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Post by guitarphotoman on Apr 26, 2012 0:23:34 GMT -5
Ok so this will be my second thread on the forum. First I would like to say again how great this place is! Here is the Falcon story: jjvphotography.com/blog/archives/125That is my blog I started not to long ago. Basically the problem is the focus is stuck. An aluminum lens housing or "shaft" rides inside a copper tube or "jacket". I can get the housing to move in the jacket if I use a "press" technique where I find a mates size socket to press or tapp the lens housing up or down while alternating it side to side because of the two guide taps that are pressed into the lens housing and ride inside machined slots in the jacket. It will not move my hand though. You are supposed to press in the focus lock release and then turn the focusing ring and this may be done at every focusing point because falconade the lock feature for all focusing points much like cameras have infinity lock. I have tried heat and penetrating oil but no luck. I have also tried polishing the inside of the jacket a bit but still no luck. Any ideas? I dot want to tear this camera up but I also want it to work! I will take it apart again tomorrow and post more photos . Thanks Josh
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Apr 26, 2012 2:41:56 GMT -5
I always find something like this easier to envisage what might work if I have the item in my hands.
Here are some of my musings;
Heat: aluminium has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than copper, so if the aluminium is inside the copper heat would seem to jam it more. I wonder if a spell in the freezer might work.
Aluminium has the wonderful property of rapidly forming an oxide surface, so preventing further corrosion. Unfortunately Aluminium oxide doesn't seem soluble in too many thing. With iron/steel you can see the rust dissolving in the releasing fluid. Presumably it is having no effect on the aluminium oxide. Aluminium oxide is also somewhat abrasive: maybe there is a fine loose film of it preventing smooth easy movement.
I'm presuming you have not been able to physically separate the two as yet. An acid will dissolve the oxide: but which acid? Obviously you don't want anything that will damage the copper. Will vinegar (acetic acid) or coca cola (phosphoric acid) do the job?
If all else fails use Mickey's patience technique. It has taken years to fail but we always expect to put it right in a couple of minutes. Good luck. I've no doubt someone out there will have already solved the problem it's just getting the answer out of that person.
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Post by guitarphotoman on Apr 29, 2012 18:45:48 GMT -5
Well you are right about the heat not helping the process any I guess I didn't think about that and the funny thing is I knew that and am a metals tech guy for a living lol. I haven't ever seen it this bad before between two metals but there is no visible oxidation. Maybe I am doing something wrong with this camera, something simple I'm missing. About the freezer trick, I am no glass lens expert but I'm afraid of cracking the lens... What's your input on that?
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Apr 29, 2012 20:50:18 GMT -5
No idea, but it would be fun for me to let you find out! ;D
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Post by guitarphotoman on Apr 29, 2012 21:09:08 GMT -5
Ok finally I got it working decent again! I polished what I could of the copper, once past a certain point there was a film of oxidation that I had to use some scotch bright pads on. I use only scotch bright on non-ferrous metals. Anyways I coated the inside of the copper tube with a anti seize lubricant to help keep the oxidation out of there. I can see why the utility mfg co and the falcon camera didn't live on. Cool camera, awesome heavy duty parts, but a PITA! It might make a great landscape camera project though I've been thinking about. The specifics of the camera are: it's a model GE with a 50mm anastigmat f4.5 lens that can be stopped down to f16 and has speeds of T, B, 200, 100, 50, and 25 that's how it's labeled and works on the lens. The camera has an extinction meter on top of it which is very interesting!
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Apr 29, 2012 21:15:36 GMT -5
Josh, Since you brought up this subject the other day I got out my Falcon Special. I had never bothered much with it before. Sure enough it is jammed just like yours. I tried Dave's suggestion. I moved over a bowl of grapes and some other delicacies and put it in the refrigerator over night. When I took it out I had a very cold camera but no movement other than a slight turning of the focus ring as before. Today I tried a liberal application of WD40. I'll let it sit overnight and see what happens in the morning. If that fails I will resort to my favourite camera cure - lighter fluid and hope. I will report in due course. As for the extinction meter. I can't figure it out. It looks like an off centre picture of a distant galaxy. With all its problems this camera does have one saving grace. It must rank very close to the top of the list of ugly cameras. The Ugly sisters. And look at that accessory shoe crammed up tight against the meter/viewfinder window as it is I wonder what could fit in it other than a Leitz vertical rangefinder. Mickey
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Post by guitarphotoman on Apr 30, 2012 17:54:22 GMT -5
Hey Mickey, Once you get that focus ring fixed on the falcon use some of the anti seize in there, so far it's staying un-stuck for me. As far as the extinction meter, from what I've read, there is a series of numbers in the viewfinder and you point the meter at the subject and look through the right viewfinder, you will see 12345678 going in a clockwise fashion, the last number just barley viable is your value to transpose on the top of the meter and the rest of the meter is self explanatory. Once you match the top to your value it gives you the aperture and speed you should use based on the film speed you are using. Pretty neat light meter. Look at the mechanics though behind these so called "inexpensive" cameras. Man of we only still built things like this today!
