Auto Semi Minolta found todayih

[barbarian]

I found this today for $25. I'm thinking the 1937 model, because the shutter release is on the door, but it has an f3.5 75mm Promar in a Compur shutter.

Some pinholes in the bellows, and a spring seems to have come loose from the shutter release assembly, so you have to pull the shutter release back to take another shot.

Need attention on the leather, and two of the beveled panel on the door have lost leather.

Worth my time to clean it up?

[barbarian]

[julio1fer]

I am not a specialist, if it is an uncommon model it may be worth recovering.

Bellows look shot, which is a problem, unless you can find a replacement. Sandeha Lynch in UK used to build bellows.

I have a Semi that is a nice little picture taker, but I believe it is a postwar model.

[barbarian]

The Auto Semi is an entirely different camera, essentially a copy of the Welta Weltur.

Looks like I can get replacement bellows for $39, which is not bad. I got everything working,but the slow shutter speeds are still sticky.


Apparently, it's the very first model, produced before Minolta had any shutters made. So it has a Compur. Made in 1937 or 1938, it seems.

And yes, when I was checking it out, the bellows pretty much disintegrated. You'd think it would last longer than 82 years. Sheesh.

[julio1fer]

Indeed, entirely different model from the Semi. Probably it is worth the hassle.

I have a growing respect for Zeiss bellows.