Just received delivery of a beautiful 16" Vitax. It's missing the small knobs to facilitate moving the aperture ring. I can do it, but its very difficult since the ring is smooth with nothing to grip on to. That tiny knob seems pretty essential. I see two tiny machined holes where the knob(s) should go.
Anyone have one (or two), or can suggest a suitable substitute?
Many thanks.
I would take the shutter or lens to a Home Depot, and try out machine screws until you find the right one. Then get a small metal cylinder or bushing that fits on the screw. Screw them on and it will work to move the iris.
Garrett
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Thanks, Garrett. I'll probably just go and bring back a selection of machine screws. Rather not lug this lovely and massive chunk of glass and brass around : )
Originally Posted by goamules
Is your new vitax this one? 301128011407. If so very pretty. I love mine!
Yes, one and the same. It looks even more stunning up close. For a big lens that's nearly a century old (I think), it does't look like it was ever really used.
Frankly, I was shocked at how nice it was when I unpacked it. I guess I alway expect the worse.
Can't wait to start using it. I'll be picking up a Century Master Studio stand over the weekend to sit a 11x14 Deardorff on (w/8x10 back). Finally getting it off a table in my basement. I got the camera specifically to use big heavy lenses on.
Would love to see shots you've made with it (or anybody out there). Perhaps I should start a Vitax 16" images thread. Frankly, that's not a bad idea, to start *specific* lens/images threads. That way we can all see how specific lenses render images, using many submitted examples. I think that would be a useful research tool. Or has this been done?
Be careful of screws on old lenses, I doubt HD would have them that small,
I could be wrong, but my experience with HD for machine screws
has always been a waste of time, I'd rather order a box 100 from McMaster
at least they'll have them.
The thread may be an odd one, in working on my Volute shutters some
of the screws defy matching for standard machine screws, they may
be watch screw threads or metric.
Thanks Jim. Good point. So I'll throw this question out there: Anybody know the exact machine screw size for the tiny aperture knob(s) on the front of Wollensak Studio 5 shutters?
Other than someone unscrewing one, and happening to have a thread gauge, and a lens the exact same year, no one knows. Wollensak are a late American company, and should be standardized to modern thread pitches. I would say you'd easily find a fit.
Last edited by goamules; 3-Apr-2014 at 18:36.
Garrett
flickr galleries
Is this lens in a large (like a #5) Studio shutter? I'm trying to picture the lens as I used to have one.
Come to think of it, a picture would be helpful!
You may want to try Ace Hardware. They generally have a much more extensive selection of specialty screws than other places.
Tim
www.ScottPhoto.co
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