Robot Star rewind problem

[ben_m]

I was wondering whether anyone with a Robot Star could answer a question for me. I have a Robot II and a Junior, and to get the take-up cassette out of the camera, you have to pull up on the film wind-on/tension knob. On the Junior you can rotate it in the opposite direction to the arrow, and it will stay in the 'up' position.

On my newly-acquired Star, I cannot pull up the tension knob, so I can't take out the take-up cassette. I've tried various combinations of positions of the rewind slider/shutter release lock, but it doesn't want to move. The tension knob itself is quite stiff to turn in either direction, but the auto-winding works fine and turns the tensioning knob freely. Does the camera have a problem? Is it supposed to work the same as the Junior?

Thanks,

Ben

 

[Muggins]

Tsk Ben, you've given in to GAS again, haven't you!

Mike Butkus has a manual for a Junior Star here: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/robot/robot_junior_star/robot_junior_star.htm

And there are several other manuals for Robots with Star in the name (they seem to have been quite fond of it...) on his index page: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/other_manuals.htm
- hopefully one will at least tell you if you do have a prblem!
Dunno if that helps any?

Adrian

 

[ben_m]

Hi Adrian!

Thanks for the links- I actually have a Focal Press guide here at home, but I posted in a disparate state earlier, from work- I had already stripped do the top plate once, then given up and re-built it. I knew the mechanism must be the same as the others, but couldn't figure out how it could be tightly jammed.

I stripped the top plate for a second time, and removed the mechanism that wasn't working- there were small pieces of metal that I guess were once a washer. It now works, and I'm happy.

Attached is the whole family: at the back a Robot II German military model from 1943, on the right an Robot Junior from the mid-1950's, RAF issue (Broad arrow on body and lens) with extra bayonet around the lens for mounting in an aircraft- this spring is so powerful it can shoot 64 frames- more than a whole roll!
Front left is the new Star, of no historic significance!

Also attached a couple of shots from London a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Muggins]

Hurrah! You have more determination than me - I've just got my Retina back together after two years as a bag of bits... That's all very well, but I have two washers left over... Same Xenar lens as the Star.

Adrian

 

[randomm]

Muah, I seem to have an identical problem with my newly acquired Star. I have taken a Robot II's top plate apart, a job that I didn't really relish... but I guess I'll have to peek inside this one as well 🙂