Re: Cirkut Camera Gear Sets, Keys

[Ron Klein <panorama@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gears for cirkut cameras were made in two different sizes.  The #5 and #6
cameras use pinion gears that are 14 and 1/2 degree pressure angle 48 pitch
brass gears.  The #6 outfit, #8 outfit, #10 camera and the #16 camera use
gears that are the same pressure angle, but 32 pitch.  The internal gears
for all cameras are 48 ptich.

A quick note about factory cut gears, I have seen gears made by reputable
gear companies that wouldn't fit worth a damn to a cirkut ring gear.  Most
gears seem to have too thick of a tooth and cannot mesh to the bottom of the
original cirkut ring gear.  Gears are usually cut with a hobbing machine or
on a milling machine using special cutters.  If the correct depth isn't
used, the gear will either have skinny teeth, or fat teeth.  Careful
examination of original cirkut gears shows that they were made quite well
and probably lapped to be super smooth.  This process is not normally done
today.

If anyone is interested in gears, I can make them for you on my lathe and
milling machine. After the gear is made, I check the fit of the gear with a
cirkut ring gear. Gears usually run about $35 each with the shaft mounted.
Bigger gears take more time and cost a bit more.  The big problem is
spending time in the machine shop vs. time in the darkroom making pan
photos, butr winter is rapidly aproaching here in Alaska and I should have
time to kill.  Currently I am making a gear lapping machine to finely polish
the gear teeth, but it won't be ready for a few months.

I hope this helps
Ron Klein