Voigtlander Bergheil 9x12 Shift Control Not Moving

[Renato Tonelli]

I can't figure out how to get the Lateral Shift to work on a new to me Voigtlander Bergheil 9x12 Camera.

As best as I can tell, the top left knurled knob is supposed to control the the Lateral Shift; it does not turn. I thought that it might be in locked position via the lever that sits between the pull-out eyelets. Changing its position makes no difference.

I don't want to force the knob with a plier for fear of damaging it. Any ideas?

BTW: The Rise and Fall works smoothly.

Thanks in advance.

[rjmeyer314]

Do you have to pull the knob out to get it to engage?

[Two23]

On my Zeiss Tropen Adoro I have to pull the knob out.


Kent in SD

[LabRat]

I have also had mysterious jamming on my copy of a Bergheil, like standard will not slide into body, but suspect mine is tweaked...

But for now, 15cm Heliar is happy on my Linhof waiting for the camera to figure out what it wants to do...

Steve K

[Chuck Pere]

Bergheil shift knob does not need to be pulled out. At least not on my version.

[Renato Tonelli]

Bergheil shift knob does not need to be pulled out. At least not on my version.

Same on mine; just plain stuck; probably dry lubrication - if I turn the knob really hard, the shift works. I brought it to the Camera Dr. in NYC. I couldn't see my way to take the mechanism apart.