Medalist DYI 120 conversion

[Dez]

I have been told that converting the Medalist to use 120 film is a fairly straightforward job. Does anyone have experience with doing this, or a link to a site with the information?

Cheers,
Dez

 

[TVR]

this should help

contact Ken Ruth


aldmtn@pacbell.net

Here is some generic boiler plate on the Medalist conversion 120 and 620 are for all intents and purposes identical it's the spools that differ.
Function is not changed by conversion. 120 spools are slightly longer and
slightly greater in diameter than 620 spools. [ both sides are changed to accept 120 spools]
The design of the 620 spool primarily functions to prevent using film made by other
manufacturers from being used in the camera.
The standard conversion cost for either a Medalist I or Medalist II is $345
[plus shipping/insurance back].
Adjustment and lubrication and cleaning most prisms is included, shutter
cleaning is not, but if cleaning and re-lubrication of the shutter is included at time of
adjustment to 120, the total cost is $475.00 for "shutter" and "conversion" together.
[Note this adjustment is for both film chambers meaning you spool from feed 120 to
take up 120 ]
The Shutter cleaning if that is the only thing to be done is $ 185 but includes
necessary adjustment of focus and rangefinder.
To adjust only the feed side to accept 120 spools but not change the take up side or provide
any other work the cost is $120

If you have any questions let me know or call during my regular phone times
to talk about it.
10/5 wed./ Thurs. 10/noon Fri.
831-423-4465
Best wishes .... Ken

 

[colyn]

And all this time I thought DIY meant "do it yourself" not pay someone else.

While Ken is good he sometimes takes over a year to get it back to you..

 

[isoterica]

We live in such a fast paced world now that respooling 120 onto 620 seems tedious and really if you are going to use the camera a lot, conversion is probably the best path to less time in set-up. I have a Medalist I that I recently loaded with respooled film. As it's the first time I will be using the camera, I don't have any real need or desire to alter it but I can see how it might be if I turn out really loving it. Maybe if you call Ken he will divulge his technique over the phone, tell him you are considering his services but aren't sure yet, what does it entail.. and then you can decide if you can DIY it and if not, you have made a contact you can use later. I think though that I read elsewhere it had to do with physically removing metal from the film chambers to fit the slightly larger spools, so some kind of boring or shaving, machining might be involved. I am not sure though. Let me know if you take it on because I might want to later. Good luck!

 

[GaryLH]

And all this time I thought DIY meant "do it yourself" not pay someone else.

While Ken is good he sometimes takes over a year to get it back to you..

Ken has worked on several cameras for me. The shortest was 6 weeks and the longest was 9. The only reason for 9 was that somehow he forgot to mark on his computer that I already gave him the ok on the estimate. As soon as he realized the error, I got the package in the mail w/ in 3 days.

Gary

 

[colyn]

Ken has worked on several cameras for me. The shortest was 6 weeks and the longest was 9. The only reason for 9 was that somehow he forgot to mark on his computer that I already gave him the ok on the estimate. As soon as he realized the error, I got the package in the mail w/ in 3 days.

Gary

Both items I sent him took over a year to get back. One was a Canon .095 to Leica M and the other was my M3 rangefinder needed to be fixed because of separation and I paid up front for each..

I have no issue with his work which I consider outstanding but the time it took to get each back was unacceptable..

 

[citizen99]

I have been told that converting the Medalist to use 120 film is a fairly straightforward job. ...

Hmmm?!

...Does anyone have experience with doing this, or a link to a site with the information?

Anyway, there are a couple of links here and here. From these it is evident that to do a full conversion requires significant workshop facilities, quite probably custom tools, and the experience.

I go for the 're-spool once at a time' compromise, whereby the (modern, plastic) feed spool is trimmed down to fit the feed chamber. Accuracy of the trim is important. In the UK you can get some B&W 120 film on pre-machined spools here. (I have had 100ASA Fuji Colour film from them in the past, but I don't see it offered on their site today). EDIT JUNE 2017 : he's not operating the business at this time; he's surveying whether he currently has a practical business model in the current market for film.

