Post by PeterW on Dec 17, 2007 13:32:49 GMT -5
Hi all,
In a box of cameras I picked up recently at a local auction were two Baldamatics, both from the early 1960s. They're the chunky ones which look like a puffed-up cushion and have wind-on by a half turn of a key on the bottom
One, which seems to be complete, is a Super Baldamatic with a 2.8/45 Color Baldanar lens - your guess is as good as mine who made the lens - in a Compur 30-500 + B shutter. It's got a brightline finder, nice and clear, and when you turn the speed ring a needle in the viewfinder moves to tell you what aperture the camera's chosen, so I believe it's fully auto exposure. No rangefinder, focus by distance and symbols on the lens. Apart from the leatherette starting to come loose it's in quite nice cosmetic condition. BUT, the wind-on key will advance the film sprockets and spool, but doesn't cock the shutter. The rear element of the lens had been taken out and left loose inside the camera.
The second is definitely a parts-only thing. It's a Baldamatic II with coupled rangefinder, with a Syncro-Compur 1 to 1/500 EV (light value) shutter. It winds on and cocks OK but the shutter's sorely in need of a CLA - 1/8 sec takes about 2 seconds before the blades reluctantly close. A previous owner had a go at fixing it, failed, and lost some of the bits. The front ring of the lens is missing, though the front element is still there, the shutter button is missing, the top plate is loose and the front fascia part of the top plate is there but detached. Because the front ring is missing I don't know what the lens is. The stops go down to 2.8, and quite a few of this model had a 2.8/45 Xenar, but I think some were fitted with Baldanar or Radionar lenses. The rangefinder has a nice clear central spot, and the images coincide when you push the small pin in the front of the lens housing.
I didn't take these two into account when I bid for box which I got at a very low price, so they stand me in at nothing.
To be honest, this model Balda has never attracted me much though some people love 'em, so I haven't got the inclination to try to fix the Super. If anyone wants either or both of them for spares or to play with they can have them for the price of the postage. However, they're quite heavy so I imagine the cost of post from the UK to the US might be more than the cameras are worth.
If no-one wants them I'll strip them for screws, springs and bits and throw the remains away. In that case, if anyone wants a specific part they can have it, and the postage shouldn't be all that much. Any takers?
PeterW
In a box of cameras I picked up recently at a local auction were two Baldamatics, both from the early 1960s. They're the chunky ones which look like a puffed-up cushion and have wind-on by a half turn of a key on the bottom
One, which seems to be complete, is a Super Baldamatic with a 2.8/45 Color Baldanar lens - your guess is as good as mine who made the lens - in a Compur 30-500 + B shutter. It's got a brightline finder, nice and clear, and when you turn the speed ring a needle in the viewfinder moves to tell you what aperture the camera's chosen, so I believe it's fully auto exposure. No rangefinder, focus by distance and symbols on the lens. Apart from the leatherette starting to come loose it's in quite nice cosmetic condition. BUT, the wind-on key will advance the film sprockets and spool, but doesn't cock the shutter. The rear element of the lens had been taken out and left loose inside the camera.
The second is definitely a parts-only thing. It's a Baldamatic II with coupled rangefinder, with a Syncro-Compur 1 to 1/500 EV (light value) shutter. It winds on and cocks OK but the shutter's sorely in need of a CLA - 1/8 sec takes about 2 seconds before the blades reluctantly close. A previous owner had a go at fixing it, failed, and lost some of the bits. The front ring of the lens is missing, though the front element is still there, the shutter button is missing, the top plate is loose and the front fascia part of the top plate is there but detached. Because the front ring is missing I don't know what the lens is. The stops go down to 2.8, and quite a few of this model had a 2.8/45 Xenar, but I think some were fitted with Baldanar or Radionar lenses. The rangefinder has a nice clear central spot, and the images coincide when you push the small pin in the front of the lens housing.
I didn't take these two into account when I bid for box which I got at a very low price, so they stand me in at nothing.
To be honest, this model Balda has never attracted me much though some people love 'em, so I haven't got the inclination to try to fix the Super. If anyone wants either or both of them for spares or to play with they can have them for the price of the postage. However, they're quite heavy so I imagine the cost of post from the UK to the US might be more than the cameras are worth.
If no-one wants them I'll strip them for screws, springs and bits and throw the remains away. In that case, if anyone wants a specific part they can have it, and the postage shouldn't be all that much. Any takers?
PeterW