Rolliecord IIb, droopy magnifier.

[Antares]

I just picked me up a beautiful Rolliecord IIb, which Rolleiclub says was made in 1938 or '39. It was owned by one person, in amazing condition for an 80 year old camera, except for the little magnifier that droops. On this 'cord, the magnifier is rather small, and is hinged on the rear of the hood. I was told that there is/was a spring that was responible for getting the little loupe to pop up, but I think it's probably gone. Thing is, I need a magnifier, otherwise this camera will become a shelf queen. That's not what I want.

Any ideas? I'd like to fabricate a replacement spring, but I don't even know how they work. Engineering isn't my forte. How can a spring work in both directions, keeping the loupe down, and then keeping it up when lifted with the fingernail?

 

[JPD]

Yes, there's a flat spring riveted on the viewing hood below the magnifier. It doesn't really make the magnifier pop up, but holds it in place. If your camera doesn't have it then the rivet is probably gone as well. If this makes the magnifier unusable you might as well buy a spare parts Rolleicord and swap the hood.

I don't like how "Rolleiclub" give their own names to these cameras. There is no IIb. The camera they call this is a Rolleicord II, type 3.

The only Rolleicords with letters in their names are the Ia, Va and Vb.