Ilex #3 Acme Synchro - Am I doing something wrong?

[Removed Account]

I feel pretty silly asking this, but how does my Ilex #3 Acme Synchro shutter work? It has what I think is the cocking lever next to some sort of press view button, according to the SK Grimes website diagram. It also has the flash sync lever and the trigger lever along with the cable release socket. When I press the cocking lever it just fires at whatever speed I've set it on without cocking. When I depress the press view button I don't think anything happens, but it pops back up when I press the cocking lever. Is there a special way to cock this shutter? I had it figured out a while back but haven't mounted the lens to a board yet so have not had much opportunity use it. I apologise if I'm not writing clearly, it's 1:45 AM and I have to be at work by 8 so I am half asleep...

- Justin

[Don Dudenbostel]

The shutter has to be cocked before the press focus will open the shutter. The cocking device for the shutter is a flat piece next to the press focus. Push the cocking device down untill it catches. Now press in the round button to open the shutter to focus. When you are finished focusing recock the shutter by pressing the cocking lever down again. this will close the shutter and ready ot to fire. If you're using flash then after cocking the shutter you can cock the flash sync with the lever near the bipost terminal where you connect the flash. You most likely will have a little wheel in the side of the shutter next to the flash sync cocking lever. This sets the delay for the flash. Note there is a red, blue and white setting. If you're using strobes set it to the red setting. The others are for different class bulbs with different peak delays. M for regular flash bulbs and white for F class FP bulbs. Most likely you will be using the red X sync. Each time you fire the shutter you will have to recock it and if using flash recock the flash after cocking the shutter.