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Post by John Farrell on Nov 24, 2023 1:22:39 GMT
In another thread, I discussed the purchase of a Contax II with broken shutter ribbons. Today, I set out to fit replacement ribbons. I took the tension off the lower shutter curtain, and was setting up to pass the new ribbons through the loops on the top of the curtain, when I noticed that the top shutter slat, and its attached fitting, could be moved sideways.  This means that the leather straps which fix the ends of the slat have broken. These straps run down both sides of the curtain, and the slats fold over them. The straps on both curtains will need replaced...which means the shutter has to be removed, the curtains taken out, and the bent over ends on each slat opened up. The slats are thin, 86 years old, and the ends can snap off. Or, if I can find one, I could fit a working Kiev shutter. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2023 3:21:51 GMT
Do note that fitting Arsenal ribbon to original Contax blinds as the Arsenal ribbon is slightly thicker - Zeiss Jena engineers amended the design of the clutches during development of the Kiev (originally to be called the Volga)to use the available ribbon. There are issues with trying to use Kiev escapement gears in the shutter escapement assembly as the gear tooth cutting is slightly different, and at some point Arsenal altered the number of teeth so they will no mesh with the Ziess originals. Most of the body and back castings can be interchanged, however not so for the Kiev 4 as the back design was altered and the tripod bush moved to the camera body rather than the camera back. However a Contax mechanism will fit a Kiev 4, as will all the chrome parts, to make a 'Kievtax' 4.
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Post by John Farrell on Nov 24, 2023 5:29:04 GMT
I was going to fit a ribbon I found at a local fabric shop - it is the right width and thickness, and not stretchy. If I fitted a Kiev shutter, it would be a complete transplant.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2023 7:39:27 GMT
The early Post-War Kiev 2 Type 1a cameras were made using some original Contax parts from Germany, and produced only in 1947. If you were to do a shutter swap, I highly recommend using this camera or you might try finding a Pre-War Contax II on Ebay.com.Australia. Good luck, my fingers are crossed in hoping that you pull off in repairing one of the most complicated cameras ever engineered.  |
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Post by gray1720 on Nov 24, 2023 12:26:19 GMT
At which point do you decide it's munted, John?
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Post by John Farrell on Nov 24, 2023 18:06:19 GMT
At which point do you decide it's munted, John? A replacement shutter would fix it...if I can find a working, reasonably priced Kiev. I have a Kiev, but that's in almost new condition, so it would be a shame to scrap it. |
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Post by JohnY on Nov 25, 2023 17:04:24 GMT
I have no personal experience of Contax or Leica shutters but remember from years ago photographic pundits claiming that Contax shutters became overcomplicated in order to work around patents owned by Leica.
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Post by John Farrell on Nov 25, 2023 18:43:24 GMT
I have no personal experience of Contax or Leica shutters but remember from years ago photographic pundits claiming that Contax shutters became overcomplicated in order to work around patents owned by Leica. I've seen that claim - and also one that Zeiss Ikon enjoyed complication for its own sake. The shutter blinds are quite simple - a set of interlocking slats like the top of a roll topped desk. The complexity is in the escapements which control the shutter speed. The camera is modular - the shutter can be removed as a unit, which includes all of the winding and timing apparatus. |
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