Camera Talk

When your parents were refugees, you generally have few items from "the old country". My parents fled from Lithuania during WWII, and came to the US in 1948 (thank you, President Truman!). Aside from some paperwork, my father grabbed a butter knife and his camera when he fled.

The camera in question is the Zeca 6x9 folder, made by Paul Zeh Kamerawerk of Dresden, a second-tier manufacturer. It has an f 1:6.3 105mm Zecanar Anastigmat lens and a Pronto shutter (100, 50, 25, B, T). It uses the European style f stops: 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18, 25, 36, which makes my brain hurt almost as much as the forever-damned "EV" system from the '50s that they put in "to make things easier" (don't mind the mini rant). I'm just using "sunny 12.5" for exposure, just like Pop taught me when I was 6.

It's in fine working condition, and I plan to take it out again soon - I've had a hiatus from film photography for a couple of years. Some of you may remember me from Nelsonfoto.

My father gave it to me when I was about 6 years old, in 1962. Some quick instruction, (leave the F stop on 12.5, leave the focus on 5 meters, set the shutter to 100 if sunny, 50 if cloudy 25 in shade), a roll of Verichrome Pan, and I got great pictures at Scout camp. Fortunately, the shutter's self-cocking.

The red window does not have a cover for when you aren't advancing the film, so I'm putting some black tape over the red window, to peel up only when I'm advancing the film. The leather covering is kinda dry - can anyone suggest something to treat it?

Kiwi black for shoes is what I use, apply, leave it 5 minutes and then polish with an old rag (cloth). If it's so day as I imagine do repeat the process and leave rest for one day and see if the leather could "admit" another layer.
Another option before Kiwi if the leather is still 100% black is to use cocoa oil 100% without smells or anything, mine is Cocoa 100% Extra virgin, apply and let it dry until the leather absorbs everything, carefull here dont over apply or you will have to remove the excess after.
Both ways work for me.
I hope we can see the camera after you do it and some pictures, I love 6x9 cameras even if I shoot better in other formats
Thank you for sharing the story.
Alex

Some Lexol, perhaps.

Robert

Glad to see you here, Tadas! Good advice already given.

Sandeha Lynch makes, or used to make, replacemente bellows. An emergency measure may be to leave the bellows open and wrap around something to keep light off. A carefully cut sheet of thin black foam did the job for me once.

Hope you can get the Zeca in working order!

tadas wrote: The red window does not have a cover for when you aren't advancing the film, so I'm putting some black tape over the red window, to peel up only when I'm advancing the film. The leather covering is kinda dry - can anyone suggest something to treat it?

Forgot to mention that I have one 6x9 -Inos II- with the same red window style, no problem at all and I have been shooting in bright days, the black tape makes it 100% secure but just in case you don't find any near when you go out, nothing should happen

I also use Kiwi polish, but sometimes mix a little dubbin with the polish; it's a softer oily/fatty waterproofing stuff that I have originally for walking boots. I would guess it's probably tallow (as a vegetarian I really shouldn't be using it!); it gets noticeably softer with the warmth from your fingers.

I have a Zeh Bettax 6x9 camera, but have hardly used it. I have made better use of my Zeh Goldi (3x4 cm on 127 film).