My SEI is still working just fine, but I’m certainly no expert on this meter, nor am I really qualified as an electrical engineer. But I can offer some suggestions. First, it seems that since you say both the battery and the bulb/spares are working, but the bulb does not work when installed in the meter, then I’d guess either the bulb is not grounded or the microswitch (button on the rheostat) is faulty. First check that the battery is inserted correctly – the negative end of the battery should be inserted first per page 3 of this illustration:
http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes...Photometer.pdf
If that doesn’t solve the issue, then you may have to figure out how to partially disassemble the rheostat region to insure that the lamp switch (button) is grounded and is closing the circuit. The best person I know of who has done work with the rheostat is Bill Burk on the Photrio forum. Here’s one of his threads about repair work he’s done on the rheostat part:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/thread...cement.136097/
Incidentally, when I bought my SEI new, there was a phenolic liner in the battery compartment, wrapped around the D-size battery. It was simply a tube - slit over its full length - and could be slid into the chamber before inserting the battery. Its purpose is to prevent the brass bulb holder from falling out when the chamber is empty. However, I found that D-cell batteries do not have tight standards between brands on their diameters, because the batteries I use would not slide out easily because the thickness of the phenolic liner was a hair too thick, creating enough friction to hold the battery in place. So I made my own liner with a clear piece of plastic material .002” maximum thickness, and the battery now slides out OK.
If you ever need to replace the bulb, you must remove this liner and allow the brass bulb holder to come out, then after screwing a new bulb into the holder, reinstall the holder. Note that the holder has a notch at one point on its circumference; this notch MUST align with a peg on the innards of the meter. It’ll be obvious by just looking at it. Then replace the liner, insert the battery, and screw on the rheostat housing.
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