NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: RonVol on February 22, 2017, 00:54:52

Title: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: RonVol on February 22, 2017, 00:54:52
Scan from a 1970s Nikkor Lens brochure.
I'm somewhat astounded that this was done by hand as automated pantographs had already been invented.
Imagine having to do this job, day in - day out.
Title: Re: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: richardHaw on February 22, 2017, 02:46:19
this is what I am currently doing to my tickmark 50/2 :o :o :o

the paint came off after a scrub with hotwater and soap
Title: Re: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: David H. Hartman on February 22, 2017, 06:25:52
I painted over the foot scale on a number of my AI Nikkors with black acrylic artist polymer. I tested one lens and after a few days or a week or so I removed the acrylic paint successfully with methyl alcohol, no problems. It seemed safe and reversible.

Some time ago I tried removing the acrylic paint from a lens and the old yellow paint underneath was stained quite darkly. This was after years, decades. Any ideas how this stain might be removed or what kind of paint might I used to repaint the foot scale? Perhaps I need to remove all the original paint and repaint the scale with the proper kind of paint as it was at the factory.

Thanks!

Dave Hartman
Title: Re: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: Akira on February 22, 2017, 07:21:04
I think they just fill the engraved numbers with the paint and wipe off the excess.   8)  See the cleaning paper or cotton.
Title: Re: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: Hugh_3170 on February 22, 2017, 07:27:28
Akira, I understand that is how it was done by Leitz in the old days.

I think they just fill the engraved numbers with the paint and wipe off the excess.   8)  See the cleaning paper or cotton.
Title: Re: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: richardHaw on February 22, 2017, 09:11:51
http://richardhaw.com/2016/01/27/project-lettering-restoration/

I actually made a blog post about that some months ago. basically usual scale modeling know-how :o :o :o
Title: Re: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: Erik Lund on February 22, 2017, 09:24:02
Nice image, it's a Job/Art! No worries or problems except getting the colours and tone correct, there could have been rotation between different work stations of similar work,,,
Title: Re: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: Roland Vink on February 22, 2017, 09:38:49
Just imagine, a premier photography company doing paint by numbers!  :o
Title: Re: Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings
Post by: bjornthun on February 22, 2017, 12:14:13
Just imagine, a premier photography company doing paint by numbers!  :o
:D Nice play with words. :D