Argus Camera ARGUS A2 manual Pre-War Shutter

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As a shutter mechanism ages, terrible things happen. Dirt enters the mechanism, lubricants thicken, and moving parts start to freeze up or get sticky. To reverse the effects of time, a very thin oil must be injected into the moving joints of the mechanism. It is very important to use as little lubricant as possible. Too much oil attracts dirt and the mechanism will just jam up again; this cannot be overstressed. The problem is, therefore, to place very little oil, much less than a drop, into the right places.

To solve this problem, we will have to turn to Capillary Action. This particular scientific phenomenon maintains that fluids naturally flow into very small places. To see Capillary Action at work, dip the corner of a paper towel into a glass of water. The water will crawl up the paper towel even above the level of the water, defying gravity. The Capillary Action sucks the water up into the pores in the paper towel. This scientific principle will be applied to ensure that just the right amount of oil reaches the correct places.

The best oil to use is high-quality synthetic watch oil. Less costly and easier to find alternatives include sewing machine oil, lighter fluid, and two-cycle engine fuel. The author has used two-cycle engine fuel (40 parts gasoline to 1 part oil) and has not run into any problems.

Now that we know how we will deposit the oil, where do we put it? Do not let lubricant get on the shutter blades or the iris. Try to keep lubricant off of the teeth of any gear. The only part of the mechanism that needs to be lubricated are the gear and lever spindles. These are the shafts that levers and gears spin on. In the Argus shutters, all of the spindles run parallel to the direction light travels through the mechanism; they are easily accessible when you remove the Face Plate of the Shutter (this will be described later).

Now to put it all together. To lubricate the shutter mechanism and timer clockwork, dip one end of a Q-tip, or alternatively a toothpick, into the lubricant. If you are using a Q-Tip, hold the dipped end against a paper towel for one second so that the excess lubricant flows away. Now press it to the spindle end. A small amount of lubricant will seep from the Q-Tip to the spindle and lubricate it. Work the mechanism so that the lubricant is spread around.

The Pre-War Shutter

The pre-war shutter is found on the Argus A, AF, pre-war A2B, and A2F. While the shutter is generally the same, the face plates are differ considerably. This is the same shutter found on the Argus A3 and Argus ColorCamera (CC), and these procedures can be used to repair those cameras as well.

No matter which Face Plate is on the Shutter, disassembly is the same. First unscrew the Lens Assembly from the front by turning the metal cylinder with your hand. Then remove the two tiny screws that sit on the Face Plate. The cosmetic metal plate, or plates, should then fall off. Next, you must turn the Shutter on its side and find the two screws that support the rest of the faceplate. Neither screw appears to be attached to anything; one screw is between the Cable Release Socket and the Aperture Lever, the other is opposite the first near the Aperture Indicator. Once these two screws are undone, the Face Plate should come off completely. The removed portion can be disassembled further, but this is rarely necessary.

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Contents Page Page Preface Page Table of Contents Why the Argus A/A2 Camera? May History Page Page Page October Models And Variations Lens Speed f/4.5 Argus aArgus AF Lens Speed f/4.5 Aperture Settings f/4.5, 5.6, 8Extinction Meter/Calculator No Flash Synch Tubes No Argus BPre-War Argus A2B Argus A2F Lens Speed f/6.3 Argus AAYears Manufactured ~1945 Post-War Argus A2BArgus FA March Parts Of The Camera Aperture Indicator A, AF, A2Bs, & A2FShutter Plunger pre-war A2B & A2F Sprocket Wheels Winding Shaft Loading The Camera User’s GuideTaking Pictures Page Rewinding Finished Film Using The Sunny/16 RuleISO Using The Light Meter/Exposure Calculator A2B and A2FStop Shutter SpeedFilm Speed Read Shutter Speed from the block Holding The Camera Upside Down Stop Settings And SpacingLens Attachments AccessoriesLens Shade Copying Attachment No Portrait Attachment NoYellow Filter Lens CapLens Accessory Kit Lens Accessory CaseLens Accessory Kit for Argus AF Red FilterSoft Suede Zipper Bag Black Leather Zipper CaseDe Luxe Black Leather Case Other Accessories Carrying Case Safety ScrewLight Meter Vintage Book On Photography Mechanical Self-TimerCable Release Small TripodA Lens Cap in various stages of production New Lens CapFlash Guns Hand-Held Or Accessory-Shoe Mounted RangefinderCamera Body Restoration And RepairFilm Transport Mechanism Film Advance KnobCounter Dial View FinderBack Cover Sprocket WheelsFlash Mechanism Extinction MeterNeck Light-Proof RibbonNeck You Can’t Fix Variable Focus Neck Two-Position Focus NeckSeparating The Neck From The Shutter Homemade adjustable shutter removal tool Shutter Mechanism Shutter Cleaning The LensPre-War Shutter Pre-war Shutter Face Plates Pre-war Shutter with the Face Plate removed Post-War Shutter Post-war Shutter with the Face Plate removed Fixing The Iris And Other Repairs Argus AA ShutterFinding Light Leaks Page Tricks And Modifications Tricks Using Ground GlassDouble Exposures Taking Close-Up PicturesModifications Most Common Modification Intentional Lens AberrationsModifying Old Filters Pinhole Argus Optimum hole specifications for various shutter positions Special Effects For The Proletariat Page Closer Two-Position Focus Adding a Cold Accessory Shoe 60 Second Camera Evaluation Finding An Argus In Good ShapeFinding An Argus Online For More Information Appendix a Argus a Patent Page Page Page Page Advertisements Appendix B Bibliography and ReferencesOther
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