Release my film!

[sanmich]

Dear Tom

I am practicing IXMOO loading and thanks to your Youtube video, it seems ok.

BUT


How in the world do I release the small triangle of film stuck on that shaft after I finished using the cassette??

I beg you...release my film....

Thanks

 

[colyn]

Pull it through the back..

 

[sanmich]

Thanks Colyn

It was hard, but I did it.
It is apparently important to cut just the right length of film.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Pull it out the other side -- with your teeth if necessary!

Always worked for me....

Cheers,

R.

 

[Tom A]

You can usually spot IXMOO users by the small chunks of film stuck between their teeth! "Dear, I think you got a piece of lettuce stuck in your teeth. Oh no, it is Neeopan Presto 400!!!"
I usually just tear it of at the take-up spool, works with most film except polyester based ones, where you have to use scissors or a sharp, small knife. The IXMOO truly grabs the film and any attempt to pull it out in the wrong direction usually results in torn film and/or words not suited for tender ears!

 

[Glenn2]

A pair of small needle nose pliers are great for grabbing the tiny end that sticks through the slot. If the film is cut off so nothing hangs up a pull usually gets the piece all the way through. Can only remember having to take one apart once. Somehow broke the film off so nothing to grab on to...

Been using them for close to forty years...

Glenn

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Tom, didn't you once look into getting a run of IXMOO cassettes manufactured? Any chance it'll happen someday? They sell for 10-15 bucks on eBay, generally untested...it might be worth doing.

 

[Tom A]

Just for fun I asked the guy who does the machining for me what the cost would be! With to "hot" deep draw dies, massive manual operation (soldering stops and attaching springs etc) and not even including the center spools. A run of 1000 would be something in the $150 000 brackets! Deep draw dies are very expensive to make, particularly high precision ones!
There are most likely 1000's out there still. It is just a matter of chasing them down. They are extremely durable and even at $10-15/each - they will pay themselves back in fairly short time. The cost for clean, reloadable plastic/metal cassettes ai getting up there and as I generally dont use any of these more than 3-4 times - The IXMOO's look good.
I always regard IXMOO's as a 1 time investment. Once you have it and cleaned it up - that is an expense you dont have to incur again (unless you want more of them). Kind of like a M2!

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Good point. I made the investment in the M2 last month...maybe I oughta bite the bullet and go for the IXMOOs.

 

[Al Kaplan]

IXMOO cassettes do last forever if you don't run over them with your car. Some of mine I bought used for a buck or two back in the early 60's. They're still light tight even if the black felt rings are missing from the inside of the ends. It's easier to just use masking tape to fasten the film to the spool than to try using the slot. You can also substitute a plastic spool from a factory load throw away cassette if you find one missing its spool. I just wish that my Bessa L would work with them.

When you're loading Leica cassettes bend the end of the film sharply back, enough so it makes a crease. Then after you put the filled spool in the cassette and assemble the two parts you can turn the spool and the end of the film will pop out of the slot.

Hey Tom! Have you checked the cost of making aluminum IXMOO shells and using plastic spools? Aluminum can be anodized all sorts of pretty colors as well. I'm sure there are folks out there who'd love a set of cassettes to match the exotic lizard Cameraleather coverings on their Leica M's ;-)

 

[sanmich]

Thanks all for the great (and funny) answers.
Well, Roger and Tom, my teeth being what they are, a plier did the job.😀
I think the trick is not to push the film into the spool so it's not too wide after you cut it.
Talking about machining: Tom, do you see a way to adapt the IXMOOs to MP bodies? (or the other way around of course).
The need to have both regular cassettes and IXMOOs on a day I shoot with both cameras is kind of spoiling the fun.

 

[Tom A]

I cant see a way to adapt the IXMOO's to the MP - at least not without running a cutting tool down the filmcassette well of the MP! Dont want to try that on mine though! Older M6 works well with the IXMOO though. Trick is to standardize with M2's!!!!!

 

[sanmich]

I cant see a way to adapt the IXMOO's to the MP - at least not without running a cutting tool down the filmcassette well of the MP! Dont want to try that on mine though! Older M6 works well with the IXMOO though. Trick is to standardize with M2's!!!!!

My M2 is certainly my "lonely island camera".
That being said, my MP 0.58 is a marvel to use for 35 and 28 FL (and my glasses)

Well, it seems I will get used to have both regular cassettes and IXMOOs in my bag...