How on earth do you load a Microcord?

[rayfoxlee]

I am struggling to load a film into a mark 1 Microcord. Now, I know that these early models had a flaky winding mechanism and the camera I have on loan may have a mechanical fault, but I cannot make out the sequence for loading (BTW, I was weaned on TLRs, so am happy with the 'normal' concept of loading!).

The Microcord does not have any markers inside the film chamber on which to line up the arrows on the backing paper, but does have a peep-hole window on the base. The wind-on knob has a spring loaded button in the middle and at 5 o'clock below that there is a small aluminium button that appears to reset the counter. Problem is, that lining up the arrows on the backing paper in the window and then resetting the counter simply locks the wind-on knob too early - result: nice pixs on the backing paper!

Can anyone at RFF who know these British cameras tell me the proper way to load, reset counter etc? If then all of that still fails, I will at least know that there is a mechanical problem.

Thanks everyone - hope you can help!

Ray

 

[VictorM.]

Wind on the film until the number 1 shows in the window, then press the button to reset the counter to 1. Look on Butkus.org for an older Rolleicord manual-they used the same loading method.

Here's the Rolleicord II instructions: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/rollei/rolleicord_ii/rolleicord_ii.htm
The pages seem a little out of sequence?

 

[rayfoxlee]

Thanks for this. I did manage to work this out after trying everything. The Microcord really is a crib on the Rolleicords. I didn't realise that there were such close similarities.

Ray

 

[john341]

I also had a problem loading some brand films as the paper backing was black and the numbering grey. I kept the paper backing from a used roll and then ran it slowly through the camera. By the time the counter reached 5 (on my 'cord) I opened the back and the film was exactly on 1. Reset the counter to 1 and I was away!

 

[hanskerensky]

Also struggled a bit with the filmloading but finaly found it out myself (hadn't seen this thread). The Mk.I is different from the Mk.II and indeed the same as a Rolleicord II.

Made some images which you can find in this set :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/sets/72157631180067728/