NOTE: There were several models of Realist cameras made. Important to note is the "Realist 45", which is significantly different than other models. Unless otherwise specified, these procedures relate to the more common NON-REALIST 45 models.
To Be Followed Carefully:
Light leaks - camera back
Symptoms: Occasional light leaks in the right-hand image. Not often, but enough to be annoying -- sometimes as many as one per roll of film, but not at any predictable place in the roll.
Solution 1: Simply use some black tape to cover the back of the camera near the hinge.
Solution 2: The source of the leak is right where the camera back closes next to the focus wheel. The standard fix is to peel some of that nice black light trapping material from the lip of an old 35 mm film canister and glue a neatly trimmed sliver along the inside edge from top to bottom on the end where the focus wheel is. Makes a nice gasket for light-tapping.
Solution 3: The light leak problem is common on the Realist. The latch on the right hand side (from the back) on the bottom has to be adjusted to hold the back on tighter.
Solution 4: There is an easy fix for this. With the camera closed, check for play between the back and the body at the right side (the side with the focus knob). To adjust the latch and eliminate the play (and the light leak), remove the back, and note the small metal tongue at the right side of the back that engages the latch and holds the back shut. With pliers, carefully bend the tongue SLIGHTLY in toward the center of the camera. Replace the back on the body, lock the latch and check again for play. Re-adjust as needed. When it fits snugly, no more light leak!
Film advance clutch spring replacement
Symptoms:
Replacement of the winding
spool clutch spring on a Realist
The film advance mechanism of a Realist stereo camera has five main parts:
1. A slotted spool to hold the advancing film and which pulls the film through the camera. The spool has a flange on the top end, a slot into which the film tail is placed during film loading, a film-gripping spring within the hollow axis of the spool, and a small hole with an Allen set screw, to lock the spool onto a steel axle through its center, which turns to advance the film.
2. A drive axle through the center of the slotted spool. The axle fits through the top of the camera, passes through the clutch mechanism described below, then through the slotted spool and finally slips into a bearing hole in the bottom of the camera. The top of the axle extends above the camera and terminates in a small gear, fixed to the shaft firmly to allow the axle to be turned by the winding knob. When the axle is in place, only the gear at its top is visible. The axle has a flattened spot to bear against the Allen set screw which locks the spool to the axle.
3. A knurled winding knob, turning on a machine-screw axle and having a recessed underside. When in place, the knob is not centered on the drive axle described above, but it completely covers the exposed gear of the drive axle. An attached fixed gear within the recessed underside, concentric with the hub of the knob, has teeth facing outward which engage the gear at the top of the drive axle. When the knob is turned, the axle is driven in the opposite direction.
4. A tightly wound spring which fits around the drive axle just beneath the camera top, snugging tightly to prevent the axle from turning. Each end of the wire spring is turned outward, forming prongs that may be forced by levers in the direction that tends to unwind the spring. When that happens during film advance or rewind, the axle is freed for turning.
5. A clutch release washer, fitted on the axle just below the clutch spring and against the flange of the slotted winding spool. The washer has two protuberances and one groove: the inner rim of the washer is turned upward for about one third of its circumference, forming a boss that fits around part of the clutch spring. The outer rim of the washer has a small turned-up tooth that fits into a hole in a nearby lever, permitting the lever, during film advance, to pull the washer through a slight rotation and slightly unwind the spring. A radial groove extending outward from the inner rim forms a recess to hold one of the prongs of the clutch spring. The other prong of the clutch spring rests against a second lever which, during rewind, forces the spring into a slightly unwound position to allow the drive axle to rotate.
Function:
The knurled knob turns the
axle, which turns the spool, which pulls the film. The spring and washer serve
as a lock and release mechanism. The spring grips the axle and prevents it from
turning except during film advance and rewind, when the spring's prongs are
moved slightly in the direction that tends to unwind the spring, thus freeing
the drive axle. The method of loosening the clutch is different for advance
and rewind. To advance the film, it is necessary to press the film release button
on the back edge of the top camera plate near the rewind knob. The button moves
a lever to the left. This clutch lever has a small hole into which the tooth
on the outer rim of the clutch release washer has been inserted. The lever pulls
on the tooth, causing the washer to rotate slightly. One prong of the clutch
spring is lying in the recessed groove of the washer, and as the washer rotates,
the prong, caught in the groove, moves with the washer. Since the other end
of the clutch spring is resting firmly against another lever, the spring unwinds
slightly and allows the axle to turn. As the film advances during the winding,
its sprockets pull a sprocket gear through one revolution. Partway into the
revolution a cam holds the clutch lever in its leftward position, allowing the
operator to release the button. As the revolution ends, the sprocket gear locks
in place and the cam releases the lever, allowing the clutch spring to grip
the drive axle again. To rewind the film, the advance/ rewind disk on the top
of the camera must be moved from A to R. This action frees the sprocket gear
and allows the film to be pulled backward through the camera into the film cartridge.
When the disk is turned to the R position, a rewind lever is also moved slightly
to the left. Since the second prong of the clutch spring is resting against
the rewind lever, the spring is slightly unwound and the axle is released for
the rewind operation. Moving the disk to the A position allows the clutch spring
to grip the axle tightly again.
Clutch Spring Replacement:
When the clutch spring breaks (usually, one of the prongs breaks off), obtain
a replacement spring. Remove the camera back. Remove the knurled winding knob
by removing the machine screw that serves as its axle. Remove the Allen set
screw in the slotted spool. Pull the steel axle out of the camera by lifting
the gear with a small tool, gripping the gear and pulling upward, or by removing
the bottom of the camera and pushing the bottom end of the axle out of its bearing
hole. Removal of the axle frees the winding spool, the clutch spring and the
clutch release washer. Save the broken clutch spring for bragging. Hold the
camera upside down. Using tweezers, put the clutch spring in place by putting
the longer, hooked prong between the rewind lever and the small cylindrical
post on the left. The spring should be centered on the axle hole. Next, put
the clutch release washer against the spring, with the second, shorter prong
resting in the radial groove. The raised boss should be nestled against the
body of the spring. Don't try to put the tooth of the washer into the film advance
lever yet. Carefully insert the slotted winding spool, with its flange against
the clutch release washer. Now, insert the steel axle up through the hole in
the inverted camera, through the spring, washer and spool, and toward the bearing
hole in the bottom. At some point, the clutch spring will meet the thick part
of the axle, and some force will be needed to push the axle farther. At this
point it may be helpful to use tweezers to put the tooth of the clutch release
washer into the hole in the film advance lever. If this is done, then turning
the advance/ rewind disk to R will force the spring slightly open and allow
the axle to move into final position. If the axle can be put into position without
engaging the tooth and lever, then put the tooth into the lever's hole next.
Replace the knurled winding knob. Finally, turn the knob until the flat spot
on the axle is aligned with the key hole and replace the Allen set screw in
the film advance spool.
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