I had a coworker who was an engineer in the Philippines before emigrating to Canada. He was very good at fashioning tools or modifying existing ones to solve problems. The modified screwdriver looks like it would work perfectly. Agree too that it’s a labor of love. I have a modest collection and hope to start using more of them this summer. I was able to piece together the 3A combination back and four film holders. I also have two 5x7 ROCC Poco cameras I want to use. My ROC Premo camera is close to ready. Just need to put the shutter back together. Also been freshening up a Blair Hawkeye Detective camera to use and it’s close to ready as well. I used to collect to display only but I have seen the quality of photos these old cameras can produce. Why not use them for what they were built for? I will say that getting one into shape where it’s ready for use is its own long quest but will be well worth it. I’ve learned a lot working on them and after 30 years of working on cars its so nice to be doing another type of mechanical work. I have one question though about the tool for prying the tabs. The opposite end has a design for it that I can’t figure out what it is for. Is it used in some way for bending the tabs back?
As to the special tool........do you mean the hooked-larger end? If so, yes, it's meant for bend the tabs tightly back in place.
You often hear about lens quality varying in performance and that's very true with older cameras as well. I think the thing that helps when it comes to final print quality for some of these older cameras is the large size of the negatives they produce. That can help cover up a "not so great" lens. I have two Western Camera Co. Cyclone No.5 4X5 "falling plate" box cameras, which have simple Achromatic Meniscus lenses that do a fine job in the picture taking department and are a blast to use. It did take a large amount of time sealing all the light leaks and tuning them up, but to me, it was well worth the effort. I have many cameras on the display shelf and want to or at least try to have them all working properly. Luckily, most of them now do.