Re: [Leica] Problems with Leica IIIC

["Mark Hammons" <astair@ix.netcom.com>]

>Dear LUG readers,
>
>Have any of you had problems with film not being pulled taut in a 
>screw-mount Leica?
>
>I sometimes use a IIIC that my father bought new in 1949 when he lived on 
>the Island of Guam.  Occasionally (often), I have noticed that one side of 
>an image was badly out of focus.  The effect was random and irritating, and 
>it puzzled me for along time.  I finally realized that, after I advanced 
>the film, the wind knob had a lot of play and could rotate back and forth a 
>few degrees.  After winding film, sometimes the knob remained fixed, but 
>sometimes it clicked back a bit, apparently letting the film bow or bend 
>within the film gate.  My practice now is to:
>
>1.  advance the film.
>2.  gently turn the wind knob back if there is any free play.
>3.  turn the rewind knob clockwise to pull the film taut.
>4.  hold on to the rewind knob while I take the exposure.
>
>This is cumbersome.  Can any of you suggest a better solution?  Is there a 
>mechanical repair?  For example, should the pressure plate be pressing the 
>film tighter?  Or, should the rewind mechanism be under tension so that, as 
>the film is advanced, it remains stretched against the film gate?
>
>Thanks,
>Andy Morang
>Frustrated LTM Leica user from Mississippi
>

Is the rewind lever all thw way to "advance".  Also, I believe their is a prawl
on the film take-up shaft that prevents the knob from rewinding.  It is spring
loaded.  If that has failed somehow maybe thats the problem.  Sherry?

Mark Hammons