[LargeFormat] Shutter Release Cables

[Clive Warren]

At 01:35 24/10/2003 -0700, Richard Knoppow wrote:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Clive Warren"
> > As it's fairly quiet thought I would mention the perennial
>shutter release
> > cable search. I am still looking for a long throw parallel
>threaded
> > business end cable release for Alphax and Betax self
>cocking shutters.
snip
>   FWIW I just tried one of the little Gauthier cable
>releases that came with my Rolleis on a No.4 Alphax. It
>works fine. I also tried it on a No.4 Ilex Acme (cocking)
>shutter and two No.5 Ilex Universal (self setting) shutters.
>It works fine on all.
>   Straight thread sockets are found on Kodak, Wollensak, and
>Ilex shutters but all will take the Deckel tapered thread
>type.
>   I think the idea that Ilex shutter need extra long throw
>cable releases might come from the fact that there is a
>small rod in the socket which is sometimes missing. This rod
>contacts the lever inside the shutter. If its missing the
>cable release must reach all the way inside plus it has a
>good chance of wedging under the lever instead of pushing on
>it. You can see the end of this thing  when looking into the
>socket.

Richard,

Thanks again for the tip about the Ilex shutter release plungers. I will be 
checking my Ilex #5 shutters.

The problem for most cable releases used on self cocking shutters is that 
they require more effort to fire and tend to cause compression on the inner 
cable of the release. The result is that the shutter will not fire after 
you have used the cable release a few times .The problem becomes more 
evident with any cable over 6" long.  I have a number of  10 inch "pro" 
cable releases that will not fire Alphax and Betax #4 and #5 self cocking 
shutters!

Given the amount of force that the release has to exert to both cock and 
fire the shutters, I am not too happy about using a tapered thread in a 
parallel socket.

Anyway, if all else fails I do know that I can cram a Kaiser "pro" cable 
release into the shutter and adjust it for flex. Just not my preferred 
option given the number of old cable releases that must be laying around 
that were made to do the job.

If anyone comes across some of these old cable releases on their next 
camera fair trip (the season is starting again here in the UK) - then 
please think of me! An 8" or  10" would be fine, although something even 
longer would be good.

Cheers, Clive