KIEVs - curing the spool drop

[newspaperguy]

Up until the the last models (KIEV 4AM & KIEV 5,) these sweet cameras

had the nasty habit of losing the takeup spools.

Here's a comment/solution that I had posted on another site:


Dropping spools? Check out Rick Oleson's page to see Henry Fisher's

elegant solution using a standard 35mm film cassette:

www://rick_oleson.tripod.com/kievspool.jpg

Now, make one change... take the other end cap from the salvaged

cassette (you did save it, didn't you) and tap the inner ring slightly to

give a snug fit on the other end of your new spool. Presto! You now

have a Kiev/Contax spool that does not fall out.

Cheers,

 

[tunznath]

above Link appears not to work

OK THIS WORKS
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/kievspool.jpg

 

[januaryman]

I didn't know there was a problem. Now I'm VERY happy I chose a 4AM over the 4A! (It looks better, too.)

 

[newspaperguy]

It's only a problem if you lose the take-up spool... or drop it and step on it (whoops!)

;o)

 

[ZorkiKat]

Up until the the last models (KIEV 4AM & KIEV 5,) these sweet cameras

That's why step 2 in loading Kiev is to hit the floor, crouch on all fours, and look for the spool which escaped when the camera back is drawn off. 😀

Now, how about sticking two small and thin strips on the interior of the upper portion of the takeup spool? The rubber strips will make the spool grip the camera's spool fork and reduce the spool's tendency to drop off by itself.

Jay

 

[newspaperguy]

Sounds like that would work too, Jay. Here was Henry Fisher's response to me on the old BestStuff Russian Camera User site:

"When my 1969 K4a arrived from Ukraine in October of '01 I was perplexed that it came without a takeup spool. I was even more annoyed at the uneven, wobbly way an ordinary spool from a Kodak cassette behaved while trying to get the camera loaded.

"The film just wouldn't stay flat and behave. My camera chewed up the end of one roll early on because I didn't get it right.

"I followed your lead and put that second end cap on the other end of my modified takeup spools too. It really does sit in there like a
cassette would, not wobbling about or falling away so easily when loading. And the film is more properly oriented when the back is put onto the body too."