Appreciation post: I gave up on a 'lost cause' Contax rangefinder from a flea market

Found a Contax II with a totally frozen focus cam at a swap meet in Portland, figured it was just for parts. On a whim, I tried a drop of pure acetone on the stuck part, not expecting much. To my surprise, after letting it sit overnight, the cam turned freely with just a bit of pressure. It taught me that sometimes the simplest, old-school solvent can work where modern lubricants fail. Anyone have a good source for the tiny screws that hold the viewfinder prism in these old things?

2 comments

2 Comments

cooper.reese4d ago

My buddy Stan had a similar win with an old Zorki 4 he found in a Seattle junk shop. The film advance lever was completely seized up, rusted solid. He was ready to scrap it for parts. On a hunch, he used a tiny bit of kerosene, the kind for old lanterns, and let it soak for two full days. He said it broke free with a quiet pop, and now it works perfectly. It's amazing what those basic solvents can do on old metal. For your screws, he always swore by a seller on eBay called "vintagecameraparts.

sarahjenkins4d ago

Oh man, that kerosene trick is a lifesaver. I had a Fed 2 with a stuck focus ring that nothing would touch, not even the fancy penetrating oil I bought. My grandpa told me to try a drop of sewing machine oil and just leave it alone for a week. I did, and it finally gave way with this tiny little sigh, like it was relieved. Those old Soviet cameras are stubborn but they want to work, you just have to be more patient than they are. I'll have to remember that eBay seller for the next time I strip a screw head.