almost
Member
Hello,
I hope someone can help me on this. I recently acquired an early model Leningrad (2 screws on front body). It works ok (apart from the slow speeds from 1/10 and slower, where the shutter opes and stays open).
It is an early model with the glass film pressure plate. Unfortunately, the glass part is missing. All I have is the metal plate which used to hold the glass. This has 5 "barbs" which obviously are there to hold the glass.
With the glass missing, these barbs are catching the sprocket holes of the film. I ran a test film and found that it was catching on these barbs stopping film advance or just braking the film.
Also, with the glass plate missing, I wonder if the film pressure plate is now not thick enough to keep the film in place.
How can I solve this problem? Try to get a 1mm piece of glass to shape and fit it? Does it have to be black class or can it be clear? i still would be worried with the "barbs" though, because they are very sharp and even with the glass in place they might snatch the film.
Could I glue a flat piece of aluminium 1mm thick instead to the glass and remove the barbs? Does the aluminium need to be black or can I leave it raw? I have old cameras with bare aluminium film pressure plates.
Or, last possibility, should i buy a camera sold for parts and use its plastic film pressure plate instead?
Any advice is much appreciated, i have fallen in love with this beast and I want to use it!
Another thing, I have noticed that i have two types of finish on the body. On the front, on the back and front left there is good rough vulcanite, but on the front right where the self timer is, it looks, smells and feels like real leather. Feels wonderful in the hand. The detailing (the two horizontal lines) is exactly the same as the other vulcanite sides, so it looks like factory fitted. Is that common, to have one part vulcanite and one leather?
I hope someone can help me on this. I recently acquired an early model Leningrad (2 screws on front body). It works ok (apart from the slow speeds from 1/10 and slower, where the shutter opes and stays open).
It is an early model with the glass film pressure plate. Unfortunately, the glass part is missing. All I have is the metal plate which used to hold the glass. This has 5 "barbs" which obviously are there to hold the glass.
With the glass missing, these barbs are catching the sprocket holes of the film. I ran a test film and found that it was catching on these barbs stopping film advance or just braking the film.
Also, with the glass plate missing, I wonder if the film pressure plate is now not thick enough to keep the film in place.
How can I solve this problem? Try to get a 1mm piece of glass to shape and fit it? Does it have to be black class or can it be clear? i still would be worried with the "barbs" though, because they are very sharp and even with the glass in place they might snatch the film.
Could I glue a flat piece of aluminium 1mm thick instead to the glass and remove the barbs? Does the aluminium need to be black or can I leave it raw? I have old cameras with bare aluminium film pressure plates.
Or, last possibility, should i buy a camera sold for parts and use its plastic film pressure plate instead?
Any advice is much appreciated, i have fallen in love with this beast and I want to use it!
Another thing, I have noticed that i have two types of finish on the body. On the front, on the back and front left there is good rough vulcanite, but on the front right where the self timer is, it looks, smells and feels like real leather. Feels wonderful in the hand. The detailing (the two horizontal lines) is exactly the same as the other vulcanite sides, so it looks like factory fitted. Is that common, to have one part vulcanite and one leather?
santino
FSU gear head
The pressure plate should be matte black. The leatherette is (as far as I know) all "vulcanite".
02Pilot
Malcontent
If it were me, I'd just grab a plastic pressure plate out of a cheap P&S and glue it to the metal backing plate. Path of least resistance to a working camera IMO.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Or indeed cut an appropriate piece of black Perspex/Lucite with a hacksaw. Round the edges with glass paper then dull the front surface with crocus paper.
Cheers,
R.
almost
Member
Thank you.
I don't know what crocus paper is. Would you explain please? is it something I can find in the uk?
Thank you
I don't know what crocus paper is. Would you explain please? is it something I can find in the uk?
Thank you
almost
Member
Yes that is what I understand also. However I can confirm that this one has one part of the body covered in smooth leather. It is definitely leather. The two horizontal lines at the top and bottom are there, just like on the vulcanite parts, but they are a little less indented, consistent with markings on leather and not on vulcanite (where the lines are "sharper", more indented.
Strange!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
REALLY fine glass paper/sand paper, cf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocus_cloth -- I've only ever bought it in the UK. Ask at a GOOD ironmonger or buy it on line: http://www.m-p.co.uk/muk/parts/chap10/crocus-grade-paper.-0482000115.htm (never tried 'em but they advertise it). Actually very fine sandpaper (the finest you can get) will probably do as well.
Cheers,
R.
almost
Member
Thank you again!
I think the black perspex solution is the most glass-like and neater solution.
I have been looking fro black perspex, I can only find 2mm thick though. I think the optimum for my purposes would be 1.5 mm thick.
Do you think it would be ok to use 2mm? and the spring at the back will take care of the extra thickness?
Also, I am sorry to ask such a stupid question but the english leningrad manual I have is written in such terrible english, i do not understand half of it.
To load the camera you must insert the end of the leader in the little clip on the large take up spool/drum? In the pictures it looks like the leader is simply resting on the drum, but i cannot see how it could then drive the the film on, if it was not inserted into the clip…
thank you again for all your help.
Best Regards
I think the black perspex solution is the most glass-like and neater solution.
I have been looking fro black perspex, I can only find 2mm thick though. I think the optimum for my purposes would be 1.5 mm thick.
Do you think it would be ok to use 2mm? and the spring at the back will take care of the extra thickness?
Also, I am sorry to ask such a stupid question but the english leningrad manual I have is written in such terrible english, i do not understand half of it.
To load the camera you must insert the end of the leader in the little clip on the large take up spool/drum? In the pictures it looks like the leader is simply resting on the drum, but i cannot see how it could then drive the the film on, if it was not inserted into the clip…
thank you again for all your help.
Best Regards
Roger Hicks
Veteran
I'd be really surprised if 0,5mm (roughly 1/50 inch) could not be accommodated by the spring, but I could be wrong.
Yes, the leader MUST be stuffed into the clip, as the Leningrad has no film-measuring mechanism. That's why the take-up drum has to be so big. On the last one I owned and used, at least a couple of decades ago, the first few frames overlapped fractionally and by the end they were quite a long way apart.
Cheers,
R.
retinax
Well-known
Hey, static electricity is something I'd be concerned about with plastics... just a thought.
Best,
J.
Best,
J.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
It was a problem with glass, too. But you could well be right, given the spring drive: metal might be a better idea. On the other hand, didn't some compacts have plastic pressure plates?
Cheers,
R.
almost
Member
Well, the later leningrad had plastic, so it should be ok , no?
almost
Member
Just in case, what should i look out for on the negs? what does a static electricity mark look like on a neg?
Roger Hicks
Veteran
In the only example I have ever seen (Tessina), SPECTACULAR. Straight line with a big tree-like "burst" on either end. I'll try to find it.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Valkir1987
Well-known
I have a Leningrad for spare parts somewhere around. Must still have its glass pressure plate. Send me a message if you are interested.
almost
Member
Hello
yes i sent you a message.
thanks
yes i sent you a message.
thanks