----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Sherburne"
Subject: Question for the Brotherhood...
...the 67 Brotherhood, that is.
I have the opportunity to pick up a 6x7 with 55mm and 135mm lenses. I don't
have the details yet, but the person selling them doesn't seem to know that
much about them. Inheritance? I'm not going to ask. A quick ebay check
suggests that they didn't do much research before figuring out their asking
price.
Is there anything I need to know about the lenses? What should I check on
the body to determine its condition beyond surface cosmetics?
In all it's emulations except the most recent, the 55 is at best a middle of the road lens in a family of excellent lenses.
Nothing wrong with that, it'll make fine pictures, but early ones were flare prone, same as the 75.
The 135 is an excellent lens, no matter which version.
Check to see if the body has mirror lock.
Non MLU bodies are pretty failure prone, and are no longer supported.
Keep this in mind for pricing.
Put a film into it and advance it through to the end. Check to make sure the film advance doesnt feel like it has sand in it.
There is a roller just to the right of the shutter. Don't ever roll it backwards to the direction of film travel.
There is a chain to the front side of the prism mount that operates the meter prism aperture coupler. Make sure it is intact and that it moves freely. If it falls off or breaks, it is a pretty expensive fix.
Don't ever mount a meter prism to a body with a lens already mounted.
Take the lens off and mount the prism, and then the lens.
To do otherwise risks breaking that chain.
If you decide to go for it, enjoy it. It's a nice camera.
William Robb
