Re: [Leica] Film Winding Again, (was BASic question)

["Mike Durling" <durling@widomaker.com>]

Thanks John.  That makes a lot of sense.  It could be why some folks have no
problems loading the later M and others do.  I'll look at it closely next
time I change film.

Mike Durling
KD4KWB
http://www.widomaker.com/~durling/

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "John Collier" <jbcollier@home.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2000 4:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Film Winding Again, (was BASic question)


> I have never tried winding the camera with the baseplate off. Maybe the
film
> is not in the proper position without the baseplate in place. It would not
> take much for the take-up spool "catches" to miss.
>
> John Collier
>
> > From: "Mike Durling" <durling@widomaker.com>
> >
> > John:
> >
> > I was afraid that I wasn't being very clear.  It was late.  I've always
been
> > very careful to make sure that the film in the M4 was engaged by the
> > sprockets.  The problem I always had was that once the film tip was in
the
> > takeup it would slip out when I wound the film.  I used to wind with the
> > bottom off and watch it very carefully.  It would often take several
tries
> > to get it to seat properly.  Being VERY careful ususally helped.
Following
> > the advice of some on this list I dropped the film in and, after making
sure
> > the sprockets were lined up, I closed the bottom before winding.  So far
I
> > have had better luck.  By now I know the sound of the film tip popping
out
> > of the takeup.
> >
> > I've been trying to figure out why it doesn't come loose when the bottom
is
> > on but will when the bottom is off.  It almost seems like the theory
that
> > the alligator won't bother you if you don't keep staring at it!
> >
> > Mike Durling
> > KD4KWB
> > http://www.widomaker.com/~durling/
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "John Collier" <jbcollier@home.com>
> > To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> > Sent: Friday, February 25, 2000 10:40 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Film Winding Again, (was BASic question)
> >
> >
> >> I am not quite sure what you are referring to in the last sentence. One
of
> >> the big problems loading the M4/6 (OK, and M2R) cameras is that
everyone
> >> thinks the three pronged take-up spool is what pulls the film along,
not
> > so.
> >> The toothed sprocket wheel (open camera back and look in the small
> > "window"
> >> to the right of shutter) engages in the holes in the film and pulls it
> >> along. A misload occurs when the film holes are not aligned properly
with
> >> the sprocket wheel's teeth. This is most often caused by a crimp in the
> > film
> >> catching on the film gate's upper edge. The film is jammed between the
> > film
> >> positioning disc ( the funny wheel on the baseplate) and the film gate.
A
> >> funny grinding noise results (sprocket teeth rubbing on the film and/or
> > film
> >> leader tip flapping in the take-up spool). The take-up spool is on a
> > simple
> >> friction clutch and will not pull misaligned film. Try it yourself.
Remove
> >> the baseplate and gently rotate the three pronged take-up spool. The
key
> > to
> >> proper loads is not the pronged take-up spool but how the film lies in
the
> >> film guides/gate. After a little practise it comes easy. If this is not
> > the
> >> answer to your question, ask again.
> >>
> >> John Collier
> >>
> >>> From: "Mike Durling" <durling@widomaker.com>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> John Collier wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> . . . The M6 requires the three pronged wheelie thing to align the
film
> >>>> properly . . .
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> Ok, now is this the secret to loading the later M-s?  Frankly I
quietly
> >>> watched the debate on M6 loading.  I've had an M4 for nearly 25 years
> > and
> >>> always had trouble loading it.  Ted's film crimp helped a lot but the
> > "drop
> >>> the film in, close the bottom, and wind" technique really does seem to
> > work.
> >>> Is the "three pronged wheelie thing" the reason the film only pops off
> > the
> >>> spool when you are looking at it?  (am I making any sense?)
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
>