Missing brass knob on Korona camera.

[Keith tapscott.]

Hello folks,

The brass knob on the front standard of my Korona camera is missing. I have searched everywhere I can think of for it.
Does anyone know where I might be able to obtain a replacement? I don't know what the thread size is and it's an old camera.

Thanks

Keith.

 

[Ian Grant]

It will be a US thread size, I would see if your local hardware store has a wing nut that might fit. You need to know the tread size.

I do have some brass thumb nuts that are I'd guess 3/16", these could be tapped for a larger thread.

Ian

 

[Keith tapscott.]

Thanks Ian, a brass wing nut might do, but I would rather have a proper replacement if possible.
I wonder if there is somewhere I could get a custom one made.

 

[AERO]

Just a suggestion. Find a local Model Engineering Soc and see if they can help. There are some great amateurs making model steam locomotives etc and making a copy of the knob would be easy for one of them. They can even do the knurling on the edge of a knob if required (and the US thread they should be able to sort)..
There IS a Model Engineer Society in Plymouth.

 

[Ian Grant]

McMaster Carr in the US would almost certainly have the correct thread Thumb nut, but they have a strange export policy, not to the general public and even then only certain accredited companies. So you would need to buy through a 3rd party, a friend in the US.

I need some long tripod thumb screws, for vintage wooden tripods (like Gandolfi), and have just found a Sheffield based company, prices are reasonable.

If the thread is larger than 3/16" I have quite a few spares, then it's just finding someone with the correct US tap> A friend just made me the parts missing for one of my Agfa Anso 10x8 cameras, he's away until after New Year, he may have the tap needed.

But first you need to find the thread size/type. Maybe ask on Photrio.

Ian

 

[Dave_P]

I need some long tripod thumb screws, for vintage wooden tripods (like Gandolfi), and have just found a Sheffield based company, prices are reasonable.

Which firm in Sheffield is this Ian? It would be good to know if I have somewhere local for this type of thing.

 

[Ian Grant]

My mistake, I assumed Sheffield, in fact they are in Leeds.

@Dave_P. I had just found the company when I posted, they are based in Woodside. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the company is WDS Components, these are what I bought, later in the afternoon.

Prices are OK, but with the minimum P&P of £8, then VAT on the total in postage, it adds up so, I bought 4 of these Adjusting (Thumb) screws 1/" BSW two 1" and two 1.5" which works out around £8 each.

These will be low volume items as they are Whitworth thread, and British engineering has been Metric for decades. The 1" stock yesterday showed <10, and the 1.5" <50, that is now to <10 this morning.

My friend made front tilt lock for one of my Agfa Ansco 10x8 cameras, earlier this month, a previous owner had lost the parts and was using a bolt & and wing nut. In this case, he chose the thumb nut from my box of spares, and found some tube and made the piece inside. I will clean up the thumb screw.



These are thumb wheels I have plenty of.



Ian

 

[Keith tapscott.]

Thanks to all who replied.
Does anyone know the thread size for my camera?

 

[Keith tapscott.]

There are brass thumb nuts available on eBay, but I don't know what ones to buy. They are sent from China.

 

[Ian Grant]

The Chinese Thumb nuts will be metric. I have 3 Seneca 7x5 cameras, very similar to your camera, I've just tried the front standard nut, it appears to be 3/16" so the spare thumb nuts I have are the right size but not the right pitch thread, so will start, but that's it.

A basic thumb nut is not the issue, I have some the right size, they are easy to find on eBay from the UK, but they are small metric threads. However, these could easily be tapped to the correct larger US thread. I think it might be #10, but then there's a coarse & fine thread, it would need checking with a thread gauge.

My engineer friend is away up in the mountains until after New Year, he may have a correct tap, if not they are not expensive. Easy enough to DIY if needs be.

Ian