Home made take-up spool for your (well, my) Zorki 4

[Tarzak]

Just got your Zorki or Mir and there is no take up spool. Buy a leica one on ebay for $40 (or more)? Get one from someone reputable in Russia or Ukraine for $25 (including post)?

No.

With just a few handy tools and parts readily found around the (my) house, you can spend the better part of a day making one for yourself.

OK.
Note: My construction was done with little planning and only a half formed idea on what I was going to do. As one element approached completion the next problem was being solved or would solve itself. Due to this process, my brain was too busy to document the process properly. Oh well. I will if I need to make one again. I promise.

Start with some tubes (I used aluminium because it is light, but really that’s what I found under the house) you need one with an internal diameter of 11mm or less but not much less and you need another that will slide snugly over that tube. Telescopic tubing from a hobby shop or metal supplier could reduce your lathe time.

2 x M10 stainless steel washers
2 x M2 socket cap machine screws
some epoxy glue.

 

[Tarzak]

It’s a Russian camera; you must use a Russian lathe.

 

[Tarzak]

Inner diameter should be 11mm (it can be tighter; use your vernier callipers).

Step down the end of the tube to locate a washer.

 

[Tarzak]

Open up inner diameter to fit the step in the tube. 0.1mm smaller than the step (in the tube) and you will get a nice press fit.

Reduce the size of the heads of the screws, so that they fit in the spline on your camera.

 

[Tarzak]

Then you’re finished!



Ok. I missed some steps.

 

[Tarzak]

File in a little film catcher notch. Carefully. There’s not much metal left. This is on course after you have cut out a 7mm strip from the larger diameter tube. File sand all edges smooth.

 

[Tarzak]

Drill and tap a little hole next to the film catcher. This will make the spool removable, at your command, not at its whim.


Cut off a bit of M2 thread. I used the off cuts from the spline guide screws (which also hold the film catcher plate from the inside).

Cut a little notch in its end, after filing it smooth, for a screwdriver.

Clean it. Put it in the camera. No hammers!
Tighten the little grub screw. Eureka! It doesn’t fall out! How long did it take them to work out the spool on this camera did not need to be removable?

 

[Tarzak]

Now you are done.

Simple really.

 

[FrankS]

Good job! Boy, am I ever glad that I can make a take-up spool for my Kiev from a used film cannister spindle.

 

[ChrisN]

"We have the technology - we can rebuild him"


Great work!

 

[Tarzak]

Good job! Boy, am I ever glad that I can make a take-up spool for my Kiev from a used film cannister spindle.

Thanks.

Yes I was pretty disappointed when I looked at a film spool next to the camera.

 

[Nickfed]

Nice work Tarzak 🙂

What amazes me about this forum, and the relevant sites linked, is the amount of users who roll up their shirtsleeves and the wealth of information available.
Is there a Leica forum? Do they have topics like this?

 

[Uncle Bill]

Very intereseting, my Kiev III and Contax IIIa share a take up spool as the Ukrainian cousin did not come with one.

Bill

 

[Tarzak]

"We have the technology - we can rebuild him"

And a big THANKS for the loan of your spool Chris.
It's in the post on the way back to you now.

 

[ChrisN]

No worries.

 

[Socke]

For my technical skills and the tools around, a leatherman, I better stick to cutting the leader and taping it to a use Tri-X spindle 🙂

 

[Tarzak]

Okay, how much are they and do you take Paypal?

BillFoto,
I'm honoured that you ask but I really don't think I could make it cheap enough for it to be worth your while.
I'll swap one for your unwanted but optically clear Jupiter 12. How about an unwanted FSU camera body? Or an Olympus OM donor body - I have a ridiculous project in mind.

At this stage you are probably better off getting one from fedka or okvintagecamera until I can think of a way to make some cheaply (or at least reasonably).

PS. I do have a paypal account (but have not sold anything to anyone yet so I don't know how to use it).