OT Loading a Rolleicord II

[schmoozit]

I have a Rolleicord II that I can't quite find the proper loading sequence for. There are no dots or anything to align the start arrow to, and I'm also not really sure if I have to move/slide the little switch (for double exposure???). All the info I've come up with for the Rolleis seem to not be specifically for my model, and don't apply.

Anyone have this model down??? Thanks!

Oh! From what I can tell, the film counter isn't going to work properly. It might just be from the improper loading, but I have some serious doubts. If push comes to shove, I'll just have to check the window on the bottom, but if there is a way to fix this myself without getting into too much potential trouble, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks again!

 

[taffer]

Hmmm, some cameras just needed you to wind on checking the red window until you reached the first frame, then you can close it and they were supposed to count automatically from there...

 

[FrankS]

On my Rolleicord IV, there is a red index dot beside the film gate. The film is wound until the start arrow on the paper backing points to this dot. Then you close the back, and wind the film on, and it stops automatically at the first frame. This automation may well be a feature added to models later than yours. Sorry if this has not been helpful.

 

[taffer]

On my Rolleicord IV, there is a red index dot beside the film gate. The film is wound until the start arrow on the paper backing points to this dot. Then you close the back, and wind the film on, and it stops automatically at the first frame. This automation may well be a feature added to models later than yours. Sorry if this has not been helpful.

Yep, my Va works that way too, not sure if the previous models already did.

 

[FrankS]

Did they use a ruby window in the back to position film then?

 

[KoNickon]

I went googling to see if I could find anything on the Rolleicord II, without any real success. But I have to believe it's done by using the red window to line up exposure number 1, as taffer suggests, and it's automatic from there.

 

[taffer]

😕 I don't own a cord II but I admit now I'm way curious... 😕

 

[remrf]

You might try what I did when I was uncertain about film spacing on a roll film back. I bought a Calumet 6x7cm 120 roll back for my view camera. The counter was broken and I needed to find out the proper spacing for start and film advance. I sacrificed a roll of T-max 100 and wound it in to the film back. There was a start arrow on this one but it wasn't gointg to help much past giving me the first correct position. With the film back open and the slide out I counted the number of full turns to the first full frame (which was 8) I then marked the neg area seen through the open film slide outlining the first full 6x7 frame. Then I turned the crank and counted turns until I had cleared the first frame with a small space. (which was 2 1/2).

This exposes one roll of film but it tells you what you need to know.

I doubt the Rollei's are that much different from each other. My 1V has a start arrow just above the bottom film roll on the left side . The bodies are very similar in size. This would seem like a good start point. Load the film and get the arrow to this point. The use a pencil or something to lift one side of the paper back and film so you can see when the first full negative frame is in the right position. Wind and count the number of turns to this point and mark the bottom of the first full frame with a pen on the paper side ( outside) The count the number of turns unill the bottom of frame one clears the top of the frame area.

I hope this will help.

 

[RJBender]

Dave,

Line up 1 in the red window and reset the counter to 1.
I think you have to push the film starter trip (7)
Instructions for loading the Rolleicord II are here but they are kind of sketchy.

R.J.

 

[schmoozit]

Thanks everyone for your ideas. Like greyhoundman says, there is nothing, nada, zilch, to line anything up with. I'm quite sure that you just load so that the film is being properly caught by the upper spool and winding nicely. You close the door well before the winding arrow appears, though I guess you don't have to. You open the window on the bottom and keep winding until you get to frame one... and then, I don't know. Of course, I can just make exposure after that, but the winding doesn't automatically stop at the next frame. I'm quite sure it's designed to, but there is some step that I'm missing and it isn't working. I just don't quite get it.

I was thinking I had a roll of 120 to play with when I got some tips here, but I don't. Doh! I'll have to pick some up sometime.

 

[schmoozit]

Thanks RJBender! I had found that page already and because of the, as stated, sketchy instructions, still wasn't able to get it. Maybe my camera is just broke. Thanks a lot, though. Hopefully greyhoundman can confirm whether it works or not.

 

[wlewisiii]

Just a thought - if you develope your own you wouldn't have to throw away a roll to check things. Take a roll deved after running through a different camera. Reattach it to the backing paper and respool it. Then do as remrf suggests above.

William

 

[RJBender]

Try this:

• Take an old roll of 120 and unroll it.

• Tape the end of the film to the paper backing with scotch tape.

• Roll the film back up and load it in your 'Cord.

