Film leader retriever - some kind of mean joke?

akptc

akptc

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I don't think I've ever felt this embarrassed, dumbfounded, and down right mad because of a small plastic utensil. Talking about a film retriever. In the past (~20 years ago), I would simply open the cassette, pull out the film, and re-close the cassette, with the film tip sticking out. But the cassettes are now so tightly closed that if you open one means to ruin the cap.

So I got me this fancy $3 film retriever. And for the last half hour I’ve filled my house with curses like I didn't know I had in me. Is this some kind of a joke? The way I see it the darn thing can only work if you somehow, through pure chance, get the film end to fall between the 2 tongues "just so" it can be pinched between them. The "instructions" for the retriever are imprinted in 0.5mm hieroglyphics on the device itself, i,e, useless...

OK, so I may be both a novice to this and apparently a dinosaur. Could someone give me a hint? Is the "retriever" just a big joke that I fell for? I need a drink...
 
Andy: I haven't used the Kalt job, and I can imagine it's a cheapened unit. The one I used to have worked quite well. The trick was to work slowly and with the film cassette near your ear so you hear the leader "click" when it moves past the bottom tongue. Oh, that sounds sorta kinky.
 
Joe: $24CDN for the same one? Well, $24 for even a gold-plated one would be highway robbery. Ask to see their invoice for cost. Sheesh.

Mine was a simple metal affair that cost about $3 in the late 70s.
 
Andy.... I got one from you know who, just above this post....

I rewound a BW film after realizing I had not exposed it! The previous day I'd received the retreiver from BA so I thought lets try it.

Hate to tell you but I got my film out first try. I loved it. So.. try again, after reading the instructions and making sure you get the first part right when you have to hear & feel the film tab engage on the tool.
 
akptc said:
OK, so I may be both a novice to this and apparently a dinosaur. Could someone give me a hint? Is the "retriever" just a big joke that I fell for? I need a drink...
Click to expand...

See my avatar (pun intended!)

Ok, this is really NOT that hard. Just

1. push A and B all the way back so that the "tongue" is retracted.

2. Stick the black plastic tongues into the cassette.

3. Push A into the cassette further

4. Turn the center shaft of the cassette counterclockwise (as seen from top of the cassette) slowly until you can feel or hear a very soft click, this indicates that the film is the correct position.

5. Push B all the way through and pull out the whole thing.

Good luck!
 
Leafy has it spot on. In the hundreds of rolls I've used mine on it's never taken more than about 10 seconds to get that leader out. Turning just until you hear that 'click' of the film is the most critical part.
 
That looks like the most complicated film retriever I've ever seen. Mine is all metal; rather simple, and it works. You must follow the instructions, understand how it's supposed to work, and most important of all, Grasshopper, be patient, very patient.

If it makes you feel any better, I had to ask the girl behind the counter teach me how to use it.

Oh, and it was "only" $5.
 
akptc said:
I don't think I've ever felt this embarrassed, dumbfounded, and down right mad because of a small plastic utensil. Talking about a film retriever. In the past (~20 years ago), I would simply open the cassette, pull out the film, and re-close the cassette, with the film tip sticking out. But the cassettes are now so tightly closed that if you open one means to ruin the cap.

So I got me this fancy $3 film retriever. And for the last half hour I’ve filled my house with curses like I didn't know I had in me. Is this some kind of a joke? The way I see it the darn thing can only work if you somehow, through pure chance, get the film end to fall between the 2 tongues "just so" it can be pinched between them. The "instructions" for the retriever are imprinted in 0.5mm hieroglyphics on the device itself, i,e, useless...

OK, so I may be both a novice to this and apparently a dinosaur. Could someone give me a hint? Is the "retriever" just a big joke that I fell for? I need a drink...
Click to expand...

I have one that I think I paid US$9 for at either Freestyle or Adorama, seem to work fine the couple of times I had to use it and like you I can remember when the ends came off easlly. But I did practice on a roll of junk film a couple of times since its like loading a stainless steel reel the first time, You think THIS CAN'T BE DONE! However now I do it all the time and think nothing of it. Mine was made by "AP" ? The folks down at the local Photo Lab be it Wally World or Whomever do it on 99% ( 300+ rolls a day on a busy day) of the film that comes across the counter. My wife used to work for a lab (W/W) and said she could do it standing on her head ( Pull the leader) 😉 So don't give up, all the retrievers work about the same. Regards, Dave
 
back alley said:
i just found one on ebay that has stainless steel 'tongues' and is marked professional.

i bought it.
Click to expand...

.... huh ???? Joe is that really you that put up this post? ;- )

Yours worked first time. What was it, did you really want stainless steel?
 
Mine is the metal type and cost me $3.95 a long time ago. I could type the instruction sheet, but would have to scan it to get the illustrations included. The hints you have been given are essentially what my sheet says. Close it to insert it. Open it to trap the film end. Rotate the spool to position the film, judging by the clicks. Then close it to grasp the film and ease it out.
Jim N.
 
Thank you everyone so much. I get it now (listen to the film tip click). I would have (should have) probably figured it out on my own but my blood pressure shot up too high to think clearly 🙂

The 2nd lesson for this young grasshopper - ask RFF folks before destroying photo equipment...

Thanks again, you Gentlemen are awesome!
 
akptc said:
OK, so I may be both a novice to this and apparently a dinosaur. Could someone give me a hint? Is the "retriever" just a big joke that I fell for? I need a drink...
Click to expand...

Yours looks similar to, but not identical to the one I have, which is a ProMaster. Here's the report I did on it a while back:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13202

The guy at the shop where I bought this gave me 2 little hints which do help.

1. After you push the first slider in, wind the film in the rewind direction, just until you hear it click from passing the end of that strip you just pushed in.

2. When you pull the whole thing out, help it along, by winding the film in the unwind direction as you pull on the retriever.

I've had about 90% success rate with this thing on the first try, and I've actually practiced with it more than I've needed to use it, fortunately.

I'll sometimes practice on a roll I'm about to take to the lab. 🙂

Hope this helps. 🙂
 
I have had a lot of luck with one of these: 😀
208_Bottle_Opener2.JPG

You can get them free at some of the better beer outlets.
 
Last time I did it, I used a paper clip that I'd bent a hook in the end [of].

THAT was frustrating. Especially when I worked out I was trying for the wrong side of the leader. :bang:
Then it got easier.

A special tool? That sounds great!
 
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