Valera Self-Study Course                     

Repairing Vintage Cameras

After an absence of nearly 50 years, the first of the camera-repair courses has returned—the Valera Course in Camera Repair. At one time, Valera's course provided the main source of camera-repair information for professional technicians. Now the same materials provide repair information on vintage cameras—the classic cameras of yesterday—for hobbyists and restorers.

Edward Valera, a camera-repair authority from the 1940’s and 50’s, started the course in 1948. He added some cameras as updates in the late 1950's. Since the Valera course predated PC's and word processors, the text materials are typewritten—they appear crude by today's standards. But the illustrations, both the photos and the drawings, are very good. Certainly you can find slicker publications. However, the Valera materials were prepared by an actual camera-repair technician of the day.

Valera arranged the photographs and drawings on plates that are separate from the written materials (you can see a sample plate showing a screw-mount Leica at the left). There’s an advantage to the system—you always have the appropriate illustration next to the text you’re reading.

We made our reprints from a first-generation course that has long been in the National Camera library. In the original materials, the photographs are printed on glossy 8x10 photographic paper. The glossy originals allowed us to get good reproductions of the photographs.

 The course has 29 lessons arranged in 3 volumes. Originally, we said there were 31 lessons in the course. We haven’t left out any of the materials—we’ve just combined some of the materials into a single lesson the way we think Valera had intended. You may want the complete course—all three volumes—as a unit. You can also purchase individual volumes or even individual lessons. An individual volume, like the volumes in the complete course, comes in a 3-ring binder with dividers. Individual lessons are punched for a 3-ring binder. The binder is not included, but the individual lessons do have cover sheets.

If you're interested in the complete course, our CD provides the most economical route. The CD contains all the Valera materials in PDF format. You just need Adobe Acrobat Reader™ on your computer. If you don't have Reader™, there's no problem—you can download a free copy from the Adobe web site.

For the prices on the Valera materials, see, Valera Course Prices.

Course Description

The individual volumes are nearly equal in total pages—but not in the number of lessons. The lessons vary in length and in number of illustrations. There are over 400 pages and over 700 illustrations (photos and drawings) in the complete course. Several lessons include troubleshooting guides.

Volume I
Lesson #1—Starting the Shop
Some of the materials here—such as pricing repairs and obtaining parts—may just be of academic interest (we haven't updated any of the lessons, and things have changed since 1948). But other materials are still valid—especially if you’re repairing antiques. Lesson #1 describes how to check cameras, the types of cameras of the day, a discussion of optics, some shop practices such as filing and tapping techniques, and making some special tools.
Lesson #2—Bellows Installation
Replacing the bellows was a major repair in 1948—it may still be if you’re repairing antiques. You've probably seen what happens to a bellows in a high-humidity area, even if the camera isn't used. Restoring the antique may require replacing the bellows. Lesson #2 describes removing the bellows from the camera and installing the new bellows.
Lesson #3—Rangefinder Installation and Synchronization—the Kalart Rangefinder
The Kalart rangefinder is an accessory, cross-coupled rangefinder for press cameras such as the Speed Graphic. The text includes the Kalart adjustments.
Lesson #4—Types of Shutters
Valera covers rotary shutters, focal-plane shutters, and between-the-lens shutters. The lesson includes detailed repair information on the Alphax as an example of between-the-lens shutters.
Lesson #5—The Supermatic Shutter
Many of Kodak's folding cameras, as well as the Kodak Medalist, use the Kodak Supermatic shutter.
Lesson #6—Dial-Set Compur Shutter
An early Compur shutter, introduced in 1912. The Dial-Set Compur is now a collector's item.
Lesson #7—#1 Rapax Non-Synchromatic Shutter
The lesson covers the early Rapax that does not have internal flash synchronization.
Lesson #8—Rapax #1 Full Synchro
Here's a short update to add the Rapax that has internal flash synchronization.
Lesson #9—The Compur Shutter
A thorough lesson covering the rim-set Compur shutter, the shutter used in many German-made cameras.
Lesson #10—Synchro Compur Rapid “0”
A short lesson, possibly an update, to add the larger, 0-size Synchro-Compur shutter to the course. The lesson covers the flash-sync mechanism in the Synchro-Compur.

Volume II
Lesson #11—Gauthier Shutters
One of the major German shutter manufacturers. The lesson covers the Pronto, Prontor, and Vario designs of the Gauthier shutter.
Lesson #12—Gauthier Coupled-Diaphragm Shutters
The lesson covers the linear shutter-speed and diaphragm designs where each one-stop change in the setting requires the same amount of physical movement. Such shutters are often calibrated in EV's, and the shutter-speed and diaphragm scales may be coupled. The "new" Prontor SVS provides the example.
Lesson #13—Seikosha MX Shutter
A quality Japanese-made shutter used in many cameras from Japan.
Lesson #14—Flash Synchronization
Describes solenoids and internal electrical contacts as well as procedures for installing both types. It seems unlikely that any of us will be installing sync in a shutter. But the lesson does provide a background in flash synchronization. It should appeal to anyone who has an interest in vintage cameras.
Lesson #15—Twin-Lens Reflex Cameras
The Ciroflex provides the example.
Lesson #16—Automatic Rolleiflex
A thorough lesson covering the 1950 Rolleiflex (the first post-war Rolleiflex model).
Lesson #17—Argus C-3
The famous "brick" that helped bring 35mm photography to the masses. Introduced in 1939.

Volume III
Lesson #18—Argus C-4
Circa 1951, the Argus C-4 has little in common with the C-3. Another popular 35mm camera of the 1950's.
Lesson #19—Zeiss Contina
Another possible update to the original program. A short lesson that covers the IIa introduced in 1956.
Lesson #20—Aires 35-IIIL
The one Japanese-made camera in the course. The IIIL, manufactured from 1957~1959, may have been added to the original course as an update.
Lesson #21—Stereo Realist
The popular stereo camera from the 1950's, now has value as a collector's item.
Lesson #22—Kine Exakta
A thorough, well-illustrated text covering the Exakta I and the Exakta II.
Lesson #23—Bolsey Model C
A unique camera in that it's a 35mm twin-lens reflex. But there's also a separate viewfinder. A third finder has a split-image rangefinder. The repair instructions here also apply to the Bolsey B2.
Lesson #24—Leica, Basic Models
One of the most important of the collector cameras. Valera covers the screw-mount Leica using the Leica IIIc (also known as the Luftwaffe camera, the camera used by the German air force) as the example. A thorough text that includes adjusting the rangefinder, the shutter assembly, replacing the curtains, adjusting the curtain tensions.
Lesson #25—The Leica IIIf and IIIg
Covers the differences in the later screw-mount Leicas including the delayed-action assembly (self-timer). Valera probably added this lesson as an update. For complete coverage of the screw-mount Leica, you also need Lesson #24.
Lesson #26—The Contax III (and II)
The text covers the pre-war Contax manufactured from 1936~1940. A detailed repair guide.
Lesson #27—The Speed Graphic
The classic press camera of yesterday—once a standard with press photographers. The text covers the Pre-Anniversary and Anniversary models.
Lesson #28—Three Basic Electric Exposure Meters
Covers general exposure-meter repairs as well as specifics on the G.E. Meter, the Weston II Meter, and the Sekonic Compact Meter.
Lesson #29—The Collimator, The Torque Tester, and Testing Exposure Meters
Describes the design of the collimator for testing lenses, the design of a torque tester for checking curtain tensions, and the design of a tester for exposure meters.