Warren T.
Well-known
Hi Folks, I was perusing stuff in a local antique store when I spotted a Sears Tower 23 selling for $20 (
).
It was cosmetically in very good shape, but I don't think it was operational. I didn't have much time to look very carefully, but I was very tempted to pick it up at that price. I did a little research and I found out that the Asahiflex IIB was one of the earliest 35m slrs with a quick return mirror. It uses a waist level finder for focusing and an auxiliary finder composing at eye level. It's a very interesting piece of history. Just before I had to leave, I cocked the shutter and fired it, but I saw that the shutter was stuck open (the curtain would not close all the way). It probably just needs a thorough lube job, and I probably shouldn't have even tried it, but curioisity got the better of me :bang:.
Does anyone know of a place that would help me ressurect this camera at a reasonable cost?
What do you all think? Should I go back to buy it for $20?
--Warren
).It was cosmetically in very good shape, but I don't think it was operational. I didn't have much time to look very carefully, but I was very tempted to pick it up at that price. I did a little research and I found out that the Asahiflex IIB was one of the earliest 35m slrs with a quick return mirror. It uses a waist level finder for focusing and an auxiliary finder composing at eye level. It's a very interesting piece of history. Just before I had to leave, I cocked the shutter and fired it, but I saw that the shutter was stuck open (the curtain would not close all the way). It probably just needs a thorough lube job, and I probably shouldn't have even tried it, but curioisity got the better of me :bang:.
Does anyone know of a place that would help me ressurect this camera at a reasonable cost?
What do you all think? Should I go back to buy it for $20?
--Warren
Last edited:
ruby.monkey
Veteran
For $20? I'd buy it just for the hell of it.