Leica LTM Leotax Elite--how to load film?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Bill58

Bill58

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My beautiful Elite has arrived from Japan via Jiri Ecer (a fine guy), but I can't figure out how to load it. Do you just thread the film behind the shutter to the pickup spool and the latter mechanically "grabs" the film? Can anybody help me?

Thanks,
Bill
 
It would be like loading any Barnack type bottomloader camera.
pull out the film leader 4" and cut it to that special shape from the film cassette.
Pull out takeup spool from camera and hook up film to it.
insert the whole shebang into the camera.
put bottom plate back on.
wind and fire shutter a few times.
set film counter to zero.
tighten up film slack buy turning rewind knob and it should turn when you wind the film with the advance lever or knob.
 
It should load just like any other "Barnack"-style Leica/copy, i.e., the spool should be removable.

Bill58 said:
My beautiful Elite has arrived from Japan via Jiri Ecer (a fine guy), but I can't figure out how to load it. Do you just thread the film behind the shutter to the pickup spool and the latter mechanically "grabs" the film? Can anybody help me?

Thanks,
Bill
Click to expand...
 
Loading a Leotax must have been a popular, 1950's, Japanese IQ test and I failed it!
I get everything else, but can't seem to get the film on the sprockets and make it feed properly. Ugh! I'll try again tonite. Do you really have to cut a special leader? It seems the film goes into the slot on the pickup spool and handwinds just fine w/o it.

Bill
 
Cut that leader to that special bottomloader shape and make sure the film edge holes engages the sprocket teeth as you first wind the advance lever or knob.

good light and eyesight help in observing this.
 
I've been shooting my IIIa (and a few escaped-from-the-tractor-factory barnacks) for over 3 years now, and this last time I still managed to screw up loading a roll of Kodak Bw400cn....(after I took it out of the camera I even accidently wound the leader back into the casette, d'oh!)

Just saying that there's nothing to be ashamed off, it happens to the best of us ...hehehe.
 
I got the film trimmed and put on the take-up spool. The film advances fine as I cock and fire, but the take-up spool doesn't turn. Do I have a problem?

Thanks,
Bill
 
Bill58 said:
I got the film trimmed and put on the take-up spool. The film advances fine as I cock and fire, but the take-up spool doesn't turn. Do I have a problem?

Thanks,
Bill
Click to expand...

Does the shaft where the take up spool sits in turn when you advance the film?
 
Bill58 said:
The shaft and the spool turn when I cock the lever w/o the film attached, but don't with the film attached.
Click to expand...

the take up spool shaft has a slip clutch that my need adjusting.

also check to see if the film is pulling out easy from the film cassette and not binding.
 
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