Leica LTM If, chubby fingers, tight spool: what to do?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Ken Ford

Ken Ford

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My new If arrived today, and I immediately discovered an ergonomic challenge - my stumpy finder are too large to offer good purchase on the takeup spool! In addition, the spool is pretty tight.

Suggestions? I'm using the clip from my ID card to pull it for now. I've heard you can use Canon takeup spools in an LTM, and that the Canon ones have a spring-loaded pop-up knob - does anyone know if this is true?
 
Yes, early Canon RF`s have a "pop up" spool top which comes out over half an inch........makes loading a charm! And they work in Leica LTM bodies and you can find them on evilbay sometimes

Tom

PS: I also use the IIIF-IIIG/M3 spring loaded spools in my IIIC`s
 
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I bought a small leatherman before my last vacation after having a Leica bulk cart stick in my IIIf. Helps with take up spool too.

A word of warning, tho - I had it confiscated (later returned) 3 times going through security at historic/tourist sites - in spite of its small size.
 
Tom, IIIfs had spring-loaded spools? This is a If RD, and it's solid. I wonder if it's not original.

Any idea of a fair price for either a Canon or Leica spool?
 
Ken Ford said:
Tom, IIIfs had spring-loaded spools? This is a If RD, and it's solid. I wonder if it's not original.

Any idea of a fair price for either a Canon or Leica spool?
Click to expand...

Solid spool top on the IF is original

Spring loaded spools were an accessory for IIIF (they came out in 1954 with the M3) and standard on all Leica IIIG`s

Hummmm prices are sometimes crazy, but I`d say anything UNDER $50 is fair

I paid $48 for the last M3 spool I bought and $17 for a mint boxed Canon one, I don`t have any overages or else I`d offer you one - keep looking on the evilbay they do turn up

Tom
 
I just tried my M3 spool in the If, and no go - it's too tall. Are the M3 and IIIg spools the same? Maybe there's internal differences between the If and II/IIIf.

I don't have accessory resources - any idea what the code name was for the IIIf spring loaded spool?

A Canon one may be the best solution. I'll watch eBay.

Thanks!
 
Ken Ford said:
OK, the sprung IIIf ones appear to be SVOOP / 14021...
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Yep, that`s them.....hummm well I have a spring loaded M spool in my 1946
"Half Race" and it`s working fine, I didn`t think there was a big difference in height in IIIC/IIIF bodies...I don`t think IF bodies are any different either

Tom
 
I tried it again - this time it worked, but took a fair bit of pressure both to insert and remove. I'm going to try a single drop of lube on the shaft - I think it's just dry.

Thanks!
 
ZorkiKat said:
Try using the protruding tab on the baseplate to pry the spool off. It's an old trick which an old German lady photographer taught us once. Another method she showed us was to pick the spool out using the thumb and pinky finger instead of the index finger.

Jay
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I can vouch for the thumb and pinky finger method. I've always used that method to extract my spools and it has never failed me.

What you do is you use both your pinky finger and thumb in unision to pull out the spool, the pinky finger against the curve of the body and the thumb near the shutter crate where there is more space.

Samuel
 
I've tried both the baseplate trick and using my thumb and pinky, neither really worked well for me. I found a SVOOP for $30 shipped so I'll go that route.

Thanks, all!
 
Ken Ford said:
The SVOOP arrived today and is a perfect fit. That, and I can easily remove the spool. Yay!
Click to expand...

Kool Kool........I`m going to SELL the Leica M spool I have and buy another CANON "PopUp" spool while I will need it soon while I`ll have yet another IIIC body in the near future

Tom
 
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