Problems getting it out? - I do!

[Dave Wilkinson]

Just an unimportant observation really, but none of the three Barnacks I've had have I been able to extricate the take-up spool easily when changing film!. I have fairly thick, stubby fingers and no way can I get 'em on that little knurled knob and pull the damn thing out!😡. Sometimes there is a knife or screwdriver handy for leverage, but that just pushes to one side, and if I'm out in the 'field' and have forgotten the fold-up pliers - I'm in the sh#t!. Is this the norm. or have I just had extra tight ones? 🙂
Dave.

 

[hans voralberg]

Try slotting your pinky in to the spool and lift it out.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Well don't leave it out!

I've not had a problem, but some are tighter than others. The worst was a Fed 1, very tight.

 

[payasam]

Spool's easy, but I've often had trouble getting the exposed roll of film out.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Dave

Same problem as you so yea. don't forget the folding pliers at home. Didn't some take up spools have pop up knobs for this very reason?

Bob

 

[VictorM.]

Canon spools have a pop-up grip:

 

[John Lawrence]

I had the same problem on one of my Barnacks and solved it by getting hold of the Leica take up spool with the "pop up grip" similar to the one mentioned above.

If you're interested, I got the "springy pop up spool" from Malcolm Taylor - and it's a genuine Leica item.

John

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Thanks for the info on the 'pop-up' spools - I had not heard about them, I shall look around.....I reckon they will be scarce as rocking horse...er...stuff! and priced accordingly, but would save me a lot of 'grief'
Dave.
PS I reckon from the title - you thought I was about to start bragging? 😛

 

[John Lawrence]

PS I reckon from the title - you thought I was about to start bragging? 😛

.... erm no. Not when you said you needed pliers to remove it!🙂

John

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Dave,

Think rude thoughts about your favourite starlet.... Or (for the Leica) grow your fingernails.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Dave,

you feel like another project in stainless steel?

You would need a small metal tube and a steel rod. The rod should fit into the tube, which fits into the spool of a film cartridge. Probably 5/8 of an inch length would suffice. Both would need a small handle on them, standing off 90º from the top. Probably an inch long. Slide the rod into the tube, don't line up the handles, have them split, a 65º angle for instance. Now, cut an incision over the bottom, wide enough to fit over the notches inside the film canister spool.

If you would insert this little tool into the bottom of the film canister and squeeze the two handles, the cut in the rod will cover the notches and the tube will clamp the notches from the other side, and pulling the canister out should be easy.

When made, the whole thing should be tiny and possibly fit into trouser pockets without poking. (Well, depends of course 😛)

I'll see if I can create a drawing from my idea to put up here. If you can make them, I'd like one for sure since my fingers are too big to grip the canister as well 🙂

Sounds interesting Johan!, I had even thought about having a break from my little steam engine project - and making a complete spool, BTW has the mailman been yet?.
Dave.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Dear Dave,

Think rude thoughts about your favourite starlet.... Or (for the Leica) grow your fingernails.

Cheers,

R.

Dear Roger, these days my thoughts usually start to wonder....towards Chinese takeaways - and the like!
Dave.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Dave,

Favourite Chinese starlet?

And indeed, Chinese mandarins were famous for the length of their fingernails.

To quote Private Eye, "Are they by any chance related? I think we should be told."

Cheers,

R.

 

[payasam]

Pocket knife with pliers. I use Victorinox and Wenger.

Ancient Chinese take-away riddle: What fits in trousers and does not poke?

 

[David Hughes]

It's just a matter of getting the right tool for the job;-

And knowing how to use it, of course.

I found this thing in the local flea market next to a heap of Shanghai 58 IIIB's with Noctiluxes on them but they were a bit dear at a fiver each </;-) The tool was only pennies; FWIW, it's an "Opal Puller" and is ex-Govt. but it does the biz.

Regards, David

 

[Luddite Frank]

It's just a matter of getting the right tool for the job;-

And knowing how to use it, of course.

I found this thing in the local flea market next to a heap of Shanghai 58 IIIB's with Noctiluxes on them but they were a bit dear at a fiver each </;-) The tool was only pennies; FWIW, it's an "Opal Puller" and is ex-Govt. but it does the biz.

Regards, David

David - that tool has the terrifying look of 18th-century Dentistry about it ! 😱


😉

 

[TheHub]

Spool's easy, but I've often had trouble getting the exposed roll of film out.

Same here; the Leitz reloadable cartridges. Those are VERY difficult to get out if stuck 🙁

 

[David Hughes]

David - that tool has the terrifying look of 18th-century Dentistry about it ! 😱


😉

You won't believe this but many years ago, in one of my books, I mentioned the problems I had getting something out of something (unimportant what it was) and two people who read the book were dentists and both sent me an elderly tool they used to use that was perfect but frightening.

Regards, David