Retina IIC (029) clean up

moggi1964

moggi1964

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I purchased one of these at auction and am waiting its arrival. It looks like it may have been in a loft or shed.

On Chris Sherlock's site there is a lot of information about renovating/fixing the Retinas but not a huge amount about the 029. Which camera is nearest to this model such that by following instructions for that one I'll be able to carry out work on this one?

Also, for cleaning dust and similar off of the camera, do you you just use a little soapy water on a damp cloth?

Thanks.
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Hello!

Nice camera! The Retina IIC has a lot in common with the other mid/late-1950s Retinas - the basic body shell, winding mechanism and shutter are the same as on the Retina Ib, IB, IIc, IIIc and IIIC. The 50mm f2.8 lens is the same as that on the Retina IIc, while the viewfinder and rangefinder are the same as on the Retina IIIC.

I don't know if you've got plans to service the camera yourself or to get a professional to do it, but if it hasn't had a service in a few years (or decades), it could probably do with its Synchro Compur shutter being stripped down, cleaned, lubricated and put back together. The winding mechanism could also probably do with a similar clean and relube. As you may have read, the teeth on the cocking rack can get damaged on these models if things have got gummed up over the years.

I'm not sure about the soapy water either. Lighter fluid is more the thing for cleaning (especially the internals).

Cheers

Ian
 
Thank you both for the super quick responses.

It's nice to hear there are lots of similarities. I have some experience fixing older cameras but have not worked on a Retina before. I sometimes wipe down the vinyl and metal areas of more modern SLR cameras with a bit of soapy water before opening them up but I'll see what the expert says in his videos.

I'll see what turns up in the mail and figure out just how much of a job it will be.

A service by Chris is definitely an option I am considering.
 
I agree that this IIC camera deserves to be serviced by an experienced Retina repairman, and Chris Sherlock is the best. He knows every little part well and if and how they might need to be adjusted. 🙂

Beemermark said:
Never heard that before. Source? I thought all the Retina's were made by Kodak AG from the beginning in 1934 until the end in 1969.
Click to expand...
This particular model was only made for a short time.
 
Chris is the best.

I have a IIC, replaced the shutter cocking Rack on it- Microtools still sells them. This was a very tedious job, getting the rack in and "in phase" with the shutter cocking mechanism.

https://retinarescue.com/retinarack.html

Followed the procedure that Chris posted.

I have a late IIC, the aperture opens up to an unmarked F2 setting. The rear group is the same as that in the IIIC and IIIc, ie the F2 Xenon. I put a Xenon F2 front group on the IIC- worked perfectly.

I use a Q-Tip and alcohol for stubborn grime on metal.
 
moggi1964 said:
I purchased one of these at auction and am waiting its arrival. It looks like it may have been in a loft or shed.

On Chris Sherlock's site there is a lot of information about renovating/fixing the Retinas but not a huge amount about the 029. Which camera is nearest to this model such that by following instructions for that one I'll be able to carry out work on this one?

Also, for cleaning dust and similar off of the camera, do you you just use a little soapy water on a damp cloth?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I just use a damp paper towel and wipe down the outside myself.

I've seen people use Windex (but not on the glass).
https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Cleaning_and_restoring_vintage_cameras

