Two thoughts accured to me late one night while reading this forum: 1) The kalart rangefinder on my new Crown isn't something I'm really going to want to readjust every time I switch lenses and 2) All the stuff I've read about squirting lighter fluid into gummy shutters and restoring/torturing old Speed Graphics sounds like fun. Doing the math I find that 1+2=fixing up my Anniversary so I can put a wide lens on one camera and a long lens on the other! My questions, therefore, are 1) Does the proceedure for cleaning shutters with lighter fluid work on Rapax shutters the same as synchro compurs? and 2) How do I get the leather cover off so I can explore the innards of my Anniversary? Annie's leather is in excellent shape, so is there any way of getting it off so it can be reused? Thanks for any and all advise!

I'll answer one question. YES...the Ronsonol Lighter Fluid works great on Rapax shutters. At least, it did for me. I remove the front and rear elements and totally immerse the shutter in fluid....swish it around several times...shake it out...and let it dry thoroughly before replacing the lens. Be careful, of course. Lighter fluid is very flammable. :grin:. Fred.

Unlike a cow, there's no need to remove or cut the leather to explore the innards of an Anny. the focal plane shutter is best viewed by removing the screws that hold the back--two on top, two on the bottom, and the tricky one on the right side when you are behind the camera.

Thanks for the great info! Now I've got to beat the bushes for the parts I'll need. Are there any manuals that would be worth adding to my shopping list? Also, can I change the tripod socket from the inside of the Anny, once I get the focal plane shutter out or is that a job done from the outside, and if so, how can it be done leaving the cow on? Thanks once again.

http://www.craigcamera.com/
John lists an origional anniversary manual for $25. Click on photographic literature then on graflex repair in the resulting table. Other manual suppliers may have one also.
Charles

Also try http://www.photobooksonline.com/ for reasonably priced reprints of instruction and service manuals.

Before you skin that cow, email me and I will show you a photo of the insides of everything inside!
bsaunders1@bak.rr.com