Hello, Steven and everyone with universal heliars.
I’ve got an universal heliar and am trying to clean the element surfaces in between the front element and the middle one.
My sample is pre WWII but not the very first one without “universal”.
I removed the rear element and the screw on the side to control the aperture blades, then what’s the next step?
Do I need to remove the aperture ring as shown in the pic?
Thanks for your help!
Yes, take off aperture ring and the black sheath part will slide off toward the front. I see you already have the nubs off. Keep track of how the middle element is oriented. It may be symmetrical or it may need to be in a certain direction. Put tape on the outside to remember, maybe. I am worried I got distracted by someone and put mine in backwards after losing orientation. Could you do me a favor?
It all has the last 2 digits of the serial number written on several of the components. The middle lens element has wiring on it. Can you tell me if that goes in with the top of the numbers pointing toward the front or the rear element?
Thanks!!!
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Like this, Steven’s SN must have ended in 45, and mine had that number written in pencil on the glass elements too
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Overall, it was pretty easy to clean in the end as long as the threads are all clean enough to unscrew.
nerlogic, thanks for your help!
Yes, indeed my serial number ends with 98.
The retaining sheath is engraved with 98.
It’s amazing how Voigtlander had the passion and effort to keep the universal heliars to the highest quality!!
It all has the last 2 digits of the serial number written on several of the components. The middle lens element has wiring on it. Can you tell me if that goes in with the top of the numbers pointing toward the front or the rear element?
The middle element has both concave curves.
What do you mean by “wiring”, writing?
Writing, yes.
I need to pull mine apart to get a flange made (so I can ship it), so you’re giving me the motivation to go do it. I’ll check my middle element alignment later tonight too. Thanks!
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Attachment 216639
Attachment 216640
I don’t see any writing on the middle element at this point.
Do I need to take the lens element from the brass casket??
I add additional photos for others in future….
I needed to realign the aperture scale marking line zeroed to f4.5, so the apertures are wide open.
I removed the retaining screw on the side as shown in pic, realigned the blades so that the dent of the aperture blade ring to accept the screw through the barrel is right at the position f4.5.
Everything was ok until I broke the screw with a excess torque against the retaining ring when assembling.
Now I can’t remove the retaining ring, so I’m going to enlarge the hole by milling, removing the remainder of the screw from the brass and retapping….
Very interesting to learn the mechanisms and the engineering though….
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