Contax I reanimated

So last year I picked up a Contax I (version...4 or 5 depending on which literature you put your faith in) for a decent price.

It didn't work for very long. As with more modern relatives of this camera the shutter curtains conked out. In this case during the first roll I put through it.

 

Last photo before the shutter imploded

 

Doing some research I found there's actually very little information on these cameras out there. I don't think Zeiss ever kept maintenance manuals for them because the camera went through some 7 different versions, presumably all prototypes, before they finally switched to the Contax II.

Luckily there's group of fellows over at RFF who are in the same boat as me.

 

With a little help I managed to tear it down to the point where I could replace the straps

 

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/Contax003.jpg

 

Unfortunately finding the right strap material is a challenge. You need the right width, thickness and texture for the buckles to function properly as the shutter runs down.

The fellow who services my Contax IIs was so generous that sent me a couple of different materials to try.

 

A custom rig helped me lay out and measure the correct length needed.

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/Contax008.jpg

 

After trying one type of replacement strap that was too coarse I settled on the straps sold by Aki-Asahi (as I learned later). These looked too thin, but actually seem to operate well.

 

So putting it all back together, biggest trick was re-tensioning the main spring roller. This is actually made up of a tube with three separate sections all connected to a central axle with their own spring. Very easy to ruin by letting things slip or turn the wrong way.

 

Of course I lost count on the number of turns during the first attempt, It should approximate 8 turns. Testing showed the 1/2 second and 1/5th weren't closing the shutter fully. Two more attempts and about 1.5 turns to the drum later I managed to get them to work. But I have no way to check if the proper shutter speeds are attained without equipment.

A nastier problem here is that the Contax I shutter crate is very soft aluminum and the screws that hold the roller in place wear out fairly quickly. So the number of times one could adjust the shutter are limited.

 

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/Contax1d02.jpg

 

Early in the new year I shot another roll with it....only for the film to slip off the take-up spool after a few exposures

From the couple of images I got I could still see a difference between the 1/100th in the Medium Speeds Group and the 1/100th in the Sports Speeds Group.

 

1/100th Sports, looks like it's running a little fast, judging by the exposure.

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/ContaxTest02.jpg

 

 

So I fine-tuned the roller spring one more time and while I was at it I replaced the half-mirror in the rangefinder.

Unfortunately here I can't get to the mirror/prism on the other side without doing a major tear down. At least there's some RF image now, if somewhat faint.

 

And of course it needed a jacket and a strap to look dead sexy.

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/contaxcase.jpg

 

Got a third test roll in it now. Hopefully third time's a charm.

Watch this space!

 

 

Also, I'm working on putting together my Al Meserlin get-up for Market Garden this year. ;)

Congratulations on your Contax--I look forward to seeing more results.

Sooo Rick.. is this final image a real image from back in the day or is this some friends???

 

Wow what a job you've done on this camera. I see these on the Bay occasionally and none of them are in very good condition. Please do post again from your third roll.

That is a most admirable job Rick. Congratulations. Will make you look the part during your re-enactments!

beuatiful job on restoration and the pictures taken with it.Some thing very esthetic about the cameras designed in the 1930s. Keep up the work and post more. I always enjoy your pots. Thanks. SP.

That guy in the middle, with what else but a Contax, sure looks like the guy all over my screen after a Google search. . .very interesting bio, the camera now resurrected by Rick should be grabbed by Hollywood should a picture be made. Great Job! Aloha, Bill

Thanks for the replies everyone. We'll just keep on keeping on.

 

Sooo Rick.. is this final image a real image from back in the day or is this some friends???

 

That, Chuck, is Al Meserlin. Member of the 165th Signal Photo Company with two colleagues training for the parachute jump into the Netherlands during Operation Market-Garden in 1944. Al never made it though, he was pulled off the operation to become Eisenhower's personal photographer. I'm told he was apparently the only one sober enough to pick up the phone when the request came :D)

So many interesting details in this photo; they are wearing M43 uniforms modified for the airborne troops, but they have sewn on the old "Cameraman Official" patch on their right shoulder. While this patch should officially be worn on the lower left sleeve and by the time of this photo wast taken it was already replaced by the black/gold arched patch (official order July 1944).

The man on the right is using a 35mm Bell & Howell 71-Z A-4 Bomb-spotting camera, which was starting to get phased out in favour of the Bell & Howell 71-Q Eyemo.

Fantastic...This takes some beating when it comes to innovative thinking and sheer perseverance. I'm looking forward to some samples from the third roll!

Again, I'm mightily impressed!

 

Congratulations!

Some images from the test roll I shot over the last couple of days.

 

5cm f/2.8 Tessar, Fomapan 100 (HC-110, B, 6.5m, 20C)

 

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg154/albums/userpics/10001/CT170303.jpg

 

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg154/albums/userpics/10001/CT170308.jpg

 

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg154/albums/userpics/10001/CT170310.jpg

 

http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg154/albums/userpics/10001/CT170311.jpg

 

I still have the feeling that the medium speeds are a bit too slow and the sports speeds are a bit too fast.

Taking the film out of the camera in a change bag instead of rewinding in the camera didn't stop the negatives from getting scratched either.

Congratulations, Rick. Great results! Just thinking about fixing a Contax scares me.

I'm getting used to it. I took the shutter speed dial apart yesterday evening....took me 2 hours to get it back together in working order hah!

2 hours is probably the fastest it's ever been done.

 

So far all my Contax IIs (out of Zeiss Kiev, that is), and my IIa are still working as they should, but someday I'll need this post I'm sure.

 

Good for you!

 

Wish I could be there for the (re)enactments, for sure.

Contax II and IIa shutters are somewhat easier (and not as destructive) to get into, luckily.

My Contax/Kiev/Zorki/FED guy does a great job on them.

 

Our annual event at the Dutch Army Engineer Museum is coming up this weekend. I'm doing a 165th Signal Photo Company display with a buddy. Al Meserlin mentioned above started out in the 165th as well.

I don't think I'll be bringing the Contax though, unless there's enough room on the jeep ;)

 

Hi Rick,

 

Nice Contax I and photos.

I am researching how to open and repair a Contax I I just bought.

I found your posting that has some good info as how to open it.

Do you have some more photo of the steps that you took to disassemble your Contax I?

If so, could you please share them, thanks a lot.

Great job, Rick and nice photos. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with any future fine-tuning of this amazing camera.

Cheers Mike & Tom,

 

There's a topic or two over at Rangefinderforum with lots of information on tearing down and replacing the straps on the Contax I cameras. Erik van Straten posted the tear-down sequence to get to the shutter. Drawolid has posted a lot of pictures of his repair and Deklari has posted some sketches on how the shutter works:

Contax I ribbons - Rangefinderforum.com

 

It's the best collection of information on the Contax I out there.