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on Sept 23, 2020 2:51:12 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 23, 2020 2:54:55 GMT by nrparsons
I bought a camera bag with an SLR and some other items, and I found this little meter with its leather case in the bottom of a pocket. It is marked for ASA 10 to 800 (and corresponding DIN), speeds of 1 sec. to 1/1000, and f-stops of f/1 to f/32, for light values of 5 to 19. On the bottom it is marked "Made in Japan No." followed by a box, but there is no number in the box. There's also a needle adjustment screw on the bottom. The case is stamped Yashica on top and Japan on the bottom, and the bottom has two slots to attach to a camera strap. The meter is working, but the light cell appears to be weak, because when I compare it to other working meters, it consistently indicates underexposure of two or three stops. I had an off-brand clip-on meter like this back in the sixties when I was shooting a rangefinder, and it served me very well for quick readings.  Yashica clip-on meter 1 by Noel Parsons, on Flickr  Yashica clip-on meter 2 by Noel Parsons, on Flickr |
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Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Sept 23, 2020 10:51:37 GMT
Posted: Sept 23, 2020 10:51:37 GMT
Thank you for your photos.
Yashica offered a small number of selenium-powered meters in the 1960s and your one was a popular choice then as it was not restricted to use on Yashica's cameras. It is essentially the same model as that shown below which had a mount that restricted its use to the Penta J and Reflex 35 SLRs.
Yash J Petri Orikkor 50 f2 r
When Yashica's J-P was produced in 1964, it was the last to require a clip-on meter but by then Yashica had switched from selenium to CdS for its 35mm SLR meters and indeed, meters were being integrated into the bodies of their cameras limiting the appeal of stand-alone light-meters.
Since 2008, refurbishing or replacing selenium cells is nigh impossible. Your own example might be helped a little by leaving it exposed to direct sunlight (good luck as Autumn approaches in the Northern Hemisphere) for a day or two. You can then see if the adjustment screw can bring it into line with other readings.
I have read somewhere a feature on reviving 'dead' cells following careful dismantling of the cell, cleaning and then applying conductive paint; it was written in respect of a meter in a particular camera but the general principles would apply to any selenium meter. If I can find it, I'll upload details to the Forum. |
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on Sept 23, 2020 13:09:35 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 23, 2020 13:11:06 GMT by nrparsons
biggies3, thanks for the information on reviving a selenium cell by exposing it to light. I'll try that. I have a south-facing windowsill here in central Florida. It's also my thorium lens clearing center.
I'm sure this little meter dates from the late fifties/early sixties. I remember they were popular and fairly often used with the meterless rangefinders of the time.
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on Sept 23, 2020 14:38:46 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 23, 2020 18:47:52 GMT by xkaes
I've never heard of the possibility of "restoring", "re-invigorating" or "recovering", etc. selenium meter cells from meters or cameras -- but who knows?
But I have heard of REPLACING dead selenium cells. Fortunately, I have never gone down that path, but a GOOGLE search may turn up some sellers of new cells for old dead ones.
It seems possible, and inexpensive, but a lot of careful work.
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on Sept 23, 2020 23:18:37 GMT
Posted: Sept 23, 2020 23:18:37 GMT
A nice find nrparsons, even if it isn't working. I've looked for quite a long time and haven't found the smaller-than-small Yashica meters at all. Lots of the YM-35's though. I dug through my bookmarks and found a couple of links to articles, with one for 'reviving' and one to replace the dead cell. I tried the revival method on a Metrophot, but wasn't successful, and haven't attempted another go. The replacement parts are no longer available from the original source, and no other places I looked through at the time had anything similar, so I presume they're no longer made and sold. The rivival method: elekm.net/zeiss-ikon/repair/meter-repair/The replacement: www.thermojetstove.com/Autoeye/meter.htmI looked again today at both Edmunds and SurplusShed, and found nothing useful for repairs, and I'm not sure if there's any place else to look for new/old/surplus parts. |
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on Sept 25, 2020 11:51:21 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 25, 2020 20:32:55 GMT by nrparsons
Good news! I opened it up this afternoon and used a little electrical contact cleaner on it, and it is now working perfectly again. I compared it to three other working light meters and the meter on my phone, and it is now spot-on. |
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on Sept 26, 2020 1:47:43 GMT
Posted: Sept 26, 2020 1:47:43 GMT
Good news! I opened it up this afternoon and used a little electrical contact cleaner on it, and it is now working perfectly again. I compared it to three other working light meters and the meter on my phone, and it is now spot-on. Well done! |
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on Sept 26, 2020 6:36:14 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 26, 2020 6:36:53 GMT by lumiworx
Congrats on getting it working! Now everybody's got me thinking if a transplant might be possible. I've acquired a box full of old hand-held selenium meters over the years that still work. If I can pull out the good plates to replace those in dead meters, that would revive quite a few that I wish were working.
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on Sept 26, 2020 16:01:24 GMT
Posted: Sept 26, 2020 16:01:24 GMT
I also have a Leicameter 3 in beautiful cosmetic condition that isn't working. I tried the same method of cleaning with it, but that didn't help. I believe the problem is either a broken solder joint or the selenium plate has bit the dust, but with my aging has come achy and unsteady hands, so re-soldering those tiny wires isn't an option for me. It will make a good display item on my shelf.
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on Sept 26, 2020 16:03:21 GMT
Posted: Sept 26, 2020 16:03:21 GMT
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on Sept 26, 2020 16:04:28 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 26, 2020 16:08:18 GMT by nrparsons
I also see there's a bad link to one of the photos in my original post of the Yashica meter. Here it is again (and why can't I edit or delete my previous post of it?):  20200922_185047sq by Noel Parsons, on Flickr |
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on Oct 9, 2020 18:57:00 GMT
Posted: Oct 9, 2020 18:57:00 GMT
I also see there's a bad link to one of the photos in my original post of the Yashica meter. Here it is again (and why can't I edit or delete my previous post of it?): 20200922_185047sq by Noel Parsons, on Flickr There is now a 24hr statute of limitation on Forum edits. It may need extending.
PF
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