Restoration And Repair, Camera Body | Argus Camera ARGUS A instruction

7 Restoration And Repair

One of the great advantages of the Argus A is how easy it is to repair. This chapter will discuss repairs by dividing the camera into three main sections: the Body, the Neck, and the Shutter (see Fig. 4-1).

Inevitably, when talking about camera repair, one runs into the “Q-Tip Question”: Should one use Q-Tips when working on a camera? The problem lies in the fact that tiny hairs from the ends of a Q-Tip will lodge themselves in hidden places and prevent the camera from working properly. Careful inspection is necessary to ensure those hairs are found and removed before reassembly. Your author has carefully used Q-Tips in several camera restoration projects and has never had a problem, but has found plenty of stray hairs along the way. Thus the decision is left to the reader. If one truly has difficulty with this idea, simply replace the word “Q-Tip” with “toothpick with a tiny cloth tied around the end”.

The repairs mentioned in this chapter are intended to be repairs that a reasonable person with no/minimal experience can accomplish. If there is any doubt as to whether you can complete these tasks, take your Argus to a local camera shop for repair.

Safety first! Common sense will protect you from most danger, so use it. If you use any flammable fluid, you must ensure that there is no source of flame present and that the area is well ventilated. When disassembling a shutter, wear eye protection to prevent loose springs from flying out and damaging your eyes.

The Camera Body

The Body is largely a piece of bakelite and cleaning it is relatively simple. Almost all dirt can be removed by scrubbing it with a dampened toothbrush. Before using chemicals or cleaning fluids to remove dirt from the Body, test them on a small, hidden part of the camera first. Keep in mind that some chemicals are known to damage some varieties of bakelite.

Be sure to clean the inside of the camera for dust, which may settle on the negative and ruin photographs. Bakelite has a tendency to attract dust, so be diligent.

Film Transport Mechanism

Unfortunately, the workings of the film transport mechanism are covered by a metal block that is glued into place. This makes repairs very difficult. If faced with such a problem, consider acquiring another camera.

The Sprocket Wheels, the shaft they spin on, and the Winding Shaft are often corroded. This doesn’t affect the operation of the camera unless the corrosion is flaking off, in which case you must remove the loose corrosion with a damp rag.

Film Advance Knob

The Film Advance Knob is one of the simplest parts of the camera, and has seen no significant change throughout its 15 year life. It is made of aluminum and is attached to the main body of the camera by a simple screw.

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