Alden 74 loader question

[colyn]

I just picked up a Alden 74 bulk loader at the local flea market and while trying it with the film still in it I find after giving 36 turns it takes another 8 turns to get the required length (66 inches) of film..

Is this correct??

My Watson takes an additional 6 turns..

 

[lns]

Okay, I just started with this, so I'm no expert, but I do have the directions. Which state to give it six additional clicks. Specifically, to start at 37 (with 0 feet on the other dial), give it three clicks to get to 0, then make the roll as long as you want (24, 36, whatever) and then add an extra three clicks. According to the dial, this rolls out about five feet of film for 36 exposures, as I remember.

In practice, I found that 3 + 36 + 3 gave me only 35 exposures on my first few rolls. So for me, adding 7 clicks would probably be more accurate.

Hope that helps.

-Laura

 

[colyn]

Okay, I just started with this, so I'm no expert, but I do have the directions. Which state to give it six additional clicks. Specifically, to start at 37 (with 0 feet on the other dial), give it three clicks to get to 0, then make the roll as long as you want (24, 36, whatever) and then add an extra three clicks. According to the dial, this rolls out about five feet of film for 36 exposures, as I remember.

Looking back at my original post I realized I gave the wrong length. Instead of 66 inches actual length for a 36 exposure roll is 63 inches.

6 additional clicks do give the proper length.

In practice, I found that 3 + 36 + 3 gave me only 35 exposures on my first few rolls. So for me, adding 7 clicks would probably be more accurate.

Hope that helps.

-Laura

One mistake a lot of people make when loading the camera is to advance before closing the camera. You should insert the film close then advance. Doing it the other way will waste a frame.

 

[lns]

... One mistake a lot of people make when loading the camera is to advance before closing the camera. You should insert the film close then advance. Doing it the other way will waste a frame.[/quote]

Good advice. And I do advance once before I close the camera, just to make sure the film has caught. However, when I do that with a store-bought roll, I still get 36 exposures, not 35.

I'm actually okay with the 35 exposures I've been getting on the bulk film. I bought some 35-frame Printfile sheets by mistake, and now I can use them up.

-Laura

 

[BILLC]

I cut the film short, near the sproket, and tape it there- turn off the lights and pull the cassett out in the dark and put it in the crank, close up and wind in the light. I like rolls of 24 and get them with 28 frames.
Bill

 

[ChrisPlatt]

In my experience failing to advance the film until both sprockets engage
dramatically increases the risk of misloading (and no pictures).

You can reduce the amount of wasted film by keeping the length of the
tapered leader to a minimum.

Chris