I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I never can properly search the archives for some reason, so I will ask it again.
I have a Pacemaker with a side mount Kalart rangefiner. The rangefinder is very faint and has lost contrast. Unless I'm in contrasty lighting and have a detailed subject, it is a pain to focus.

Any suggestions withough replacing the whole rangefinder? Let me know,
Mark Zimmerman

You can order the 50/50 beamsplitter for Edmund's scientific and just replace that, assuming the prism is still good (Most likely). There are instructions on this site I beleive.

In the meantime, what I've done in the past is just removed the outer casing to the rangefinder and put a piece of red gel over the upper window. It will help distiguish the two images quite a bit. I just just the gel from a plastic report cover that I had left over from college.

It's easy enough to replace the beamsplitter on a Kalart RF, and very good instructions are posted here on this site. If you can't find the 1 mm 50% semi-mirrored glass required (and when last I looked, Edmunds Scientific had it) contact me off-list.
Top

From the last message I saw, Fred Lustig was doing business again. He's not too far from you. Why not give him a call. He replaced the mirror in my Crown SR several years ago, and gave it a good CLA in the process. I highly recommend him if he's taking work again. Good luck. The last time I called him, his # was (775) 746-0111. He lives in Reno, NV. If that # isn't good, try dir. assist.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: alecj on 2004-11-27 20:34 ]</font>

Thanks for all of the posts.
Top, or anyone else,
If you have an extra one that is already cut, let me know. e-mail is zmanphotog@cox.net

Using the search function with'rangefinder mirror' in the search term box and the 'all the terms' selected a list of subjects come up with this one 2/3 the way down the list.
http://www.graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?topic=1191&forum=1