Warning: that old Kodak Retina shutter spring just snapped on me

I was working on a Retina IIc last week, just doing a basic clean and lube. I had the front element off and was about to adjust the slow speeds when I heard a sharp ping... the main tension spring for the shutter curtain just gave out. It's a tiny, coiled thing, maybe 2mm wide, and it shot right across my bench. I spent three hours yesterday trying to source a replacement from my usual parts guys with no luck. Has anyone found a good workaround for this, or know a supplier who might still have these old Kodak bits?

3 comments

3 Comments

brooke4755d ago

My cleaning business has yet to find a spring that small.

schmidt.grace5d ago

I used to believe you could always find parts if you looked hard enough. Losing that same tiny spring on a Retina IIIc changed my mind completely. I ended up carefully taking a spring from a broken Agfa Super Silette and trimming it to fit. It was a pain, but it worked.

matthewsullivan4d ago

That's the real magic of old cameras, making something work when the parts just don't exist anymore.