problem with diaphram blades

[dizzy1]

I have a Zeiss Ikon 9x12 press camera with a Frontar f/9 lens. The

problem with the lens is that one of the 12 diaphram blades is always

out of place. So the lens opening doesnt make a perfect circle but an

imperfect one. I believe that one of the blades are drooping. If I

take a screw driver and gently touch the blade I can put it back into

place, but the next time I stop down the aperture the blade droops

again. See the attached picture, if it helps..

 

My questin is, how can I (can I?) fix this? Is it something serious

that I might need to take it to a camera service? I am worried about

the service people messing up this precious vintage camera and would

much rather do it myself. Should I try to cotton swab some wd-40 on

it? or should I not get any lubricant on the blades? Do you think it

is a mechanical problem? (a busted spring/bearing?)

 

Thank you all for your help..

 

If anyone is wondering it is a Zeiss-IKON simplex 112/7 camera with a

Frontar f/9 14cm lens.<div></div>

[conrad_hoffman]

It's either a broken pivot on the blade, or the pivot has come out of the hole or slot it rides in. If you haven't had a lot of experience assembling aperture mechanisms, don't mess with it. Take it to someone that does this on a regular basis.

[thomas_vaehrmann]

Hi Dizzy,

 

first, don't try to lub diaphragm blades, they should always be dry and clean. If they are made of metal lighter fluid or alcohole might be the right stuff to clean them. If you can push the blade back and it will drop out again it might be worn. The blades are mostly made of thin metal and the fixing pin is just stamped out. If yout take the shutter apart to look at the blades you will see if it's worn. I don't know what kind of shutter your camera has. Perhaps tightening the screws that hold the shutter together will help. Old Compur shutters are sensible to this because the escapement for the long times might be blocked. If I remember right, Frontar is an name Zeiss took from Goerz who used it for their cheaper lenses. Perhaps you should change the whole lens or even the camera.

[gene m]

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