Leica LTM IIIF Take-Up Spool

[Antoine31]

For some reason I'm having difficulty releasing the take-up spool on my new-to-me IIIF. I did manage to release it after a struggle, allowing me to load and shoot my first roll of film. But now it won't release at all. I don's see any mechanism that would allow it to release. Otherwise the camera seems perfect. Help please.

 

[Coldkennels]

Define "release"? Are you talking about simply rewinding the film? That's done with the small lever on the top deck, between the shutter speed and winding knob, to the front of the shutter release. Simply push it forwards so the lever is sticking out past the front of the camera, and you can rewind as normal.

Or if you're talking about actually taking the spool out of the camera so you can load a new film... it just pulls straight out once the baseplate is removed. There's no switch or button to press. Just pull it out. It's friction-fit, and could be relatively snug, but should come straight out.

 

[Franko]

Define "release"? Are you talking about simply rewinding the film? That's done with the small lever on the top deck, between the shutter speed and winding knob, to the front of the shutter release. Simply push it forwards so the lever is sticking out past the front of the camera, and you can rewind as normal.

Or if you're talking about actually taking the spool out of the camera so you can load a new film... it just pulls straight out once the baseplate is removed. There's no switch or button to press. Just pull it out. It's friction-fit, and could be relatively snug, but should come straight out.

Also, make sure that the film has completely released off the spool. I like to leave the leader exposed a bit to keep from having to open the film cartridge but it only works if just an inch or two are still exposed.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Have you read the manual?

Take-in spools are not easy to remove. You have to be very intrusive on them 🙂

 

[Antoine31]

Yes, removing the take-up spool in order to reload. Doesn't want to come out. Very frustrating. And yes, I have read the manual. So how "intrusive?" I don't want to grab it with pliers.

 

[xayraa33]

Had a Zorki 1 with a tight take-up spool and a couple of times it could only be removed with needle nose pliers with taped jaw tips so not to mar it...the real solution was to replace the spool with a like spool that was easy to take out.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

... I don't want to grab it with pliers.

You don't have to be this shy.

Oh, this is not in the user manual, but repairing knowledge. Do not lubricate it once removed. 🙂

 

[Richard G]

The Canon LTM take up spool has a nice extension function: easier to grab. My IIIf Leitz take up spool comes out easily. This is going to give you grief again. Maybe get a replacement, or see where it's bent. Must have been damaged in a bag with a pre-attached film.

 

[farlymac]

For some reason I'm having difficulty releasing the take-up spool on my new-to-me IIIF. I did manage to release it after a struggle, allowing me to load and shoot my first roll of film. But now it won't release at all. I don's see any mechanism that would allow it to release. Otherwise the camera seems perfect. Help please.

You might not have an actual Leica spool. Mine came with a Canon spool, and while it did come out easily, it was only by the use of needle nose pliers because the knob was too large to get my finger tips around it.

Then I found out that you turn the knurled knob counter-clockwise until it pops up, then it is easy to grasp. I don't know how many other manufacturers made this type of spool, but my Leica, Canon, and Yashica spools all have the pop-up, while my Nicca and Zorki spools don't. The Nicca needs some persuasion, while the Zorki comes out very easily.

PF

 

[xayraa33]

My 1st Leica IIIc came with a Canon pop-up spool and it never gave me problems but I had another Leica IIIc that I tried using a Canon pop-up spool but it did not work too well on that one...so I just repaired the Leitz pop-up spool the camera came with and all was fine, as the pop-up part had broke on that spool.

 

[lynnb]

I wasn't aware that the spindle can extend for extraction. My two take-up spools don't have an extendable spindle. Lucky I've got small fingers but it's still a bit of an effort to overcome the friction.

 

[David Hughes]

Part, or perhaps all, of the problem is that Leica take-up spools were copied by a lot of manufacturers for their versions of a Leica style camera and since then - meaning the 1930's - there has been a lot of mixing and matching. A clue as to how bad the problem is comes in the title of that well known book "300 Leica Copies" and comments on ebay about the take up spool being present or lost.

Some look right in every respect, meaning the clip, knurling and so on but internally rivets stand proud etc.

FWIW, if I see one going cheap on ebay I buy it and try it out, regardless of the sellers' description. Eventually I hope to get one in every camera that works...


Regards, David

 

[raydm6]

Might be an incompatible take-up spool:
https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/leica-iiif-take-up-spool-14021.39860/
https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/273424-takeup-spool-compatibility/

 

[Mr_Flibble]

The Leica SPULM take-up spool did not have the extending core/spindle to grab onto. That was the SVOOP take-up spool introduced in the 1950s.

 

[David Hughes]

These are ideal for removing stubborn spools, batteries, cassettes and so on. This was originally either ex-Govt or from Ericssons when they went electronic and stopped making the mechanical things that had flush fitting light bulbs. It's called an opal extractor.

It's about 5 inches long. If you are lucky there may well be a large town near you with an old-fashioned market and a secondhand tool stall. Rummage and you might find one. Since buying this for a few pennies I have cleaned the rust off with a brass wire brush and ought to take a better photo...


Regards, David