Who does CLAs on a Bessa1 Folder

[Leicable]

I am new to 120 folders.

I have an older Bessa1 that needs a CLA. Who is recommended to do a CLA on this camera? I have tried searching this forum with no luck.

 

[Calzone]

Plus one.

I also have a Bessa One that was my dad's. It need's a CLA also.

Cal

 

[venchka]

A gentleman who goes by the screen name of certo something. Search here, GOOGLE and ebay. You'll find him. He's in the USA.

 

[iñaki]

Certo6 web
You can find info about his work in his web and in RFF too.

 

[Argenticien]

Mark Hansen. He is in Oregon, USA. Where are you? Mark's speciality is Zeiss and Rolleiflex (as the site name would indicate) but you will see the site says he services "folders" in general as well. He serviced my Bessa (sometimes called Bessa E, the rangefinder model, predecessor of the Bessa II) back in September. He's a pleasure to work with and highly ethical: if he cannot fix your camera successfully, he will charge you his minimum. I got a CLA and full shutter reworking on mine, but the original intent had been to realign the RF. He could not prise open the RF top (as is apparently all too common on this model) so did not charge me for that. I would use his services again in future.
--Dave

 

[Leicable]

CLA of Bessa I

CLA of Bessa I

Thanks to all for the information. I contacted Jurgen Kreckel at jurgen@certo6.com and sent my Bessa I to him for CLA.

Best Regards

 

[FallisPhoto]

I do them -- mostly folders, but some rigid bodied rangefinders too. Just finished a Solida for another RFFer.

 

[raydm6]

Goregeous! I'm in the market for a 6x9 myself.

 

[chippy]

Goregeous! I'm in the market for a 6x9 myself.

not sure if you are refering to the OP of the Bessa I or FallisPhoto nice and shiny Franka Solida...i assume the later, if so then it is actually a 6x6 camera. whilst it was Franka Werk first model Solida (second if you count that the first introduced Solida had rounded body) it is actually just called a Solida (this one is the angled body from 1938) and not a Solida I, a Solida I is actually a camera made about 1952+ and more closely resembles an Agfa Isolette, with a horizontal folding door

 

[FallisPhoto]

not sure if you are refering to the OP of the Bessa I or FallisPhoto nice and shiny Franka Solida...i assume the later, if so then it is actually a 6x6 camera. whilst it was Franka Werk first model Solida (second if you count that the first introduced Solida had rounded body) it is actually just called a Solida (this one is the angled body from 1938) and not a Solida I, a Solida I is actually a camera made about 1952+ and more closely resembles an Agfa Isolette, with a horizontal folding door

Actually, Andrew, I think it dates to 1936 or 1937. The 1938 model had a knob for advancing the film instead of a key. http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Franka_Solida I am responsible for mistakenly adding the 1 though. Okay, I corrected it. Is that better?

BTW, the camera had been stored in a red-rotted case and the sulphuric acid fumes had started to corrode the body. It took some file work (to get the pitting out), buffing with polishing compound and then with metal polish to get the metal looking like that.

 

[chippy]

Actually, Andrew, I think it dates to 1936 or 1937. The 1938 model had a knob for advancing the film instead of a key. http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Franka_Solida I am responsible for mistakenly adding the 1 though.

I noticed the key advance as well Charles, it does make you take a second look. however it has to be a 1938 model as thats when they introduced the angled body. the previous model had a rounded body, they reverted back to this same body (rounded) post war (about 1948 i think from memory).

i would say the key advance is just using old stock or they were cheaper to buy for a run of cameras they made (i dont think franka made these key advance knobs-i beleive they bought them off of others, and by this time most makers had changed to nicer looking knobs; relative to the time-the key wind do look nice as well). i have also noticed these key avance knobs used on later year Franka cameras, so i wouldnt use that establishing a year when it come to Franka...for example even the 1936 model often has a milled round knob and not the key advance as well

 

[FallisPhoto]

I noticed the key advance as well Charles, it does make you take a second look. however it has to be a 1938 model as thats when they introduced the angled body. the previous model had a rounded body, they reverted back to this same body (rounded) post war (about 1948 i think from memory).

i would say the key advance is just using old stock or they were cheaper to buy for a run of cameras they made (i dont think franka made these key advance knobs-i beleive they bought them off of others, and by this time most makers had changed to nicer looking knobs). i have also noticed these key avance knobs used on later year Franka cameras, so i wouldnt use that establishing a year when it come to Franka...for example even the 1936 model often has a milled round knob and not the key advance as well

"Nicer looking knobs?" I think those old key advance mechanisms looked a lot sexier -- at least once they are cleaned and polished. BTW, this one came out so nice that I've been looking for one for myself. Every one I've seen had a Radionar on it though and I'd like to get something better. Did they come with anything else?

