Cards w FED & Zorki 1

[kiev4a]

The other night I was trying to load film in a FED 1. Although the tongue was cut properly, the film kept hanging up before it got all the way down in the channel.

I have heard some bottom loader users say they use thin plastic card to aid in loading film. They slip the card into the channel, slide the film down behind the card until it is in the proper position, then pull out the card. I had never don it myself fearing it might damage the pressure plate. Finally I found a piece of heavy paper stock, tried it with the FED and it worked like a charm. In fact, I think I could have loaded film with a standard tongue.

Then something else occurred to me.

Folks who acquire the early FEDs and Zorkies sometime find a thin white card made of plastic-like material in a pocket in the back of the leather neverready case. The standard explanation has been the card was there so the photographer could write down info on exposures. BUT, that card is also the right size to use to help seat the film properly. I'm wondering is that may have been a least part of the reason the card was there. I don't think you find the pocket or card in the cases for any FSU cameras but the bottom loaders. I've never seen any instructions for using the card for loading in a FED or Zorki 1 manual but I don't read or speak Russian so maybe it is mentioned somewhere.

Anyway, I now have a very thin piece of plastic in the pocket of the FED case to assist in loading.

 

[Nickfed]

I believe there is only one way to load the film and that's the proper way - the way Mr. Barnack intended. I think if there was instruction in the manual about using a card, there would be a picture too. There is for everything else.

I don't know what the "secret pocket" is for. Mine has a thick piece of cardboard in it which looks like it has been there since 1952. I believe you are right in that this pocket only lasted with the FED-1.

 

[DaveP]

The card that comes with the cameras is too thick, it is intended for notes. Im a card user , and you dont need to cut the fim. Loading is fast! The only reason the film needs to be cut ,is to clear the second film rail. Take another camera that the back comes off, and cut the film and place it in the camera as if you were bottom loading and you will see. I took some of the clear laminating plastic and laminated a "card" with filter factor information. Its .012 thick and works perfectly, also hobby shops carry thin plastic sheet that you can cut into credit card size pieces. I keep one on the bench, in the billfod and in the never ready case. Theres little danger of damage if done carefully and you can have the camera loaded about as fast as cutting the fim..............Dave

 

[RichardS]

The other night I was trying to load film in a FED 1. Although the tongue was cut properly, the film kept hanging up before it got all the way down in the channel.

I have heard some bottom loader users say they use thin plastic card to aid in loading film. They slip the card into the channel, slide the film down behind the card until it is in the proper position, then pull out the card. I had never don it myself fearing it might damage the pressure plate. Finally I found a piece of heavy paper stock, tried it with the FED and it worked like a charm. /QUOTE]


You must be pretty talented. I read about doing it that way and tried it and got nowhere.

Dick

 

[kiev4a]

The card that comes with the cameras is too thick, it is intended for notes. Im a card user , and you dont need to cut the fim. Loading is fast! The only reason the film needs to be cut ,is to clear the second film rail. Take another camera that the back comes off, and cut the film and place it in the camera as if you were bottom loading and you will see. I took some of the clear laminating plastic and laminated a "card" with filter factor information. Its .012 thick and works perfectly, also hobby shops carry thin plastic sheet that you can cut into credit card size pieces. I keep one on the bench, in the billfod and in the never ready case. Theres little danger of damage if done carefully and you can have the camera loaded about as fast as cutting the fim..............Dave

Your right. Since writing that I examined one of the original cards and it is too thick. There goes my theory

This FED is the only bottom loader camera I've never been able to load the standard way. I opened the shutter and checked the film path and there's noting I can see to obstruck the film. But any time I try to inset film the edge of the tongue get burred up. That might explain why this FED appears almost unused--the previous owner couldn't load it!

 

[DaveP]

I think the trick might be that when inserting the card, align it with the edge of the shutter crate. Then push it down and you will feel it catch on the second rail. Push a little harder and it will go on down . Then install film. A fter installing the film on the take up spool, I pull out just enough so that when I put it in, its already tight with the sprocket. Ive got it so it installs and catches first time every time. I dont cut the film at all............D.

 

[darkkavenger]

I had forgotten about this, but I too have a plastic card in a specially designed area of my Kiev-II leather box. I never got what it is used for.

 

[pshinkaw]

On a Kiev-2 it most likely isn't to assist in loading film. I always thought it was a memo holder. That is why I believe that the cards were never intended to be used for loading assistance.

-Paul

 

[darkkavenger]

I agree with you, the Kiev uses a modern system to load the film, unlike old Fed and Zorki. Ah well *cuddles with his Kiev leather case*

 

[varjag]

You were supposed to write your name and address on that card, so that the camera could have a chance of finding its way back in case you lost it.

 

[pshinkaw]

Eugene:

Was the old Soviet Union a place where a valuable piece of private property, if lost, would find it's way back to you? It would seem very easy to simply throw away the "found" owner's card and keep or resell the camera.

Sorry, but I have cultural blinders on from being born and raised in the USA.

-Paul

 

[airds]

More cards - snap

More cards - snap

Sorry to butt in a bit, but the Canon IVsb of the early 50's also had a (red) card hidden in the rear of it's case - there is a nice image of it, approx 33% down this page


The rest of Karen Nakamura's Photoethnography.com website is great and well worth a look - especially the images of cameras - if you haven't seen it previously.

 

[varjag]

Paul, it was largely dependant on a person who'd find your item. There were honest people, and not too honest, pretty much like everywhere. FWIW, there were found items offices in every town or city, and they weren't empty. If I found a camera with owner's address inscribed am pretty certain I'd contact the owner rather than try selling it at a flea market.

We had our ups and downs, but the perception that we were ready to bite each other's throats for a piece of sausage isn't entirely correct

 

[darkkavenger]

Thank you Eugene!