Beirette Junior II, disassembly

[hannes]

Can anyone describe how to remove the film advance knob and lever on the Beirette Junior II?
I have unscrewed the central screw in the top of the advance knob, the screw itself would appear long enough to thread the knob to the axle it sits on top of (the axle that carries the film take-up spool, etc), suggesting it is the fastener I need to remove, but things seem stuck fast. I am left wondering if there is some other fastening that is keeping the advance knob/lever assembly attached, something that I have overlooked.
I need to take the top cover off, because there is a problem with the double exposure prevention.

Thank you,  Hannes

[philbirch]

is it a left handed thread? Try taking it off as if you were unscrewing it.

[Stephen]

Such knobs are secured by either pushed on serrated shaft, secured with screws,(may be visible) D shaped end to the shaft,(visible when screw is removed), blade ended shaft, (visible when the screw is remove, pressed on to plain or tapered shaft,(not visible).
The other major way is as Phil mentioned, a left hand screw thread, jam the shaft inside the camera with a screw driver end, and try the knob clockwise to undo.
The wind on lever will be a fit to a cut out in the thread like a woodruft key slot. once that is off the shaft can be withdrawn down into the camera, be careful in case a sprung ball rests against the shaft to provide a sprung positioning. Some makers do not bother, others do.
Stephen.

[philbirch]

A crow bar may be needed. These cameras were made to a low price and probably not designed to be serviced, so parts may be pressed together with no means of gently separating them. I have seen this with a few old cameras. Some have even been assembled using small rods punched into position rather than screwed together.

good luck

[hannes]

Hello:

Thanks for your answers, but all I tried did not work.
Turning the advance know clockwise is prevented by a mechanism in the camera, even if the rewind unlock is in operation.
I tried with some force but fear to brak something if I put more force on it. The rewind knob on left side did not need much force to come off.

Since I will never use this camera, I put it back into my camera graveyard. I got this camera as part of a bundle, togehter with the Tenax, a nice working Fed 1f and a few more.

[Stephen]

A general point with all aluminium parts in a camera is that aluminium oxidises in contact with air, this forms a skin of aluminium oxide which is very abrasive and occupies a slightly bigger volume than the metal.
The knob may have been a easy push on fit, but after a bit of corrosion, it has jammed solid.
The best makers who used Aluminum, had it anodised, which forces a skin of oxide to grow, but then no more will. I expect the East Germans on a cheaper camera would use plain aluminium.

Stephen.

[rickoleson]

I'm afraid I am not familiar with that camera. Are you unable to remove that center screw? My first guess would be a double-flatted shaft end with a matching (_) shaped hole in the knob, and the film reminder disc loose above the knob with perhaps a wave spring under it to provide some friction. With the screw fully out I would expect to be able to lift off the disc, and under it either be able to confirm the shape of the end of the shaft or perhaps find some hidden screws underneath. It could require some alternate prying under opposite edges of the knob with a screwdriver blade to persuade it to come off of the shaft.

If the screw cannot be removed beyond the point shown in the photo, I'm afraid I'm lost.

rick