What on Earth is a Welmy-35 M-3 ??

[TimH]

Alright, I know I shouldn't have. There I was, happily surrounded by Feds and Zorkis and Kievs, trying to find new ways of spending money I don't have, and there it was, looking all forelorn and bid-less.
Anyway, it's now in front of me, with cute external gears that don't do much, a shutter-release that won't move, a linked rangefinder that doesnt seem to be linked to anything, a shutter-cocking lever that doesn't want to, and a lense that won't focus.
Sympathy would be nice, but even better, does anyone know where this thing came from ? (Aside from Japan, obviously) The mighty Google has never heard of it, so no luck there. But if I could find out anything at all about it's ancestors, what shutter design it's based on, I might have half a chance when I go in with a screwwdriver.
The shutter's in the lense which is a Terionon 45mm 1:3.5
Ring any bells ?
Tim.

 

[mtokue]

Hi Tim,
The company is Taisei Kouki, They are better known in MF Folders.
Have a look HERE For some History on the company and one of the MF cameras. I used to have a Welmy M2.
Nice cameras.
Mike.

 

[mtokue]

Well well Lean someting new everyday, In 1949 Taisei Optical works became Taisei Kouki, In 1960 was bought by Konica!! and that was the beginning of Konica Cameras.
Mike

 

[TimH]

Thanks, people. It's incredible what can be found if you know where to look. I shall have great fun trying to translate the translation. "Excessive function is not to be necessary". T think that's something we can all agree with.

 

[mtokue]

Let me know if you need help with regards to the translation.
Sometimes it pays to be half Japanese!! Only sometimes!
Mike.

 

[TimH]

Ok, now I've got a manual on it's way from the highly commended "oldtimercameras" people and I know that I'm lookin at a Konica's great-grandaddy. There are a couple of nice pics here
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~rd2h-ari/OTH_WELMY35M3.htm
incredibly mine looks a bit better than this one, on the other hand, theirs probably works.
Bearing in mind that anything man put together, man can put back together, here goes.
I'll shout if I get in a jam.
Thank you
Tim.

 

[texaslily]

Welmy 35

Welmy 35

TimH,

I have the exact camera with the same problems. My father gave it to me years ago, but I never knew how to operate it or fix it. Did you get yours to working right? Let me know, any hints or tips, that could be helpful.

Thanks

 

[jlw]

Wow, interesting camera design! As seen in the repair views, I especially like the way the rangefinder is coupled via a cam around the rotating front element, pressed by a ball-bearing-tipped arm.

(Gotta love those Google translations -- the above is described as "With the potato screw, it is designed in such a way that it can do fine control." I wonder what, say, Essex would make of it if you sent it in with a note saying that you suspect the problem is a malfunctioning potato screw...?)

 

[TimH]

Turns out that everything that was wrong with it could be traced to fifty year old Japanese gunk. A quick look round this board suggests that is often the case. It comes apart very easily, in fact so easily that I fell into one of the basic traps for novice tinkerers and over-dismantled it. I got to the shutter from behind and after several applications of the old Ronsonol and a bit of persuasion, freed up the shutter, which freed up the advance.
The rangefinder was a bit more tiresome; adjustment is easy enough , with that "potato screw" thingy, but it took a while to get it right. On mine the return spring holding it against the cam on the lens wasn't interested anymore so when it got to it's furthest extent, it would just stay there. A new spring and the tiniest lube of the pivot point and all's well. In fact as soon as I realised I'd put the rear element in backwards (weird effect, man. Try it) I had a functioning camera.
The pictures won't win any prizes, but it's impossible to use a camera like this in public without people wanting to talk about it.
Possible solution to the problem here in the UK of being hassled by overzealous policemen when photographing in a public place. Use a camera that is sooo cuuute even the cops ask what it is.

 

[TimH]

Incidentally, texaslily, being new to this, I was fooled for a while by the double-stroke advance lever. First stroke winds on, the second part-stroke cocks the shutter. Couldn't figure out why the shutter wasn't cocking after the first stroke.
I suppose Leicaphiles are used to such peculiarities, but it was new to me.
Good luck.
Tim