Bulk loader with Leica LTM cassettes?

<p>Can I use a bulk loader with Leica LTM cassettes? If so, do I need to be concerned about the brass opening scratching the film?</p>

<p>I know I can do it in the dark, by hand, but I’d rather use a bulk loader if possible.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>The old Leica cassette was 2.2mm longer than the new one, which is the same length as today's commercially loaded cassettes. This may lead to trouble. I know nothing of bulk loaders, having done the work only by hand. Possibly someone will come along who can tell you which loaders accept old Leica cassettes and have something that opens the mouth of a cassette when it is inside .</p>

<p>The Leica bulk cassettes open in the camera. Both the M2, M3, M4 (don't remember on M6) opened the cassette when you locked the bottom plate on the camera. That way the film flowed out of the cassette freely. Therefore, if you're going to bulk load the cassette it needs to be done with the cassette open. I suppose you could open the cassette and then load it, but then you'd have to kill the lights to open loader, remove the cassette and close it. All of this is written with assumption that LTM cassettes work same as the "M" cassettes. Good luck with your project.</p>

<p>The Watson bulk loaders are able to close Leica cassettes allowing you to work in room light. Usually you can hear a faint click as the cassette closes. If I don't hear it click I confirm in the darkroom that it did close properly. <br>

Don't try to overfill (> 36 exposures) as things can bind up and twist the cassette in the loader.<br>

PS... I've only used the later M cassettes.</p>

<p>Most all bulk loaders have a claw (3 blunt dowels or cups) that can grasp/ contact the <strong>trap door handle</strong> on the Leica cassette.<br /> You just need to remember to close the Leica trap door (To it's click stop lock) before opening the Bulk loader access door.</p><div></div>

<p>The Watson 100 loader also has a 2mm thick grey shim that you remove when loading a Leica magazine.<br>

The Alden 74 loaders don't have the shim (to my recollection), but they do have that knob to turn the outer shell when you're done loading. The Watson 66 is similar.<br>

You want to hold the knob such that it keeps the magazine from twirling while you wind the film in, and then turn it to close the gate.<br>

I think the "strike out" loader for Leica, Canon, Nikon, etc. magazines is the Lloyds. No knob to control the gate. (I never trusted them due to the felt light trap anyways.)</p>

 

<p>How do you attach the trailer to the cassette spool w/out taking the cassette apart? Is it just a matter of opening the gates and pushing the trailer onto the spool?</p>

<p>Please bear in mind that I have only seen film loaded on these manually on YouTube.<br>

Thanks!</p>

 

<p>oh boy...this is hard to describe. bear with me. Your put your open Leica cassette, either kind, in your bulk loader (watson or the big Alden's and I'm sure others of 50's to 60's vintage) in the open position, i.e. ready to receive film. Your film end has to be trimmed to about a 3/4 inch "V" shape. (it won't attach without this trim) then you gently push the v shaped end into the slot in the take up spool in the casette. Now close up the loader engaging the knob described above in the picture. wind on your film. the advice to not overload is good. When you have done that, close the door on the casette with the external knob on the loader. It may be difficult. Having done that open up the loader, cut the film off, trim you leader and you're ready to go. Serious suggestion. try this with a foot or so of film first in daylight so you can see what's happening. biggest problem...not getting the door on the casette closed. good luck. I took me about 4 tries when I went back to loading my Leica casettes. </p>

<p>Will, you've done a great job describing something that's pretty complex. I followed every word. Thank you!</p>

<p>I guess my last question is this: is it worth it to bulk load from a cost perspective and a device perspective?</p>

<p>For B&W film, you can definitely still save money bulk loading. 100 feet is about eighteen 36-exposure rolls.<br>

You also get an even lower risk of scratches than with factory loaded magazines.<br>

You also get flexibility -- any length roll you want.<br>

Color film has gotten very rare in 100 foot rolls, and never had the cost advantage that B&W film did. Typical savings weren't worth the bother.<br>

Sometimes you can also score great deals on expired 100 foot rolls of film, including long discontinued ones. I've gotten Technical Pan for a song that way, I just got 100 feet of refrigerated Panatomic-X.</p>

<p>my last 100' of HP5 from Adorama works out to about $3.50 a 36 exp roll for 15 rolls in a hundred feet. </p>