Does anybody know anything about these shutters? How hard is it going to be to clean? The actual shutter is supposed to be made by Ilex. I'm hoping to mount this in front of a barrel lens.

Nick, this would be a wonderful time for you to learn what the "Search" feature on the Helpboard can do for you. Just choose that feature, enter the term: SPEED-I-O-SCOPE, and enter. You'll find all you ever want to know in the threads listed there.

Cool but it doesn't seem anybody in those postings actually handled one or cleaned one. From the info I have it seems similar to an Ilex #4. The one I've got coming is supposed to be slower then normal. Hopefully that means it only needs a cleaning.

Quote:

On 2003-08-02 10:44, Nick wrote: Cool but it doesn't seem anybody in those postings actually handled one or cleaned one. From the info I have it seems similar to an Ilex #4. The one I've got coming is supposed to be slower then normal. Hopefully that means it only needs a cleaning.

I really do hate to say the same thing (I really do!), but a search in the lens forum for shutter cleaning will result in many discussions about cleaning older shutters and all the warnings.
In short:
Almost all shutters acn be cleaned by the lighter fluid (naptha) soak and good drying time.
Some shutters have plastic, rubber and/or cloth parts that don't like to be cleaned!
And
I can't remember anyone ever discussing the speed-i-o-scope shutter in regards to lceaning or repairing, so you may be the first. And if the naptha routine works, you could let us all know...
Sorry I couldn't help any more...

I think it will make a very good front shutter. I had an Ocillo-raptar 75mm f 1.9 (useless lens, won't cover 6x6cm at inf.) that I scavanged the shutter from and had SK Grimes make a neat back adapter. He used an O ring to hold the shutter to the barrel of the lens so it won't scratch the barrel, and I use the aperture scale on the barrel and the shutter for timing.

I haven't had any personal experience with the Speed i o scope shutter but don't see why it wouldn't work. It all depends on the lens you want to use it for.

Quote:

On 2003-08-02 10:44, Nick wrote: Cool but it doesn't seem anybody in those postings actually handled one or cleaned one. From the info I have it seems similar to an Ilex #4. The one I've got coming is supposed to be slower then normal. Hopefully that means it only needs a cleaning.

I have a Keystone Flashmeter which appears to be the same thing with different badging.
The treatment mine got was a thorough flushing with Ronsonol, a couple days of drying time (on edge so air could go through it), and an invisibly light coating of white lithium grease on the speed-setting disk. It came right back!
Good luck,
-ls-