What is it with me and film take up spool ??

[shadowfox]

Last year I got my hands on a Zorki 4, clean, everything works fine, until I tried to load a film in it. The take up spool kept slipping, no matter what I did, I adjusted the screw, tried to pad it, whatever, it still slips.

So I gave up and return the camera to the seller.

Fast forward, I got a Fed 2, again, everything is cool looking, I absolutely love the collapsible lens, shutter speed sounds right, lens clean, rangefinder ok!

See...?

Opened the bottom and ... no spool :bang::bang::bang::bang:

I asked the seller who is very non-communicative during the transaction, so I'm not holding my breath for a positive answer.

So, anyone feeling generous today, who has a spare Fed 2 film spool that works? 😀

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Is it similar to the screw-mount Leicas spool?

 

[cpborello]

Spool me once, shame on you. Spool me twice, shame on me.

(sorry, couldn't resist)

 

[shadowfox]

Is it similar to the screw-mount Leicas spool?

Hmm, I tried google for the answer and so far nothing on it.

I guess we have to wait for our resident Fed 2 enthusiasts to reveal themselves and shed some light into this.

 

[shadowfox]

Spool me once, shame on you. Spool me twice, shame on me.

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Har har...!

 

[wolves3012]

I have an early FED 2, identical to yours. The spool is the same as in my FED 3a, 3b and 4L but it's NOT the same as those in my Zorkis. I'd say a Leica spool possibly won't work either then, though I don't have one to try.

 

[jbf]

Try contacting Yuri at Fedka.com

I'm almost certain he would have one for you. He's got surpluses of Russian rangefinder items, etc.

Just give him a shout. I'm sure he'd be glad to help you.

 

[payasam]

Francisco, the FEDs and Zorkis are Leica copies all right, but one shouldn't count on spools being interchangeable. For example, I found that while a Zorki 1C spool would go into a Leica IIIc, the bottom plate would not close. Small differences in length or diameter, I imagine.

Yuri B. or Oleg K. should have the right spool.

 

[ZorkiKat]

About spools

About spools

Fast forward, I got a Fed 2, again, everything is cool looking, I absolutely love the collapsible lens, shutter speed sounds right, lens clean, rangefinder ok!

See...?

😀

FED-2 (and the later FED-1, as well as FED-3 with removable spools) aren't so finicky with spools. A Zorki-1 spool should fit in a FED-2. You may have noticed this already, that the FED-2's spool spindle doesn't extend all the way to reach the base plate pin, unlike that in the Zorki or even Leica.

What makes certain spools fit or not is what is found at the lower portions of the spool itself. Zorki would require a cleaner, non-obstructed spool shaft so that the spool spindle can fit through. FED cameras had their spool spindles shortened (by the time the FED-1 of the f variant came along) so it doesn't really matter what is found at the lower part of the spool. Some FED spools have retractable handles- the shorter spindle made the space needed for these telescoping parts. Even a Canon spool will fit into a FED-2.



The last of the accessory spools- made entirely of plastic- were made so that they would fit any Zorki, FED, or Zenit. I have several of these, and they would go in these cameras. The fit is sometimes loose though, but looseness or tightness doesn't always matter with the spool's film-reeling abiilities. That would be more of the spool spindle and sprocket shaft's function.
Jay

 

[ZorkiKat]

Is it similar to the screw-mount Leicas spool?

The spools look similar. The Leica spools from some III-series Leica will fit and work well with the FED-2.

Jay

 

[MartinP]

It is also possible to swap the slotted, quick-load, not-a-spool, thingy from a FED-3b into a FED-2 therebye removing your spool problem, so long as you have a 3b which you can use for parts or don't mind changing.

 

[Murray Kelly]

I've one here. It is one of several I purchased in error. When my Fed-3 arrived, I found no spool and thought it was missing. In fact there is no removable spool, only the built-in 'roller' with a slit to accept the tongue of the film from the supply spool.

When I look at one closely it is plastic with a metal spring like the innards of a Fed / Leica rotating cassette (which I have one of each and neither work in Feds) and it fits snugly on the Fed-2 here. If you're stuck let me know and you pay the postage from Australia. The flange is slightly less in diameter than a standard spool but perfectly functional. 🙂
I imagine you will have closer offers but there it is. Send me a PM if you want it.
Murray

 

[shadowfox]

Thanks for y'all who replied. Good information, I'll go scour the bay or keep looking locally for a spool.

I also like Martin's suggestion to find a beater Fed 3b and transplant the non-removeable "spool". I hope the surgery is not that hairy.

Murray, thanks for the kind offer mate. I'll give you a shout if I can't find one in the States. Although I learn recently not to dismiss shipping from Australia, I won a camera last week, and it arrived yesterday (Thursday). Now that's speedy!

I love how the Fed 2 feel, it's a bit smoother than the Zorki 4 I had and the Kiev 4AM, but it's not as smooth as the Kiev 4.