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gregr · Joined: 25 Mar 2023 Posts: 4 Location: Oregon

I recently acquired an Anniversary 4X5. This is my first with a wood lens board. I want to ship the lens off to a repair facility. It is a No 2 Supermatic shutter with a three screw retaining flange. For the life of me I can not get the flange to budge to unscrew it. I've tried a friction method with a rubber stopper, then a punch on one of the screw holes. From the looks of it, it was punched before, but very lightly. Would lighter fluid seeped in behind the flange help? The camera and board are still pristine, so I'm being careful about marking it up. Maybe too careful? Thank you!

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2133 Location: New Jersey

The shutter should unscrew from the flange. Unscrew the lens cells from the shutter and then try to remove the shutter from the flange.

If you can't get the things apart, send board and all to the repairman.

JESimmons · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 11:39 am Post subject:

After removing the lens elements, you might try spraying the shutter to flange threads with electrical contact cleaner. That may clean them out without leaving residue. I get my cleaner from Ace Hardware in the US.

gregr · Joined: 25 Mar 2023 Posts: 4 Location: Oregon

Thank you for the replies. While searching for the lens wrench I put a dab of Kroil on the rear threads off of a screw driver blade after removing the rear element. I'm going to give it some time to soak. The repair shop is Advance Camera in Portland Oregon. I've used them many years ago and recognized the Graflex lens I took in at the time and it was like yep we seen them. When I called this time they had to look it up. Personnel change? If it does come to shipping with the board I'll verify 1st.

I don't want to unscrew the shutter body. There may be an indexing pin as this one has a solenoid trip mounted on the board.

gregr · Joined: 25 Mar 2023 Posts: 4 Location: Oregon

Success, sort of. The lens was "GLUED" to the board. There has a hole for an indexing pin in the board, but none on the lens so it was literally glued to the board with some sort of clear cement that also got in the threads. I got a heavier duty lens wrench just in case and it was the needed tool. So now it's off to the shop for CLA.