Leitz 600 series condenser lens orientation

[henryr]

Hi all,

I have a question regarding the orientation of the upper lens, which is just below the 0.90as swing lens, in a Leitz 600 series condenser. This lens is about 22mm diameter and one side is flat and the other convex. Should the flat side be facing up.

Thanks,
henryr

[Charles]

on my 600 condenser, the flat part of the optic is up.

[Element 56]

I just had one apart so I can be a second witness to Charles.
Flat up!

Kirby

[henryr]

I thank you and Charles for the info. I took my 600 apart about two years ago and it took me almost that long to get the iris leaves back in. Over the time I struggled to get them back in it became an obsessive compulsion and after a number of iterations of making help tools on my lathe the iris now works like new. But of course, after two years, I forgot how to position the lens.

[Charles]

Usually it's the last two or three leaves which are difficult to slide into place. After you have done a couple, it's not that difficult. My way is to lay the leaves in while it is in the open position. The last three, need to be slid under the ones already in place and getting the ends to drop into the holes without displacing the leaves you are sliding under.

[Hobbyst46]

... I took my 600 apart about two years ago and it took me almost that long to get the iris leaves back in...

This thread might be of help
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6255&p=56270&hilit=leaves#p56270

[henryr]

Thanks for all the info but maybe I didn't approach this task properly. My difficulty was working with the leaves at the bottom of an approx. 1" deep well. Now I'm thinking that I missed the obvious which would have been to unscrew the section/sections that the 22mm lens is mounted in. If that were an option it would have been a much easier task. So is standard practice to unscrew those sections/

Thanks,
henryr

[henryr]

So now I'm ready to reassemble the Leitz 600 condenser and I have a question about lubrication. The only place that I think needs lubrication are the parts that slide against each other when the two fine positioning screws, at the bottom of the bathtub, are used to move the condenser lens axis. And, does anyone know if there are any Leitz documents for this condenser?

Thanks,
henryr

[Hobbyst46]

Aperture leaves need no lubrication and are best kept dry.

[henryr]

Thanks for the reply. From my days working on old compur shutters the first thing I learned was never lube iris leaves.
My question is on the area where the lens barrel flange rests on the bottom of the bathtub where there are two finger screws used to adjust the lens axis.

[henryr]

Here are a few pics showing the area and parts that I'm thinking should be lubed? I thought the top and bottom surfaces of the brass flange and the two centering components that are moved by the centering screws.

[Sabatini]

Hello,
The ones I have disassembled come with their original yellow grease, and when I clean and fix them I have re-greased them, with very little white lithium grease, grease them!

[henryr]

Maybe you can help with this question. My condenser has two small wound springs to apply force against the brass flange of the lens barrel.


Then I found this photo of another 600 condenser that uses a flat spring for the same purpose.

The last pic is my 600 and you can just make out the springs to the right of condenser. Have you found these different springs being used during your work?

[Sabatini]

Henryr .
I have been able to disarm both systems. One is older than the other, the one with the small springs is the "newest" one ,I also thought of a very easy way to reassemble the diaphragm blades very easily...Here are some pictures just like yours.

IMG_20201031_204927.jpg (40.15 KiB) Viewed 5255 times

IMG_20201031_204944.jpg (140.84 KiB) Viewed 5255 times

IMG_20201031_211834.jpg (167.39 KiB) Viewed 5255 times

[henryr]

Thanks for the info. I recently noticed that my 600 condenser has a bottom lens marked Kond. 600
LABORLUX. Could this be a K4 lower lens mentioned in a few posts?

Thanks,
henryr

[henryr]

It appears that, sometime over the last two years, I misplaced/lost one of the two small compression springs that allow control of positioning of the condenser lens via the two knobs at the bottom of the condenser. Would anyone have a spare spring that they could part with? I would gladly pay for it including shipping.

Thanks,
henryr