And from Photo.net:
Cleaning Exterior of Old cameras
(1) chrome , Windex or equivalent; use acid neutral detergent or soap solution. Household alcohol, ethyl or iso propyl. wipe later with clean moist cloth. Avoid spraying; instead use a moistened cloth or Q-tips. DO NOT polish chrome with Brasso or rubbing compound. [they will remove the thin chrome layer].
(2) painted surfaces , Use plain mild soap water and wipe off quickly with clean water. DO NOT use alcohol or Windex type cleaners. They can attack the paint. Especially windex contains Ammonia that can bleach if left for some time.
(3) leather , (4) artificial "leather" , can be cleaned with dry-cleaning petrol from laundry supplies. You can apply shoe polish; [or, Simoniz] wax based is better than cream based for shining. Upholstery people have special compounds for restoring old leather, leatherette, vinyl etc.
(5) glass, [not the lens!]Windex or equivalent, Ammonia and liquid soap.
(6) mirrors . Use only a blower to blow the dust; nothing else. They are silvered on the outside. Any liquid or rubbing by contact could damage the mirror. Some new mirrors are protected with coating. But it is difficult to tell which is coated and protected to what extent.
Additionally, NEVER use any liquid to clean the Fresnel screen. It has grooves cut in plastic [in most cases] and the liquid will penetrate between the plastic layer and the glass and will damage the the screen, permanently. Use only a blower.
These are from my own experience in restoring 50-60 year old cameras. They are recommended by learned authors like Ed Romney and T. Tomosy. Regards, sp.
​
subbarayan_prasanna, Jun 24, 2009
 
Good fortune and timely that I found this thread. I just bought a very pretty Retina IIc that needs a good service and grabbed the link to Chris Sherlock from your posts ...

My mom had one of these cameras, back in the day, and just seeing this one as I took it out of the box brought her back to mind, reminded me of the occasional times she'd let me use her camera, way back when I started doing photography. It always impressed me as being a beautiful piece, more so even than my father's Leica IIIf for whatever reason, and remains charming and beautiful to my eye even today. I'm looking forward to having it serviced and putting it to use, 55 years after I last held one in my hands. 🙂

Ah, memories!

G
 
Godfrey said:
Good fortune and timely that I found this thread. I just bought a very pretty Retina IIc that needs a good service and grabbed the link to Chris Sherlock from your posts ...

My mom had one of these cameras, back in the day, and just seeing this one as I took it out of the box brought her back to mind, reminded me of the occasional times she'd let me use her camera, way back when I started doing photography. It always impressed me as being a beautiful piece, more so even than my father's Leica IIIf for whatever reason, and remains charming and beautiful to my eye even today. I'm looking forward to having it serviced and putting it to use, 55 years after I last held one in my hands. 🙂

Ah, memories!

G
Click to expand...

Godfrey,
As an alternative you could send it to Advance Camera in Portland, OR. Dave Sleeth, the owner, has worked on several Retinas for me. This includes a IIIc, a couple of IIc’s and two IIa’s. His work is as good as Sherlocks’ and if you wear glasses, he will coat the metal eyepiece with a plastic coating to keep it from scratching your lenses. Service is about $120.00 and takes about eight weeks. I’m currently using a really clean IIa he did for me earlier this year to the point I’m feeling guilty for not using the M4.
 
madNbad said:
Godfrey,
As an alternative you could send it to Advance Camera in Portland, OR. Dave Sleeth, the owner, has worked on several Retinas for me. This includes a IIIc, a couple of IIc’s and two IIa’s. His work is as good as Sherlocks’ and if you wear glasses, he will coat the metal eyepiece with a plastic coating to keep it from scratching your lenses. Service is about $120.00 and takes about eight weeks. I’m currently using a really clean IIa he did for me earlier this year to the point I’m feeling guilty for not using the M4.
Click to expand...

Great, thanks! It's a better option than sending it to NZ: the cost of shipping there and back is pretty high nowadays, never mind the delays in the process.

G

--- addendum ---
I used the tool on their website in the Repair section to request an on-line estimate. 🙂
 
Yes thanks for the heads up of Advance Camera. I have a IIa that I purchased for very little at a consignment shop and it seems to operate ok. Good to have this resource available just in case.
 
Godfrey said:
Great, thanks! It's a better option than sending it to NZ: the cost of shipping there and back is pretty high nowadays, never mind the delays in the process.

G

--- addendum ---
I used the tool on their website in the Repair section to request an on-line estimate. 🙂
Click to expand...

It's 1.5 miles from my house so they have gotten a lot of repair work over the years. All the shops are really busy with the resurgence interest in film and fixing the dropped digitals.
 
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