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Post by pompiere on Dec 31, 2012 10:33:42 GMT -5
I mentioned this camera in another thread about pre WWII Japanese cameras. It is a Minolta from 1937. Some places refer to it as a Minoltaflex I, although it doesn't say that anywhere on the camera. After the war, they changed the nameplate to say Minoltaflex. All the labels are in English. Problems are the frame counter is broken so it doesn't stop winding after each frame, and I wiped the front silvering off the viewfinder mirror. There is also some dirt or fungus in the lens. The shutter, aperture, and focus all work, though.
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Doug T.
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Pettin' The Gator
Posts: 1,199
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Post by Doug T. on Dec 31, 2012 11:39:09 GMT -5
That's a nice TLR, and rare too! I've had to replace the mirror in some of the TLRs that I've had, and found that mirrors from the older Polaroids (the 600 series for example) can be adapted, and work nicely.
Doug
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Dec 31, 2012 14:16:00 GMT -5
As I read the post, I was about to mention the Polaroid as a source of decent mirrors, but Doug has beaten me to it!! The Minolta you have is, in theory, the second type they made, only months from the very first Minolta products, as they changed from the Molta company. The style of the name plate was the only alteration, and they did not put Minoltaflex 1 as there was no Minoltaflex 2 as yet. This is very early Minolta indeed, and a poorly recorded area as far as information, little exists outside Minolta Archives.
Stephen.
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Post by pompiere on Dec 31, 2012 20:41:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments. I may have to get a Polaroid at the thrift store to scavange the mirror. I have an SX-70, but I don't want to tear it open yet. Then I can get some film and try it out. I have a 120 spool and developing tank, so I could get b&w film and do it at home.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Dec 31, 2012 22:25:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments. I may have to get a Polaroid at the thrift store to scavange the mirror. I have an SX-70, but I don't want to tear it open yet. Then I can get some film and try it out. I have a 120 spool and developing tank, so I could get b&w film and do it at home. I have used CD's as excellent replacement mirrors in the little reflex viewfinders on many old Kodak folders. They are easy to cut and shape accurately. I use a flexible shaft machine but an old hacksaw blade or a coping saw and a file or sandpaper would do the job. I do not know if they would work well as a replacement for a larger mirror such as you require. However they are easy to come by and may be worth trying. Mickey
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2012 22:51:27 GMT -5
Good idea, Mickey. Never thought of that! W.
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Post by philbirch on Apr 15, 2014 18:34:44 GMT -5
This is a source of cheap mirror material, it saves breaking up a polaroid. enter this code into ebay search.
170735116637
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