Kalart / Graflex Rangefinder Mirror and Beam Splitter Repair

Here is a hint: Rangefinders on Graphics, either Kalart or Graflex are not hard to repair. Edmunds, phone 1-800-728-6999, Fax 609-547-3292 sells  50% beam splitter glass, Stock No.  Y43,359. It currently costs $15.50 per 50 x 50mm square. This is enough to fix a lot of rangefinders. They also sell 51x51mm first surface mirrors ideal for the stationary mirror if your RF has one. Order Stock # Y52.324 for $4.75 for a 50mm square that will last you a long time.

To cut the mirrors out, you scribe a line with a carbide scribe, and break quickly, like breaking a Graham cracker in two. It may help to have one side of the glass in a vise.You may have to break the old mirrors out of their frames to get them free. Then cement in the new one, or ones, and realign the RF. You should not have to do this for different distances. Just align the two images at infinity and the RF should be accurate at nearer distances.

You open the rangefinder in one of the following ways, depending on its make:

• In the top RF Graphic you get at the RF by removing two chrome screws on top. You set infinity by loosening a bolt at the handle side of the camera inside and rotating the shaft. You align the two images up and down with the screws on the stationary full silvered mirror.
• Opening the Kalart RF is different for different models. You remove screws going into the wood of the camera and on top and lift off the housing. You can probably make all corrections for the new mirrors by turning little screws in the bottom prism.
• The Hugo Meyer RF is accessed by first removing the screws holding the two windows and pulling them off. Then you remove the square ends in the top and bottom and you will see the adjustments and be able to remove the mirror. Hugo Meyer RF's are not adjustable for lens focal lengths, unlike the Kalart and Graphic RF.