 

[Dez]

Hmmmmmmmmmm...........It looks as if I were a bit optimistic with that "fairly straightforward".

I wouldn't undertake a camera mod unless I could use any 120 roll with no restrictions, and that looks as if it requires not only a lathe (which I have) but also a milling machine (which I don't).

Getting the mod done professionally would cost twice the value of the original camera, and I am far too thrifty/frugal/cheap to do that. I would have major ethical issues about contacting Ken Ruth for advice on how to do the job myself, thereby avoiding paying him.

At the moment, I respool the film onto 620 spools on the rare occasion that I use the camera, but I wonder if I could get away with chucking a roll of 120 in my lathe and cutting down the ends before using it- Has anyone tried doing that?

Cheers,
Dez

 

[kuzano]

Well a bit time consuming....

Well a bit time consuming....

Hmmmmmmmmmm...........It looks as if I were a bit optimistic with that "fairly straightforward".

I wouldn't undertake a camera mod unless I could use any 120 roll with no restrictions, and that looks as if it requires not only a lathe (which I have) but also a milling machine (which I don't).

Getting the mod done professionally would cost twice the value of the original camera, and I am far too thrifty/frugal/cheap to do that. I would have major ethical issues about contacting Ken Ruth for advice on how to do the job myself, thereby avoiding paying him.

At the moment, I respool the film onto 620 spools on the rare occasion that I use the camera, but I wonder if I could get away with chucking a roll of 120 in my lathe and cutting down the ends before using it- Has anyone tried doing that?

Cheers,
Dez

I'm having problems envisioning putting a full roll of 120 film in a lathe and not having film all over the lathe bed before you were done.

And it certainly would take more time than the guy I know who used to just trim the ends down with a nice sharp pair of sheet metal workers snips. He used his Medalist quite a bit with that method.

Here is an interesting post on Flickr using either nail clippers or what look to be cuticle scissors.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/3057193327/

 

[newspaperguy]

I've done the "clipped 120" routine for my Kodak Reflex II.

Collect the exposed film on a 620 spool. Works OK...

a lot faster than rewinding the orig film onto a 620 feed roll.

 

[Mark C]

I think converting just the supply side might be practical. I'm going from memory (and using a converted one), but there is not much mechanism on that side. I would think you mostly just need to make enough room for the spool to fit. The take up side would likely be very complicated.

If you develop your own film, this wouldn't be bad. You'd just need a handful of 620 (or modified) spools for takeup. Save them and reuse them. Much more trouble if you send your film out.

 

[f16sunshine]

I modded mine the easy way. .... Sold on ebay years ago after buying a Voigtlander Bessa rf Heliar.

I could not tell the difference between the two in terms of image character and quality. Plus the Bessa is lighter weight.
I even bought a Bessa ii with the coated Color Heliar later. Killer Camera and worth every penny.
The Medalist is Cute and I feel the attraction. The Bessa is just a better camera for use imo.

 

[citizen99]

I also love the Bessa RF, and yes, use it more often when carrying a camera around on foot. But I would hate to sell the Medalist, I love its 'heavy engineering' and massive view/range-finder optics, ... 🙂

 

[Moto-Uno]

In the past,when this subject comes up I've tried to direct people to "Blue Moon Machine" ,They trim the 120 rolls perfectly and you can reuse them many times. The film selection is good and not over the top.It's not just the edges,but also the ends that need trimming to fit well. A couple of ruined rolls trying it yourself and his stuff is free.
Regards,Peter

 

[Timmyjoe]

At the moment, I respool the film onto 620 spools on the rare occasion that I use the camera, but I wonder if I could get away with chucking a roll of 120 in my lathe and cutting down the ends before using it- Has anyone tried doing that?

Cheers,
Dez

I've turned down 120 spools to 620 on my lathe, but you have to do it carefully. The plastic they use (at lease Kodak, which are the only ones I've done) is very gummy. It will cut and catch, trying to pull the spool free. So take small cuts. But it can be done.

Best,
-Tim