Oh, the joy of getting a beat up rare camera...ruminations on a Yashica GL

[br1078lum]

I recently won a Yashica Electro 35 GL on Goodwill, and looking at the pictures, I could tell it was going to need some work.  But since it is such a rare model here in the US, I decided to take a chance on it.  I eagerly awaited it's arrival, and when it came, I knew I had my work cut out for me.

An initital inspection showed that the top was slightly caved in; the interior was clean, but the seals were shot; I had to dig a mercury battery out of the well, so that will need to be cleaned along with possibly replacing the lead to the meter system; there were two dents in the filter ring (I pounded one of them out tonight), and the front group is showing signs of being shocked, with little 'angels' between the elements.  I guess the front group will need to be replaced, as I have no idea how you would fix the damage, unless one re-cements the elements.

But so far, mechanically it is in good shape.  The shutter fires at the no power default of 1/500, the aperture works fine, the focus is not tight, it makes that nice POD thunk, and there is no fungus.  I plan on cleaning out the battery well, seeing if I get power when putting in a battery.  If it works, then I'll shoot a test roll of b&w so that I can use some filters to see if the meter system functions correctly (hope there are some nice puffy clouds around).  I'll also see if the 'angels' (or maybe I should call them the Seven Sisters [Pliades]) adversely effect the picture quality.  If not, then I'll just keep shooting it as is.  And lining up either a part exchange, or sending it off to be repaired.

PF

[brazile]

Do you have any snapshots to spare? Sounds like a nice reclamation project.

Robert

[br1078lum]

By golly Brazile, yes I do!  Finished with the repairs today, and everything is now well with the camera.  I was able to get the dings out of the filter ring, and the 'angels' do not effect the picture quality that I can detect.  That may change if I point it at a light source, such as a street lamp.  I only had a twelve shot roll to do the test (don't know how long that's been laying around), so I didn't waste any shots on extreme situations.  That can come later.  You can see the full sets on Flickr by clicking on any photo.

First, the repair section:


1) How to go from this... by br1078phot, on Flickr


2) ...to this... by br1078phot, on Flickr


3) ...by using these by br1078phot, on Flickr


Then the test section:


3) Roanoke River 1 by br1078phot, on Flickr


7) Roanoke River Sentinel by br1078phot, on Flickr


Heading out for a run 1 by br1078phot, on Flickr


I made sure that I checked the close and far focus, as that could have been damaged when the camera was banged around.  So far, things are looking good.

PF

ps: I just noticed for the second time, that if you type an '8', and follow it with an ending parenthesis ')', it makes one of these  :cool: 

Who'd a thunk that?

[Hoosier_Rich]

Looks really good PF, nothing wrong with that lens. I've got a G and a GSN and have always liked the results I've gotten from the Yashicas. Even my EM. Nice job with the rehab, wish I had the patience.

[br1078lum]

Rich, I spent less than two hours actually working on this camera.  I was lucky in that there was nothing else terribly wrong with it that neccessitated a more thorough teardown, but I still have to replace the light seals.  That could take a little while.

PF

[brazile]

Handsome job, looks like a winner.

Robert

[br1078lum]

Thanks Robert.

I learned patience at an early age Rich, growing up in a large family.  And it helps that I have a background in doing repairs for almost thirty years with the railroad.  I just take that experience, scale it back a bit, put on the magnifying hood, and go for it.  After having to rehab some of my other aquisitions in order to have something to shoot with, it sort of comes easy when you see the simularities from one camera to another. And to have multiple versions of the same brand, so that takes a lot of the surprises and time consumption out of the equation when you open up another basket case.  But then it's really nice when you get that box from an eBay sale, and out pops a brand new looking camera, like the Super Ricohflex I just got this morning.  Glad I don't have to put any work into that one.  I'd rather shoot 'em than work on 'em.

PF