• Advance to frame 1, open the back and draw lines on the paper backing at the top and bottom edges of the film gate.

• Remove the film, roll it up and reload.

• Continue to the last frame.

• Open the back and draw lines on the paper backing at the top and bottom edges of the film gate.

• Remove the film and transfer the lines to the emulsion side.

• Now you can see where all 12 images will be on the film and make adjustments to your loading procedure.

R.J.

 

[schmoozit]

The 'Cord has a window on the bottom to read the frame numbers. It's not that I can't use the camera as is; I can. I'd just like to know the proper loading procedure so that I can make it that much more convenient. I guess I could count turns, and maybe I will if necessary. Thanks for the idea.

 

[oftheherd]

The 'Cord has a window on the bottom to read the frame numbers. It's not that I can't use the camera as is; I can. I'd just like to know the proper loading procedure so that I can make it that much more convenient. I guess I could count turns, and maybe I will if necessary. Thanks for the idea.

I take it then that the instructions shown and commented on by RJBender;

"Loading and Unloading
This model is loaded in the conventional manner, threading the film from spool chamber to winding chamber, closing the camera back, then cranking the handle back and forth until Figure 1 appears in the red window in the base of the camera. These early models were not fitted with the sliding cover for the red window in the base but had screw*in covers.

As soon as the 'No. 1' appears the small button on the right*hand side of the camera (when looked at from the back) above the film wind crank handle, is depressed to bring the counter to '1'. Then after each exposure the crank handle is turned forward until a stop is felt, and then back to another stop, which brings a fresh frame into position in the gate and shows the next number in the window."

did not work? Pity.

There must be something unusual like the Rolleiflex I have. It is so clever, but I had been using a Super Press 23 and other roll film cameras that required advancing the film to a mark on the paper before closing the back. It took me a little bit to notice the fact there were two rollers where one would have done, and a leap in intelligence and faith to try putting the film through them to see if that was a sensor. Of coures it was. :bang:

 

[RJBender]

I take it then that the instructions shown and commented on by RJBender;

"Loading and Unloading
This model is loaded in the conventional manner, threading the film from spool chamber to winding chamber, closing the camera back, then cranking the handle back and forth until Figure 1 appears in the red window in the base of the camera. These early models were not fitted with the sliding cover for the red window in the base but had screw*in covers.

As soon as the 'No. 1' appears the small button on the right*hand side of the camera (when looked at from the back) above the film wind crank handle, is depressed to bring the counter to '1'. Then after each exposure the crank handle is turned forward until a stop is felt, and then back to another stop, which brings a fresh frame into position in the gate and shows the next number in the window."

did not work? Pity.

There must be something unusual like the Rolleiflex I have. It is so clever, but I had been using a Super Press 23 and other roll film cameras that required advancing the film to a mark on the paper before closing the back. It took me a little bit to notice the fact there were two rollers where one would have done, and a leap in intelligence and faith to try putting the film through them to see if that was a sensor. Of coures it was. :bang:

The instructions that mention cranking the handle back and forth are for the older Rolleiflex. Once you have 1 in the red window, you don't have to use the red window again. The counter will stop the film advance at the beginning of each frame.

Here's the problem with the instructions. That website, from Norway BTW, uses illustrations from Alec Pealrman's book The Rollei Manual but the text has been rewritten.

I found the instructions in Pearlman's book, page 33.

• Line up 1 in the red window.

• Press down button (7) and at the same time press the button (5) in the center of the film wind knob (4).

• Turn knob (4) until the counter stops on frame 1.

• After you make your first exposure, press button (5) and start turning knob (4). Release button (5) as soon as the knob starts to turn.

I like the automated film loading features of the Rolleiflexes. I had an Automat from the 1950's and currently have a 3.5F type 4 (whiteface) that has the same automatic film loading mechanism. The cameras were built for professional use and speed loading was a good selling point.

R.J.

 

[schmoozit]

Hey, RJ! That is making sense! Thanks a ton. I still haven't gotten the roll of 120, but I'm pretty sure It'll work out when I do. Man, you went way over the top to figure this one out for us. Can't thank you enough, man.

Brent

 

[RJBender]

Hey, RJ! That is making sense! Thanks a ton. I still haven't gotten the roll of 120, but I'm pretty sure It'll work out when I do. Man, you went way over the top to figure this one out for us. Can't thank you enough, man.

Brent

Brent,

I hope you and G'man can start taking some pictures with your Rolleicords. 😀


R.J.