Accu-Rapid Wind for LTM camera????

Hello Friends,

As anyone ever used a Accu-Rapid Wind made by accura for LTM cameras?

Just wondering if its any good. Many thanks as always!

John<div></div>

Cool looking little gadget. But if an LTM is properly lubed and adjusted (like John Maddox did with mine) you can just run the inside of your right index finger along the wind knob and it'll wind on as smooth as silk in one fluid motion.

I remember them! Spiratone used to sell them. Those were the good old days. I bought a used Leicavit ($25.00) for my red dial self timer IIIf body ($89.50). Wish I hadn't sold them for a small profit a few years later when I bought my first brand new M4 ($288.00 list, same as the M3) but I needed the money.

 

Another company marketed a similar do-hickey that had an index finger hole positioned so you could rotate the wind knob and your fingertip always ended up right over the release button. But nothing was as fast as the Leicavit. You could really get a rythm going!

I've owned one for many years and used it occasionally on my IIf and Canon IVB. I never saw a real advantage over simply cranking the knob, however, and the lever tended to snag on other items in my over-stuffed bad, so it saw action only infrequently.

I bought one of these for my Leica IIIa about 40years ago. I

returned it because it was awkward to use--the lever didn't

always return to the right place. I bought a used SCNOO rapid

winder (cheap in those days) which is much better, but I agree

that it is actually easier, and virtually as fast, to run your index

finger against the knob. I find this easier on my IIIf than on the IIIa

because it takes less pressure, but it works with both cameras.