Re: Nimslo electronics question

[P3D <LDAEnt@xxxxxxx>]

>I still get the light metering 
>(the red and green LEDs come up) but the
>shutters don't close as long as I keep
>the release pressed.

Don't understand...... do you mean that when you push the shutter release
that the blades open and won't close until you release the button?  Or do you
mean that the shutter blades are just dead, no action whatsoever?

I've had about 12 Nimslo's, and quite a few don't work when I buy them (it
helps to lower the price when they don't work).  I have successfully
resurrected all but one, and that one was around salt water too long.  While
all the following problems may not relate to yours, here are my experiences:

1.) One camera I bought was missing the bottom brass contact in the battery
compartment.  It fatigued off, probably early in life.  I bent a new one and
wedged it in the remaining brass.

2.) One camera wouldn't advance the film at all.  It had a broken tab on the
advance cam inside of the camera bottom.  Only solution is to get a
replacement, which is why I don't mind an occassional dead Nimslo, they are
great for parts.  If I remember correctly, it also wouldn't cock the shutter
because of this part.  So the shutter was dead too, but the red/green lights
would light. 

3.) About 5 of the cameras were just electrically dead.  Nothing, no lights
or shutter.  I found three things inside of the camera that when cleaned the
cameras worked again.  I now do this routine for all dead Nimslo's.
A) Remove the top and front cover.
B) Clean the spring contact "A" at the top (it's a torsion spring)
C) Clean the spring contact "B" at the bottom (similar torsion spring)
D) Clean the magnetic contact near the top of the camera.  I don't know what
this one is called, but it is an electromagnet contact that operates the
shutter.  When you advance the film this switch is closed, a metal cap closes
down onto the magnet.  I have found that cleaning this by using a fine
sandpaper nail file between the moving and stationary contact, and then
wiping with alcohol , will bring many cameras back to life. 

4.) Not related to a problem except using too many batteries:  I finally
eliminated the pesky button batteries by making a custom flash bracket out of
wood, and stashing three "AA" batteries inside of the handle with wires going
to the battery contacts.  I fashioned a contact for the bottom battery
compartment tab by using a shortened pen spring placed into a wood dowel (the
wood insulates the spring from the camera body as it goes into the hole).
 The negative terminal contacts at the tripod screw where the bracket
fastens.  I now carry this bracket with me to shop for Nimslo's.  And if you
find a Nimslo missing the battery cover, no problem. 

Alan Lewis


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