Anyone selling ABLON copies

john neal

john neal

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I have been on that auction site, but don't seem to be able to find anyone selling the copies of the ABLON - can anyone point me to a source?

I have about 2 dozen films to trim..........
 
They seem to come and go on the auction site, but there are DIY alternatives. Just Google Leica ABLON for lots of info.
 
John,
The genuine ABLON have become collectors items and are appropriately priced when they do hit the market. The copies (ones I saw were from Korea) are cheaper but don't seem to be on offer now, as you say.
I went to the trouble of cutting and filing a piece of aluminium plate to the right shape which I used as a cutting guide on a cutting mat for a short time, but to be honest a small pair of nail scissors will do the job freehand and that's all I used in the end. It doesn't have to be as precise a shape as you might imagine. Work out the number of perforations to count along before you cut the curve up to the edge of the film. The only thing to be careful about is to avoid cutting through any perforations as they can catch in the shutter when you go to wind the film on. Cut smoothly between. Only happened to me once but after that I was more careful. The scissors I used are on a miniature Swiss Army knife - easy to carry and useful for other things.
 
By the way, when using scissors it's easier to make a smooth cut if you start in at the perforated edge. Make the cut between the perforations cleanly with rounded corners then angle down to about halfway across the leader (I presume you have the pattern taken off the internet) before straightening up in another smooth but larger radius curve and then cutting straight to the end of the leader. Trim the corner off the sharp right angle your cut produces at the end. Not strictly necessary but neat.
I'm right handed by the way. I found if I started cutting at the end of the leader (which seemed natural) by the time I got to the perforated edge of the film I was inclined to lose accuracy and if you start making little short cuts on those last curves you're likely to create the sort of burrs and edges you just don't want at that point.
Doing that means you're cutting away from the film container rather than towards it, and it feels like the other way round would be more convenient (and it is) but the results I found to be better starting at the perforation end of the cut, not the end of the leader.
 
Leigh Youdale said:
There are two Ablons on auction at the moment. Item # 230537649105.
Three hours left. You're probably asleep in the UK!
Click to expand...

Never realised that ABLON can be expensive! I have an original, which I got in the 1990s. It cost only (the equivalent of) US$9.50.

It can be burden to use at times. I would sometimes trim a batch of respools then after the fifth roll or so, I'd revert to using scissors alone.

It's not really hard to trim a suitable leader without the template. As Leigh suggested, cut from the perf side first, sloping gently and then go all the way through the end.
 
Thanks guys, especially Leigh.

I have been cutting for some time with the scissors on my little swiss army knife, but as I get older, I'm finding that less of a joy. I had an ABLON for a while years ago, and found it a little awkward, but the finished job was definitely superior to what I'm managing now.

I must try the trick of starting from the perf edge, rather than the end of the leader (my usual method). I don't want to start fiddling with business cards, or sticking fingers into the film gate, and a smooth leader is definitely the way to go.

I did see that pair of genuine ones on the video game, but they are just too expensive!
 
A small pair of curved nail scissors used inside out is the best ... small straight bladed scissors like you'd find on a swiss army knife make it hard work to cut the curve IMO.
 
Keith said:
A small pair of curved nail scissors used inside out is the best ... small straight bladed scissors like you'd find on a swiss army knife make it hard work to cut the curve IMO.
Click to expand...

I'd agree with that. It's just that the Swiss knife does the job plus others without the need to carry two implements. Like a toothpick!
 
There's also contemporary versions of the Leitz ABLON made by various firms; R G Lewis comes to mind. They turn up a lot cheaper and usually mislabelled as film templates or similar. And in the traditional "box of photographic equipment" on ebay.

In your shoes I'd go on cutting one at a time whilst searching for one.

Regards, David
 
Thanks David - I will have to hand cut (as usual), I just liked the idea of trying a cheap Ablon.

Maybe try the scalpel & cutting mat, rather than scissors?
 
For a long time, I used a cardboard template and an exacto knife

on a cutting mat. But the albion clone and exacto is a lot quicker.

The long, thin # 11 blade follows the guide smoothly.

Mark Hama's e-mail is <markhama@comcast.net> if you want to check.
 
Last edited:
You don`t need an ABLON for triming a leader. Cut back 22 sprocket holes and a bit less than half way down making nice smooth cuts so as not to make a place for a film tear to start.

ABLON copies do not have the pointed end template used for attaching the end to the film spool. There is no way to fake this in the dark either. I paid for a real one.
 
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