What is this Hasselblad Part

When I bought my 500C outfit, this was in the bottom of the box. It's obviously a crank, but I can't figure out just WHAT exactly it's used for. As can be seen, it has a tiny V inside a circle, so it is definitely a Hasselblad part. It's about the diameter of a quarter.

For reference, here's what all I got in the box:

500C body-1960-with WLF

12 back-1961

A12 back-1970

80mm from 1961

50mm, 150mm, 250mm ranging from 1962-1964(looks like the original owner bought one lens a year after buying the initial outfit)

Speed grip

Level

Sports finder

Any ideas for where it goes or what it does?

Looks like a fixed-crank replacement for the knob or fold-out crank winder. I don't think the long brass screw is original, and it doesn't look contemporary with a 1961 500C.

Mamiya offered a similar thing for the M645 series.

If you don't want it, I can use it as a string-winder for my guitar machine heads.

Did Fender do a Hasselblad custom edition strat BTW?

The default winder on a 500 was a knob, with either an optional metered knob or fold out crank. I have the crank.

This is MUCH too small to fit the attachment point for the winder, and doesn't have the correct attachments to "snap on" to that position.

Looks like a 41076 crank for a C-series back, according to Nordin. It apparently attaches to the winding key. There's on on ebay: Hasselblad 41076 Quick Winding Crank for Film Magazine 12 | eBay

Thanks-I do believe that's it! I'd actually wondered if it fit the magazine somehow as I thought it looked about the right size.

I'll have to try it, although I have to admit that I'd be a bit concerned about leaving it on all the time. It looks all too easy for it to snag on something and reset the frame counter...

I've never been fond of these accessory back cranks, for the same reason: it sticks out enough to snag on things, and can really get in the way if driven by the powerful motor in an EL-series body. At least its easily reversible: you can try it out, and if you hate it take it off. Winding to the first frame after loading the back will be much more convenient, at the expense of having this ugly clunky crank sticking out all the time.

Hasselblad sold a gazillion of these fixed add-on cranks before it finally occurred to them to build a folding version into the "new" A12 and A24 backs. Nobody seems to want them anymore: today, people who own old peephole C backs prefer to keep them in their original state for aesthetic and functional reasons. Every now and then I try to sell some on eBay, but they just sit: you can't even give 'em away. For giggles, occasionally I put one of these cranks on my (now-useless) 70mm film back, snap it onto my ELX, press the remote cord button, and watch it spin.

I've never been fond of these accessory back cranks, for the same reason: it sticks out enough to snag on things, and can really get in the way if driven by the powerful motor in an EL-series body. At least its easily reversible: you can try it out, and if you hate it take it off. Winding to the first frame after loading the back will be much more convenient, at the expense of having this ugly clunky crank sticking out all the time.

 

Hasselblad sold a gazillion of these fixed add-on cranks before it finally occurred to them to build a folding version into the "new" A12 and A24 backs. Nobody seems to want them anymore: today, people who own old peephole C backs prefer to keep them in their original state for aesthetic and functional reasons. Every now and then I try to sell some on eBay, but they just sit: you can't even give 'em away. For giggles, occasionally I put one of these cranks on my (now-useless) 70mm film back, snap it onto my ELX, press the remote cord button, and watch it spin.

I've never actually paid attention-does the crank spin on film advance on the 12 backs? I know it DOESN'T on the "A" series backs, but since it folds completely flush normally on the 12 it's easy to not pay attention.

Mine is loaded now so I can't easily check.

I've never actually paid attention-does the crank spin on film advance on the 12 backs? I know it DOESN'T on the "A" series backs, but since it folds completely flush normally on the 12 it's easy to not pay attention.

I don't currently have any non-A backs to check for you anymore, aside from the 70mm which does spin when the accessory crank is attached. I believe the crank also spun when attached to my C12 and C24 when I had them, but can't remember for certain. I'm inclined to remember when the C-back winding handle is folded down, it de-clutches and doesn't move, similar to how the A-back built-in wind crank de-clutches when folded. But my memory could be faulty.

Attaching the crank to a C-back involves lifting the back's wind handle and inserting it into the recess of the crank base, then the set screw is tightened until the whole gizmo is flush with the back. Since the back's own wind handle is now always in raised position while tucked inside the crank, the clutch might also be engaged, causing the crank to spin whenever the body is wound.

Attaching the crank to a C-back involves lifting the back's wind handle and inserting it into the recess of the crank base, then the set screw is tightened until the whole gizmo is flush with the back. Since the back's own wind handle is now always in raised position while tucked inside the crank, the clutch might also be engaged, causing the crank to spin whenever the body is wound.

Like I said, mine's loaded, so I can't check that at least until this weekend. Whether or not it's declutched, it would be difficult to turn when folded down.

There again, my biggest concern with using the crank would be snagging it on something and resetting the frame counter.

Alright, I stuck it on my(now empty) 12 back.

Yes, it does turn when advancing the film. Just as I mentioned, too, it seems all too easy to just inadvertently tap it or sweep your hand past it and reset the film counter.

Given how little use that particular crank actually gets, the fold out is perfectly fine and I think that this little widget will get stay in the bottom of the case.