Tom A
RFF Sponsor
I must admit that I have never considered cutting down LTM cassettes to M-size! Of course, after reading the post I instantly looked at my LTM cassettes and thought "Could be done" - but as stated - probably not worth the effort.
I dont think I am solely responsible for the price hike - there are lots of M users chasing them now. It took me a long time to accumulate the ones I have - probably 30 years. I always would buy them when I saw them, sometimes 1 or two and occasionally 30-40 of them! I have been using films like Agfa's AP 250 and Kodak's XX as well as other odd films only available in 100/400 and even 1000 ft rolls - so this necessitated chasing down IXMOO's. The problem is that I am also usng Nikon's version of these - they are really difficult to find. Just have enough to do 250 ft of film (about 50 of them).
I dont think I am solely responsible for the price hike - there are lots of M users chasing them now. It took me a long time to accumulate the ones I have - probably 30 years. I always would buy them when I saw them, sometimes 1 or two and occasionally 30-40 of them! I have been using films like Agfa's AP 250 and Kodak's XX as well as other odd films only available in 100/400 and even 1000 ft rolls - so this necessitated chasing down IXMOO's. The problem is that I am also usng Nikon's version of these - they are really difficult to find. Just have enough to do 250 ft of film (about 50 of them).
SteveM_NJ
Well-known
like many others, I too, am starting to look for them, (not sure where you come across them) only have a small bunch of plastic modern generic cassettes that i dont care for but use until ixmoo is found. so will be looking everywhere and picking up 1 or 2 at a time as i see them.(30 years, oh my, i'll start counting -- zero so far, no place to go but up.)
Disaster_Area
Gadget Monger
What's the current going rate for an IXMOO... I'm not talking the ridiculous collectors prices you see on eBay (I've seen $100-$200 a cassette)... but what's a "decent" price to pick them up at? I don't roll a lot of film, so I'm looking to pick up about 3-4 for my M2.
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
My advice for what it's worth, Steve is to 'phone around dealers and ask. They often treat them as useless and put them in a box. They can't be bothered to put them on -bay other than those that do and ask the earth. Picked up four a couple of weeks ago at a Leica dealer I don't often visit, asked about IXMOO he said no then I saw them at the back of a case. Didn't know they were called that was the reply. FP4 still loaded in three of them (note not plus). Not expensive.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Quote:And the name of the cassette? Well, the designers apparently came from Shirley, in the English Midlands. And one of them, wondering if they would ever perfect this delightful little doodad, said, “Well, if we do make any money, it’ll be well ’ard earned.” Hence, Shirley Wellard. End Quote
Source, with more
info:http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/classic_historical/0604sb_classic/
Dear Chris,
Notice who wrote that?
Shirley Wellards are designed for cameras with pull-up rewind knobs, NOT Leicas. If the web-site were working I'd direct you there for the manufacturers' instructions and pictures, but it's in the middle of SERIOUS revisions.
Cheers,
R.
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
Dear Chris,
Notice who wrote that?
R.
I have to say I didn't or would have given a by line as well as the link. Such a good story it deserved a mention.
ChrisL
cassel
Well-known
Just a couple quick comments here-
I shoot LTM Leicas and I'm gearing up to roll fill again (it's been nearly 20 years since I last used a bulk loader
)
So far, I've gathered 21 cassettes - I have had the opposite experience of a few of you M users- I thought I was buying only FILCA cassette - but I now have TWO IXMOOs in the mix! I guess I should keep them in case I ever "graduate" to M-status....unless someone wanted to trade
.
I have noted several interesting varieties in cassette models/engraving/manufacturing. I have SIX different Filca styles - some are "generic" - no engravings; some are generic with a different locking clip style - they use a notch instead of a small hole; I have two particularly well-machined cassettes marked "Made in Switzerland", and several other varieties of Leitz and/or Germany engravings....no "rare" Leitz N.Y. If it's worth the effort or of interest I could post pictures of these.
Maybe I should stop obsessing about random collecting details and actually load them!:bang:
I shoot LTM Leicas and I'm gearing up to roll fill again (it's been nearly 20 years since I last used a bulk loader
So far, I've gathered 21 cassettes - I have had the opposite experience of a few of you M users- I thought I was buying only FILCA cassette - but I now have TWO IXMOOs in the mix! I guess I should keep them in case I ever "graduate" to M-status....unless someone wanted to trade
I have noted several interesting varieties in cassette models/engraving/manufacturing. I have SIX different Filca styles - some are "generic" - no engravings; some are generic with a different locking clip style - they use a notch instead of a small hole; I have two particularly well-machined cassettes marked "Made in Switzerland", and several other varieties of Leitz and/or Germany engravings....no "rare" Leitz N.Y. If it's worth the effort or of interest I could post pictures of these.
Maybe I should stop obsessing about random collecting details and actually load them!:bang:
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Never seen or heard of the "Made in Switzerland" version! Amazing what those watchmakers do when timepieces are slow (remember ALPA cameras!). Dont worry about the IXMOO's - they work fine in screw-mount Leicas. They were "back wards" compatible - so just load them and shoot.
colyn
ישו משיח
Hi Tom
The FILCA cassettes without Leitz markings on the bottom. Are they genuine Leica FILCA's or generic non-Leitz??
The FILCA cassettes without Leitz markings on the bottom. Are they genuine Leica FILCA's or generic non-Leitz??
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Hi Tom
The FILCA cassettes without Leitz markings on the bottom. Are they genuine Leica FILCA's or generic non-Leitz??
