Experimental Disassembly.

[OsmosisStudios]

So, I've come into the possession of a VERY old Nikkor-H 50mm f/2 lens. It's pre-AI so it doesnt work on any of my cameras. It's actually in great condition, but not worth much, so I'm wanting to try something.

I want to take it apart. And display it.

But here's where I'm stuck: I don't know how to display it. I'd like something visually interesting. I was thinking of a shadowbox (a rather large one) to show the parts of the lens as an exploded view, but I dont know how to mount the items to the box

If anyone has ANY thoughts, feel free. Diagrams welcome/encouraged!

[UlpilotSC]

Second try....

I'm new here but this one caught my eye.

I've been to air museums where they have cut open engines. You can see the inside parts in the proper positions. It's really interesting.

Take out all the innards, have someone cut the lens case in half with a bandsaw. Then position the lens parts back inside. That way you can see the parts inside where they should be. You could even shine a laser pointer through the front and watch the light bending through the elements.

[Hayward Taylor]

Is it worth converting it to Ai before taking it apart ??? ....

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Hayward Taylor

Is it worth converting it to Ai before taking it apart ??? ....

Not really. Converting it to AI would cost considerably more (orders of magnitude) more than the lens is worth. It's only good for about $50, in the best case.

I've thought of cutting it in half, but unfortunately I dont think that's an option. Finding someone to do it would be... difficult at best.

[robert lamont]

How about removing the innards and in the shadow box have the lens barrel with the bits and pieces above it in order of assembly, a bit like a diagram you would see in an assembly instruction book. Having a laser pointer shone through it would be really cool too as described previously!

[IABoomer]

Cutting the glass would suck. Cutting the housing should be a piece of cake. Buy a beer for a guy at a local machine shop with a vertical bandsaw and I'm sure he could rip a thin aluminum housing in no time at all. A cut away housing with the components back in it would be cool.

The other thing I'm thinking is leave the housing out of the picture, so to speak. Take all the components and attach them to small plexi standoffs, which could then be attached to the back of a shadow box. The parts would look like they're floating in the positions where they exist in the lens.

If you wanted to incorporate the lens housing, maybe slice it into sections and mount those sections like the internals.

[Aegea]

Photograph each component separately, then photoshop the images into an isometric view? Hmm, sounds like a lot of work ...

[rosserx]

Use ¼" Gatorfoam and cut slits to fit each lens element. placing each element half way in the slit and securing it with glue and gaffers tape on the backside of the Gatorfoam. Now cut a hole in the exact contour of the barrel and secure that in the hole half way. Have the board framed with a glass front, any custom frame shop can do this. Hang on wall and you'll have a beautiful piece of art.

[OsmosisStudios]

Rosserx: gatorfoam?

Aegea: I want to have the physical pieces in the frame, though your idea is a good project i could do as well.

IABoomer: How hard would this kind of thing be? Would they need specialized equipment?

[BuddhaPi]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Rosserx: gatorfoam?

Aegea: I want to have the physical pieces in the frame, though your idea is a good project i could do as well.

IABoomer: How hard would this kind of thing be? Would they need specialized equipment?

gatorfoam AKA gator board, much like foam core but stiffer any framing shop should have some.
you can also use monofiliment to tie the pieces thru the backing..this would be a good project for a framing shop that specializes in conservation methods..