'll try to articulate better.

Thanks!

 

[hanskerensky]

You find an image of a Lisette with a Compur on this German page :
http://www.kamera-geschichte.de/files/lisette_1_d.htm

As you can see there the Compur shutter has a release lever on the shutter itself (so no release button on the camera top).

Guess that your Lisette has something similar although your image doesn't give many details.

When you write the whole front element is turnable you probably mean that the whole shutter can be rotated. This is NOT a normal situation. The shutter should be fixed to the baseplate with a retaining ring at the rear (visible through the back of the camera). Probably this ring is loose and you should fasten it.

Normally the lettering on the Compur should be horizontally in the normal holding position of the camera. My guess is that you should rotate the whole shutter about 90 degrees counter clock wise. But you have to check for yourself if the release lever can still be operated in that position and if the camera can still be closed without a problem.

btw Which lens is on this Lisette ?

 

[HLing]

Thanks so much for your reply!

The lens says Meyer Görlitz trioplan , F: 2.9 f=7.5 cm.

I had tried to turn the whole part 90 degrees counter clockwise, but like you said, the lever gets caught on the side screw, and I have to micro adjust it each time to be able to arm it.

The folding and unfolding is not too easily done because the screws are not attached. When folding it, manually one has to turn the whole lens unit to make sure all parts nestle neatly, and then, unfolding is another walking-on-egg-shell experience. So now I'm leaving it out unfolded.

 

[hanskerensky]

My first impression (so just my guess) is that the lens/shutter on your Lisette is coming from another camera.

The German page about the Lisette doesn't show any information about a Meyer lens but only about Cassar, Xenar and Trinar lenses.

A quick search for other cameras equiped with the 2,9 Trioplan didn't result in anything conclusive. The Balda Baldax comes close but i see on images of it another type of release lever.

 

[hanskerensky]

Ok, my guess was wrong !

Just sought a bit further and found that also de Baldaxette used the Trioplan lens.
When looking for images of Baldaxette i found this page which also contains an image of Lisette with the same type of release lever as yours :

http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/bdk_e.htm

So looks that your shutter/lens is a genuine combination used on some Balda cameras.
As you can see on that page your shutter should be rotated 90 degrees to be in the correct position.

 

[chippy]

HLing, they are finicky to get in just the right place, its a little bit of trial and error to start with, it should be as Hans mentioned about 90deg to the left with the lettering more horizontal, actually, normally on these if the lettering is slightly to left of horizontal is the right place .

the black lever is an extension for the shutter release (because the shutter release is in place where its too awkward to get to easily) if its bent at all it might cause you a bit of trouble by catching but otherwise it should work ok. the rear ring (on inside of camera) that holds the shutter and lens in place needs to be tightened to hold shutter firm once you have the shutter located in the correct place , if its a bit loose it can cause the bits sticking off the shutter (e.g shutter lever and shutter tension lever) to get caught.

its a pretty close and finicky thing to get in just the right place but not too hard ...it might be a good idea to detach the black extension arm (should just unscrew) to the shutter release lever first and then adjust the shutter to correct place, then tighten down the rear ring on inside, just enough not to move, test it, then when working tighten down properly (dont over tighten), then reattach black lever arm and carefully try again...as an option (by choice or if that black lever causes too much trouble) you can use a cable release screwed in (should be a socket to screw it in to) instead of the shutter release lever. also remember not to close the front with the shutter cocked, always release the shutter before closing

these came with a wide assortment of lenses, anything from f6.3 baldanar's to various f4.5 and f3.5 lenses, most triplets but also with tessar or xenar, but also came equipped with faster f2.9 tessar or a couple of triplets, such as your fast 2.9 trioplan..yours looks like it has the step out on front door as well which makes it one of the pre 1936 cameras (1933-1935) but its lens looks like a mid 1935 model so one could guess its a 1935 or early 1936 camera


cheers
chippy

 

[chippy]

didnt see your post till after i posted Hans, i hadnt seen that page at all, its interesting but they have some dates wrong


i mentioned in my post above but they were available in wide variety of lenses, practically anything the customer or distributor (PORST) wanted

 

[hanskerensky]

Here visible to the right a Balda Baldax with the same Trioplan lens though shutter is a Compur :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tryptophan/2808529299/


Edit, okay Chippy see your answers now, seems we were busy posting at the same time 🙂

 

[HLing]

Hans and Chippy, Thank you both so much for jumping in to help!

So I carefully but firmly turned the front so that the arm is just beneath (to the left) of the screw. I've not figure out a way to fasten the unit from behind the lens. It looks like 4 slots on the outer ring, and 2 flat indents on the ring of the lens.

(by the way, this particular camera is 6x4.5. Scale focus)

 

[Muggins]

Intriguing - I have a Welta Perle of similar vintage (I think there might even be photos on RFF) which also has a weird shutter release on a bar.

My shutter seems fixed as it should be, and its position when set to the same speed matches yours, so you must have it in about the right place.

I am intrigued by the bar for the shutter release, especially if you pull it to release as mine is. It's a horrible thing to use, really awkward, and I can only assume that it was designed for a body release button which the camera makers who bought it in didn't always provide.

Adrian

 

[jnoir]

So I carefully but firmly turned the front so that the arm is just beneath (to the left) of the screw. I've not figure out a way to fasten the unit from behind the lens. It looks like 4 slots on the outer ring, and 2 flat indents on the ring of the lens.

The outer ring hold the lens and shutter assembly in place, with a spanner wrench or homemade tool, by removing it the block can be removed and fasten into position. There is sometimes a pin that engages in a slot of the board, so rotating it like you did is not always possible. Luckily, not your case.

The inner slots are for removing the rear lens cell / assembly.

 

[hanskerensky]

Like J.Noir wrote, turn the outer ring clockwise to fasten.

an article about possible tools can be found here :
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/toolstobegin.html