Colyn. I think that the original FILCA did not have any markings. I have seen them with and without markings. There were few outside manufacturers of these (some from Japan, but they were mostly later ones - IXMOO copies).
cassel
Well-known
cassel
Well-known
Just want to be sure here.....
I've been using the "Search" feature here to read about what bulk loaders will work with my FILCAs and my two IXMOOs.
Looks like the Watsons (models 100 and 200) and the Alden 74 and the Computrol (model ?) will work with Leitz cassette (LTM and M?) - they have the ability to open&close the cassette, right?
Somewhere in the attic, I have a Lloyd loader, but it seems these don't work with FILCA (?)
Am I on the right track? What bulk loader should I look for?
Thanks
I've been using the "Search" feature here to read about what bulk loaders will work with my FILCAs and my two IXMOOs.
Looks like the Watsons (models 100 and 200) and the Alden 74 and the Computrol (model ?) will work with Leitz cassette (LTM and M?) - they have the ability to open&close the cassette, right?
Somewhere in the attic, I have a Lloyd loader, but it seems these don't work with FILCA (?)
Am I on the right track? What bulk loader should I look for?
Thanks
Roger Hicks
Veteran
None of them had EVER worked well with self-opening cassettes with me. They're OK unless the cassettes are the slightest bit stiff, at which point the plastic of the loader is just too soft. I normally loaded the cassette with the gate open, closed the loader (in case of error); and then, in darkness, cut the film and closed the cassette.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
I agree with Roger here. The IXMOO's and FILCA's tend to get stiff with age (dont we all) and as the brass corrodes and turns green - you need to apply more force and usually the plastic part in the loader snaps off.
Easier to do "arms length" loading in a dark room - faster too.
You can clean up the cassettes if you are careful. Even a Brillo pad, same as you use for cleaning cookware works fine. Once clean and "de-dusted" - apply a small amount of grease (vaseline works fine) and reassemble and open/close several time and then wipe off excess lubricants.
Easier to do "arms length" loading in a dark room - faster too.
You can clean up the cassettes if you are careful. Even a Brillo pad, same as you use for cleaning cookware works fine. Once clean and "de-dusted" - apply a small amount of grease (vaseline works fine) and reassemble and open/close several time and then wipe off excess lubricants.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Here's a picture of the "Made in Switzerland" FILCA cassettes.
Never seen one of these!
cassel
Well-known
So, really any loader is fine - it just becomes a storage place for the spool... now that I think about it, I vaguely remember the "arms-wide" measuring trick.(and I like the idea of loading the entire 100' at once)...still hunting for my Lloyd loader - can't find it! Found the GrayLab timer, grain enlarger, developing canister, easels, etc. - everything but the loader....
Saw an AFLOO film-spooler on e-Bay... how helpful/useful would that be?
OK - just did a search on the AFLOO - looks like this has been discussed (what hasn't!) - pretty cool gadget - might save your fingertip and provide a bit more accuracy - otherwise just an excuse for another Leica widget!
Saw an AFLOO film-spooler on e-Bay... how helpful/useful would that be?
OK - just did a search on the AFLOO - looks like this has been discussed (what hasn't!) - pretty cool gadget - might save your fingertip and provide a bit more accuracy - otherwise just an excuse for another Leica widget!
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Erik van Straten
Veteran
[ I have two particularly well-machined cassettes marked "Made in Switzerland", and several other varieties of Leitz and/or Germany engravings....[/quote]
I also do have a cassette marked "made in Switzerland".
An AFLOO is very convenient. You can mount it against the wall at a height of 1.60 m. When loading a cassette, you'll know the correct length of the film when it touches the ground.
Erik.
I also do have a cassette marked "made in Switzerland".
An AFLOO is very convenient. You can mount it against the wall at a height of 1.60 m. When loading a cassette, you'll know the correct length of the film when it touches the ground.
Erik.
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cassel
Well-known
Ok- Three years have passed and I thought I'd update this thread... As film becomes harder to find, I'm still planning to "Roll my Own" just haven't tried it yet.
The BAD news is my two Screwmount Leicas were stolen. They did not take the bag full of FILCAs
I sold two of my IXMOOs at some point:bang:
So now I have 18 FILCAs and ONE IXMOO
I took the insurance money and bought a M4-P. It's been great and I loaded the IXMOO to try it out...works fine, very cool
So, anyone want to trade a few FILCAs for some IXMOOs?
The BAD news is my two Screwmount Leicas were stolen. They did not take the bag full of FILCAs
So now I have 18 FILCAs and ONE IXMOO
I took the insurance money and bought a M4-P. It's been great and I loaded the IXMOO to try it out...works fine, very cool
So, anyone want to trade a few FILCAs for some IXMOOs?
Tom A
RFF Sponsor

I have this great deal with Lasse at Shonherr's Foto in Stockholm. He collects IXMOO's for me and I trade him Softies. Just got a box today - and 4 of the IXMMO's still has film in them. On the plastic can two are marked Tmax 100 and two are APX 25. One has a note stating "four exposed frames". So I will shoot all four - run them in Rodinal 1:200/120 minutes (fall back processing for unknown films).
Also a couple of FILCA's - one of which refuses to open (probably brass oxidized and stuck - might run it through an ultra sonic washer to see if it will free it up).
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
The BAD news is my two Screwmount Leicas were stolen. They did not take the bag full of FILCAs![]()
Condolences on that, I wonder if they know what they have? Actually thse dyas it would be easier to replace the cameras than the FILCAs
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