Pathe Webo Super 16 Inquiry

Anson Bickerstaff · April 3

Hey,

I'm a film student in Manchester England who just bought at Pathe Webo Super 16 off eBay (1958?). It speeds and functions great, only thing missing is the beam splitter that goes in front of the film gate which allows the viewfinder to see through the lens. I am confident I can buy a replacement element, but I am concerned about the disassembly process and getting the right size splitter. There are only 4 screws to detach the front plate, but I have to go through the pressure plate and shutter to reach the beam splitter slot, and I don't want to misalign anything. Does anyone know where I can find the service manual for this camera so I can know what I'm getting into? The instruction manual is online but doesn't have precise info on the splitter dimensions or servicing steps.

If anyone knows people in England who might now how to work on a camera like this please let me know too!

Thanks,

Anson Bickerstaff

Google Drive Folder - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10UOEQgLJGP1071jv8iN7Xb8R5MJtjcxz?usp=sharing

Mark Dunn · April 3

This any good?

https://canon-s8-repair.yolasite.com/pathe-webo-m-super-16.php

Anson Bickerstaff · April 3

Yeah that's actually perfect, thank you!

Dom Jaeger · April 4

Not an easy operation. The replacement pellicle (ideally a thin glass plate with a certain reflectivity in the coatings but it’s possible to bodge it with an uncoated microscope slide) is rarely the exact same thickness as the original, so the flange depth needs to be adjusted accordingly. That needs a collimator to measure. If it’s out by even a few hundredths of a mm, the whole reflex focussing system doesn’t work, so there’s no point replacing the pellicle.

The pellicle glass needs to be cut and the ends angle ground to exactly fit the space. I did it once, but won’t do it again. The results weren’t worth the time and effort. These cameras have some well made parts, but in other aspects are very amateur. In three or four different cameras I encountered light leaks and issues with alignments. I do like the variable shutter mechanism though.

Simon Wyss · April 4

Years ago I published an article on this camera. An automatic translation will give you about half of what I express in my language. https://www.filmvorfuehrer.de/topic/17051-darf-ich-vorstellen-path/

Anson Bickerstaff · April 4

The document says that microscope test slides might work as a beam splitter. Do you know if that's true? Whether that's the test slide itself or test slide cover glass?