Kodak Panoram #1 Repairs

Frank R · 10-20-2007, 08:45 PM

I just picked up a Kodak Panoram #1 today. It is pretty ugly and needs some repairs.

The lens will swing from one side to the other and lock in place, at least on one side. But I do not feel any resistance. Also, the shutter release does nothing. I am not sure how the mechanism is supposed to work but I feel that a gear is stripped.

Before I start tearing into this camera, does anyone have some close-up pictures of the internal mechanism? Can the mechanism be removed from the body of the camera?

DougGrosjean · 10-21-2007, 06:54 PM

I have the same camera.

There's very little resistance in the lens during the swing. In fact, if you stop it mid-swing you can move it back and forth manually.

Have you tried taking pics with it? The high-speed swing is about 1/100, and aperture is around F11. I'd reccomend shooting a test roll before doing anything else.

Frank R · 10-22-2007, 09:34 PM

It won't swing at all mechanically. The button does not plunge down either. It definitely is not working.

It does not look like the mechanism can be removed for repairs. They installed the mechanism and then glued the wood together.

Looks like it will live on the shelf.

DougGrosjean · 10-23-2007, 08:32 AM

Bummer about it living on the shelf. Odd to think it was considered "Not User Servicable" even back then.

Rest assured the Panoram can take excellent pics. I took one (along with a 35mm Widelux) on a trip down all of Route 66 this past July. It did a great job. Somewhat soft lens, but that big neg makes up for a lot.

Frank R · 10-23-2007, 06:01 PM

I saw your posts on Pnet while researching them.

It is odd that it cannot be serviced. Somebody probably manually tried to move the lens tube from inside the camera and stripped its gear.