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on May 1, 2012 9:54:27 GMT -5
Josh,
Non of my Magic nostrums are working. The next step is an internal examination. Scalpel please.
Extinction meters depend too heavily on the eyesight of the user and that depends on his/her optical condition and also on the brightness conditions of the environment. There are too many variables. I had such a meter years ago on a Baldinette camera and decided at that time they were not of much use. The Sunny Sixteen rule was much better.
The meter in my Falcon is as I described earlier. It has probably degenerated over the years. As well as the Falcon I have six cameras with extinction meters. Two Universal's, the Buccaneer and the Meteor and four Argus Model A cameras. The Universal meters are useless. The Argus meters are useable but still subject to the above mentioned variables. I am glad that extinction meters are now extinct.
Okay. Now for the exploratory probe. Because there is some movement I am beginning to suspect that the camera was previously dismantled and reassembled incorrectly.
Mickey
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Post by guitarphotoman on May 1, 2012 20:38:11 GMT -5
This is my first dealing with an extinction meter and I'm not exactly a fan of it so far.
I still can't get the focus ring to lock at 4ft. I have to make a tool to remove the lens and shutter in one piece so I can pull the ring completely out and polish the copper jacket/tube completely. Otherwise it works on all focal points.
Have you shot any film through the falcon cameras at all? I need to buy some 127 and 620 film this week.
Btw do you need any detailed photos of the inside of the assembly of the Falcon? How rare do you think these falcon models are? They seem a lot less available vs. other brands.
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Post by 33dollars on May 2, 2012 10:06:21 GMT -5
Is the extinction meter in Weston or ASA scale?. Douh! just looked at the photos. Its Weston speed or 80% of ASA/ISO
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on May 2, 2012 15:04:51 GMT -5
Josh, I have never used the Falcon. Had I tried I would have been disappointed. WHERE CAN YOU GET 620 FILM? ?? Thanks but I don't need photos yet. The focusing mechanism looks fairly simple. I just can't get it to work - yet. Did you find the bushing on each of the two pins? After testing with a ground glass I find the lens, at its closest setting, will not focus at infinity. If I find something is wrong with the lens, and I don't think it has been tampered with, I shall reassemble everything, put it back on the shelf with a "Beware eBay" sign. 33$$, Welcome to CC. The scale is in Weston. It is printed right on the scale on top of the camera. It is good to see you so active. Mickey
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Post by guitarphotoman on May 3, 2012 21:01:10 GMT -5
www.filmforclassics.com/sh_fees.htmlI haven't ordered any yet but I was going to in a few weeks and I'm assuming you can still purchase it. I have quite a few 620 cameras to try out and my favorite camera ever the bantam uses 828 which is listed there as well. Freestyle photographic supplies also carries some older format films as well. I may try to shoot a small roll through the Falcon and post results.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on May 4, 2012 6:31:46 GMT -5
Josh,
You must have missed the top line of the site you suggested.
"Film For Classics (F.F.C.) will discontinue direct sales as of January 1, 2009."
Where film is the subject three years can be a very long time these days.
I hope those films are still available at one or more of the dealers mentioned - at an affordable price.
Mickey
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Post by guitarphotoman on May 4, 2012 6:44:06 GMT -5
I did miss the top line B & H has 620 color listed for sale but currently out of stock. A last result is re-rolling 120 onto 620 spools. Although I have thought about making some modifications to my 620 cameras to except 120 I have also read that in some 620 cameras you can cut down the plastic 120 spools to fit but only some will except the spools even cut down. It's amazing how scarce film has become in the last 12 years. In 2000 that's all any used and I did multiple documentaries on the unrestored section of Ellis Island using a slew of odd films. I do have a digital SLR now and it is a great tool but still nothing compared to the quality and romance of film. Although because of the digital age comming about, I shortly followed a different career path from photography. It seemed that anyone with money now considered themselves photographers and I just was tired of competing . I do it for the history and art now.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jun 1, 2012 10:38:12 GMT -5
Eureka! It is working. It is stiff but it works. Shutter seems accurate. Extinction meter is kaput. I think it is a nasty, unnecessarily over engineered, poorly designed, piece of --- equipment. I have no desire to put some good film through it. Mickey
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