 

[chippy]

"Nicer looking knobs?" I think those old key advance mechanisms looked a lot sexier -- at least once they are cleaned and polished.

hehe LOL yes i meant relative to the time...thats what they must of thought...i edited that comment before you posted.

edit; it does happen on occassion as well with other makers...i notice ,i think it is Krosyer (mispelled--someone here that name starts with K) that has a Weltur that has a key advance where it would normally have a milled knob..i wouldnt be suprised in Welta's case with that Weltur, if it was specialy ordered with the key advance instead of the milled knob

 

[chippy]

I am responsible for mistakenly adding the 1 though. Okay, I corrected it. Is that better?

BTW, the camera had been stored in a red-rotted case and the sulphuric acid fumes had started to corrode the body. It took some file work (to get the pitting out), buffing with polishing compound and then with metal polish to get the metal looking like that.

hehe, yes , thats much better 😀 , i thought about mentioning it the other week but didnt want to knit pick😛


the camera did come up looking superb--it gleams in the photo.

sulphuric acid?

 

[chippy]

. BTW, this one came out so nice that I've been looking for one for myself. Every one I've seen had a Radionar on it though and I'd like to get something better. Did they come with anything else?

commonly found with the radionar and also cassar (sometimes just with prontor and not compur shutter) in the 38 model, but i have details they also came with a xenar but i suspect they are few and far between. I would expect they are less comonly found with other contempary lenses of the time but in most cases just the randionar and cassar. the previous model usually just has the average victar.

 

[FallisPhoto]

sulphuric acid?

They used to use sulphur dioxide as a "brightening agent" in vegetable tanned dyed leathers. It gave you a blacker black, richer browns and brighter reds and other colors. Unfortunately, a lot of people back then heated their homes with coal or used gaslight to light their homes. This released sulphuric acid fumes into the air. It's the same sort of thing that causes acid rain today, but it was a lot more widespread then. Well, when sulphur dioxide comes into contact with sulphuric acid, it converts to sulphuric acid too. Once the process starts, all that is necessary is some atmospheric moisture and it accellerates until the entire piece of leather, and any other leather it comes into contact with, turns brick red, starts looking like suede, and crumbles to powder if you rub against it. It was the scourge of 18th and 19th century libraries (with their leather bound books) and was called "red rot." http://calisto.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-73/t1-g-t10.html

The same vegetable tanned leathers used to bind books were used for pretty much everything else, in varying thicknesses -- including camera coverings and camera cases.

In this case, it was the camera case that was effected. It had an advanced case of red rot. The guy who sent it to me knew it wasn't in the best of condition, because when he took the price sticker off of it, some of the leather came off too. He figured it would help protect the camera in transit though. I told him that the camera's dull gray pitted appearance was due to the sulphuric acid fumes outgassing from the case. When I finished with the camera, I wrapped it in plastic, put it back in the case and included a note, explaining why the plastic was there, why he shouldn't use the case anymore, why the thing was dangerous to keep around a camera collections or anything else that is leather and vegetable tanned, and told him he should throw the case away as soon as he finished looking at it and having fun gouging big chunks out of it with his fingernails. I also mentioned that it was a health hazard and that prolonged exposure to the powder from red rotted leather was known to cause rashes, skin ulcers and a variety of respiratory ailments. It's just not a good thing to have around.

 

[FallisPhoto]

commonly found with the radionar and also cassar (sometimes just with prontor and not compur shutter) in the 38 model, but i have details they also came with a xenar but i suspect they are few and far between. I would expect they are less comonly found with other contempary lenses of the time but in most cases just the randionar and cassar. the previous model usually just has the average victar.

I'll try and find one with a Cassar then. I prefer that to the Radionar. Maybe it's just me, but I have always found that my Radionars tend to yield flatter photos than most of my other 3-element lenses.