Agfa Karat (1936) CLA Tutorial

AGFA Karat 3.5

Compur-Rapid (Rim Set) 1936.

CLA of Camera and Shutter

Tim Langsford, September 2020.

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Preliminary Examination:

Camera fairly clean. Aperture smooth. Speed cam slightly loose. Speeds seem very slow,
probably due to visible oil on shutter blades, causing them to hang often.

A. Dismantling Camera to Free the Compur-Rapid Shutter Mechanism:

1. Remove rear lens element from focal-plane of camera. This can be quite tricky as
there is not enough room to manoeuvre a spanner wrench. I used a pair of
screwdrivers.

2. Detach bellows by unscrewing retaining ring which is exposed once rear lens
element is removed.

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3. The shutter mechanism is now free and can be pulled from its housing.

4. Loosen the 3 grub screws to free front lens element.

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B. Compur-Rapid Shutter Mechanism Disassembly:

1. Rotate semi-circular locking cam 180˚. This will allow the nameplate to be rotated
anti-clockwise and lifted off.

2. Remove aperture pointer.

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3. Set speed cam to B and ensure shutter is released, gently rotate the speed cam
slightly in both directions so that it lifts off without disturbing the main lever.

4. Next the main lever is removed. First, lift the setting lever a little and allow the
spring tension to dissipate anti-clockwise. Then, disconnect the main spring from its
stud at the end of the retard escapement mechanism.

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5. Hold the outer release lever so that the screw holding the cable release socket is
accessible and remove this socket.

6. Prise the cable release lever from its post.

7. Disconnect the bulb lever spring from its position on the cable release leaver post so
that it rests on the shutter housing. Remove the bulb lever via its screw and the
outer release leaver by prising off its post.