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Post by bayoufoto on Aug 30, 2007 11:38:27 GMT -5
Always wanted a nice Retina preferably a II series but when this nice 1b came along, at the right price, (cheap) I had to snatch it up     Canon DReb 85 f1.8 |
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Post by Randy on Aug 30, 2007 12:46:55 GMT -5
OHHHHHHHHHH!!!! That's a beauty Ricky! Put a roll of Philim in it and see what happens!
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Aug 30, 2007 13:00:15 GMT -5
That is indeed in nice condition, Rick.
I like folding Retinas and have six at the moment of which only one, a IIa, is post-war. The other five are all from the 1930s, most acquired in 'distressed' condition but now working and looking quite presentable. They include a Ia Type 015 which is in pieces at the moment because the return spring for the wind-on lever is broken. Its a long spring that runs all the way down the wind-on shaft, and a previous owner tried forcing things after it broke and jammed, and mangled half the coils putting it beyond repair.
I chatted with Chris Sherlock in New Zealand about it. He's an ex-Kodak techie, now a repairer specialising in collecting and repairing Retinas, and a generally a very nice helpful person. We've exchanged a few experiences with camera repairs (more from him than from me), and he usually has lots of donor bits in stock but, unfortunately, no return springs.
He told me new springs haven't been available for years, so the only chance is either find a dead donor with a good spring or wind a new one. Trouble is, if I find a donor I'll probably want to get it working again, so it looks as if I'll have to wind a new spring, and harden and temper it. Not an insurmountable job, but one of those that needs a bit of preparation so it's in the queue pending a round tuit.
PeterW
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Post by vintageslrs on Aug 30, 2007 13:47:03 GMT -5
Rick
that looks clean as all heck....and purdy too!
Enjoy
Bob
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Aug 30, 2007 15:14:23 GMT -5
Very nice Retina Rick. One I don't have either.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Aug 30, 2007 15:21:34 GMT -5
Rick,
Congratulations.
My son and daughter-in-law gave me one for a gift. It is a beautiful camera that screams "quality".
Should your advance lever jam DO NOT FORCE IT! It is supposed to.
Go to Butkus to download a free owner's manual. Or send out an SOS here.
See the last paragraph on page 15 entitled "the Film Release".
Also set focus to infinity before trying to close the camera.
I spent hours trying to figure out the camera's operation.
Mickey
P.S. This site's morality police converted the infinity sign to a ?. I didn't know a lazy 8 was a dirty word.
M.O.
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Post by Rachel on Aug 31, 2007 4:48:28 GMT -5
Lovely Rick. Aren't Retinas beautiful cameras?
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Post by Dan Vincent on Sept 8, 2007 20:22:15 GMT -5
Rachel, That's a beauty.
Back in the '50's I knew very little about cameras but whenever someone had a "Retina" I was impressed.
A Retina was something that went on my list of things to get someday.
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Post by herron on Sept 9, 2007 0:46:58 GMT -5
Looks super, Rick. I've got a 1-a and a III that I hardly ever use anymore...but when I see a nice shot of someone else's acquistion, it always makes me itch to go get some film and load it! 
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Sept 9, 2007 8:25:48 GMT -5
Retina question....
My Retina 1b has an excellent viewfinder, one of the best on that type of camera. It also has a very smooth film
advance/shutter cocking lever.
My Retina II has one of the worst viewfinders I have ever seen and has reverted back to a nasty little film wind knob and manual shutter cocking.
Was the II manufactured before the Ib?
But yes. They are both beautiful cameras.
Mickey
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Sept 11, 2007 12:42:37 GMT -5
Sunday Camera Fair Ten dollars gave me this Kodak close up rangefinder and three close up lenses to match in leather case.. The rangefinder has three focussing ranges; one for each of the three close up auxiliary lenses which are marked N I, N II & N III. The finder tilts as one focusses closer to compensate for parallax. It seems to be made expressly for the Retina Ib with 50mm lens. It is of the same high quality as the Retina camera. Mickey     |
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Sept 11, 2007 18:29:02 GMT -5
Mickey:
Yes, it was. The original II (Type 122) first appeared in 1936 and is quite a rare model with only 4,600 made. It had the shutter release button on the top of the stepped top cover, and had a lever wind.
In 1937 it was replaced by the II (Type 142) with a knob wind and a release button down on the lower part of the top cover. About 51,700 of these were made. There were two more versions of the II, and two of the IIa, before the Ib appeared.
Your Ib looks like a Type 018 which appeared in 1954. About 161,000 were made in three years before it as replacd by the IB Type 019 with a built-in exposure meter. To my mind the Ib is better looking.
All the above info is from Brian Coe's book.
You did well at the Sunday Camera Fair, with both the Graflex and the Retina rangefinder complete with supplementary lenses. The complete set is almost in the hen's teeth category over here.
PeterW
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Post by paulatukcamera on Sept 12, 2007 16:39:59 GMT -5
If you want to know the "ins & outs" of pre-war and post war Retina history there is only one book:
Retina Manual > Edward S Bomback > Fountain Press > October 1956. 385 pages of the most intimate secrets of the Retina range and their accessories. Pages of photographs of every variant.
This is not to be confused with the much smaller (& more common) Retina handbook by Edward S Bombach > Fountain Press > 1957 > 159 pages.
Pictures of most variants, but quite small and difficult to see details.
Much more common:
The Retina Way by O R Croy >Focal Press
I have the following and give details here as a guide
Third edition > 1954 > 244 pages - Very detailed drawings and operating instructions for the Retina 1a & 11a
The Ninth Edition > 1959 > 336 pages - Very detailed drawings and operating instructions for the Retina 11C, 111C, 11S & 111S
The Tenth Edition (& last) > 1966 > 351 Pages - Very detailed drawings and operating instructions for the Retina 1F & 11F
Each new edition relegates the older models to a summary section in the back. Still with diagrams rather than photographs.
That's why the Bombach Manual is so superior.
Here are the dates of Retina Way Editions, so you can work out what version covers your camera
1) June 1952, 2) April 1953 3) March 1954 4) March 1955 5) October 1955 6) June 1956 7) March 1957 8) November 1957 9) May 1959 10) April 1966 (Also there is a Retina Reflex Way)
The smaller Retina Guide by Focal Press
I have the last one. 22nd Edition (Focal Press1963) Covers all the Automatics + 1F - 79 Pages - same sort of line drawings as in the Retina Way.
There is also an American Retina Guide which I have, but cannot find to give a reference!
Plus Tydings Guide to Kodak miniature cameras > Greenberg New York No Date but deals with (amongst others) the Retina 11a
I hope you find this a useful reference. It will help you sort out the various models. If you are as keen on Retinas as I am (I think I now have over 20 - mainly from the late 50s & early 1960s keep the little blighters in the dark and they seem to multiply!) then the Retina Way & the Bombach manual have all the information you could want.
Paul
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