B&L compound shutter?

On 2/26/2004 12:37 PM Nick Zentena spake thus:

I know this isn't really large format but I bet you're all more
likely to know more about compound shutters then any other newsgroup. I
picked up a Kodak 1a fitted with a B&L compound shutter. I guess built under
license? For the first time ever I have a shutter that runs way too fast.
None of the slow speeds seem to work. T & B do work just fine. The problem
is I figure I need to run the lens at F/16 or smaller to get a reasonable
image. That isn't likely to work well with a real fast shutter. Any chance
that adjusting the shutter is an easy fix? The dial on top is labeled 1 to
250 but only seems to go to 100.

If the shutter really is a Compound, that means it's a pneumatically-operated
shutter. I recently disassembled, cleaned and lubed one; they're not terribly
difficult. I'm not surprised it runs way too fast--the air piston might be
frozen, in which case there's no delay at all.

There is an adjustment screw on the front, a largish screw at upper right,
which regulates the speeds. Chances are, though, that it may have no effect,
but try it anyway. (It's a cam that rotates through 360°.)


--
It's fun to demonize the neo-cons and rejoice in their discomfiture, but
don't make the mistake of thinking US foreign policy was set by Norman
Podhoretz or William Kristol. They're the clowns capering about in front of
the donkey and the elephant. The donkey says the UN should clean up after
them, and the elephant now says the donkey may have a point. Somebody has
come out with a dustpan and broom.

- Alexander Cockburn, _CounterPunch_
(http://www.counterpunch.org), 9/17/03

David Nebenzahl wrote:

shutter. I recently disassembled, cleaned and lubed one; they're not te=
rribly=20
difficult. I'm not surprised it runs way too fast--the air piston might=
be=20
frozen, in which case there's no delay at all.
=20
There is an adjustment screw on the front, a largish screw at upper rig=
ht,=20
which regulates the speeds. Chances are, though, that it may have no ef=
fect,=20
but try it anyway. (It's a cam that rotates through 360=C2=B0.)


I took off the dial that sets the speeds. Underneath is a lever that I
guess gets adjusted by the dial. The lever is stuck hard. I guess I need =
to
take some more off-))

Thanks
Nick

On 2/27/2004 4:54 AM Nick Zentena spake thus:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

shutter. I recently disassembled, cleaned and lubed one; they're not terribly
difficult. I'm not surprised it runs way too fast--the air piston might be
frozen, in which case there's no delay at all.

There is an adjustment screw on the front, a largish screw at upper right,
which regulates the speeds. Chances are, though, that it may have no effect,
but try it anyway. (It's a cam that rotates through 360°.)

I took off the dial that sets the speeds. Underneath is a lever that I
guess gets adjusted by the dial. The lever is stuck hard. I guess I need to
take some more off-))

Go ahead and take the faceplate off; there are no little parts about to spring
into the fifth dimension inside. You should be able to see what you need to
take off and clean further (the pneumatic cylinder and piston, most likely).


--
It's fun to demonize the neo-cons and rejoice in their discomfiture, but
don't make the mistake of thinking US foreign policy was set by Norman
Podhoretz or William Kristol. They're the clowns capering about in front of
the donkey and the elephant. The donkey says the UN should clean up after
them, and the elephant now says the donkey may have a point. Somebody has
come out with a dustpan and broom.

- Alexander Cockburn, _CounterPunch_
(http://www.counterpunch.org), 9/17/03

"Nick Zentena" wrote in message
...

I know this isn't really large format but I bet you're
all more
likely to know more about compound shutters then any other
newsgroup. I
picked up a Kodak 1a fitted with a B&L compound shutter. I
guess built under
license? For the first time ever I have a shutter that
runs way too fast.
None of the slow speeds seem to work. T & B do work just
fine. The problem
is I figure I need to run the lens at F/16 or smaller to
get a reasonable
image. That isn't likely to work well with a real fast
shutter. Any chance
that adjusting the shutter is an easy fix? The dial on top
is labeled 1 to
250 but only seems to go to 100.

Nick

The Compound was built under license by Bausch & Lomb from
some time in the teens until around the mid 1930's. B&L also
built Compur shutters under contract. Neither shutter is
identical to the German made ones, with differences in
threads and other details.
The Compound is a very reliable shutter with an air-brake
regulator. The speed adjustment is inside. At one time there
was some information on Compound shutters on Steve Grimes
site, it may still be there http://www.skgrimes.com AFAIK,
Compound shutters were the best of the large size shutters.
They were made by Fredrick Deckel, in Germany, from about
1905 (not sure of this date) until sometime in the late
1970's, a pretty long lifetime for any product. Be careful
of the shutter and diaphragm blades, in some early Compounds
they are of a fiber material or hard rubber (Ebonite).


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Richard Knoppow wrote:
regulator. The speed adjustment is inside. At one time there
was some information on Compound shutters on Steve Grimes
site, it may still be there http://www.skgrimes.com AFAIK,


There is a photo of one taken apart on the website. Seems easy enough
for me to make a mess of.

Thanks
Nick

David Nebenzahl wrote:


Go ahead and take the faceplate off; there are no little parts about to spring
into the fifth dimension inside. You should be able to see what you need to
take off and clean further (the pneumatic cylinder and piston, most likely).


If I get the chance today I will. Can't be too hard. Famous last words.

Nick

On 2/28/2004 5:13 AM Nick Zentena spake thus:

Richard Knoppow wrote:
regulator. The speed adjustment is inside. At one time there
was some information on Compound shutters on Steve Grimes
site, it may still be there http://www.skgrimes.com AFAIK,

There is a photo of one taken apart on the website. Seems easy enough
for me to make a mess of.

Oh, yeah. Want to hang yourself? We'll sell you the rope, cheap.


--
It's fun to demonize the neo-cons and rejoice in their discomfiture, but
don't make the mistake of thinking US foreign policy was set by Norman
Podhoretz or William Kristol. They're the clowns capering about in front of
the donkey and the elephant. The donkey says the UN should clean up after
them, and the elephant now says the donkey may have a point. Somebody has
come out with a dustpan and broom.

- Alexander Cockburn, _CounterPunch_
(http://www.counterpunch.org), 9/17/03

On 2/28/2004 4:52 AM Richard Knoppow spake thus:

The Compound is a very reliable shutter with an air-brake
regulator. The speed adjustment is inside. At one time there
was some information on Compound shutters on Steve Grimes
site, it may still be there http://www.skgrimes.com

I looked there but couldn't find anything: is it still there?


--
It's fun to demonize the neo-cons and rejoice in their discomfiture, but
don't make the mistake of thinking US foreign policy was set by Norman
Podhoretz or William Kristol. They're the clowns capering about in front of
the donkey and the elephant. The donkey says the UN should clean up after
them, and the elephant now says the donkey may have a point. Somebody has
come out with a dustpan and broom.

- Alexander Cockburn, _CounterPunch_
(http://www.counterpunch.org), 9/17/03

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
...
On 2/28/2004 4:52 AM Richard Knoppow spake thus:

The Compound is a very reliable shutter with an
air-brake
regulator. The speed adjustment is inside. At one time
there
was some information on Compound shutters on Steve
Grimes
site, it may still be there http://www.skgrimes.com

I looked there but couldn't find anything: is it still
there?

Its still there, just hidden:
http://www.skgrimes.com/compound/index.htm


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA