Opinions on refurbishing this roll film holder.

<p>Good afternoon everyone.</p>

<p>I recently managed to acquire a roll film holder for my Voigtlander Avus. It's in relatively decent shape, mostly needing cleaning. My question is concerning this papery cloth material surrounding the rollers.<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17922674-md.jpg" alt="DSC_4167" width="680" height="453" border="0" /></p>

<p>Over the last 70-80 years, it's become rather dry and scratchy. Since it has the potential to come into contact with the emulsion side of the film, I've decided that it needs to go. </p>

<p>Here you can see that one piece has already fallen out. Notice how it maintains its shape nicely.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17922675-md.jpg" alt="DSC_4168" width="680" height="453" border="0" /></p>

<p>So, do I need to replace this stuff or just do away with it altogether? There are some seals (black string type) in the grooves where the two halves come together that seem to be in pretty good shape. I may or may not end up replacing them. This leaves the only real potential for a leak coming from around the hole where the turning key comes out. I've got some small O-rings that should be the right size to take care of that. What do you guys think? Would you replace it? If so, with what, felt?</p>

 

<p>I forgot something</p><div></div>

<p>I have had most every type of rollholder, far eastern, european and american none of which had these paper sleeves! IMHO you may not need them as they appear to not serve a purpose! The only one I kept is German made for 9x12 Linhof Precision from the 1930's and there is no evidence that paper sleeves were used or needed.</p>

<p>120 and 620 rollfilm always rolls with the emulsion in. The only place it would be emulsion-out would be making the U-turn over the rollers at the end of the plate, coming back around to the spools. So unless the fabric hangs down to there, it shouldn't be a scratching risk.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>120 and 620 rollfilm always rolls with the emulsion in.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Have you looked at an Adapt-A-Roll 620? I ask because as shipped these take the film up emulsion out. I have one that's been modified to take the film up emusion in, don't use it because in it the film takes a sharp bend at the take up end of the gate, buckles a little bit. The buckle puts film at the take up end out of focus relative to the rest of the film in the gate. AAR 620s as shipped don't have this problem.</p>

<p>Looks like the film passes across the front of the holder, so must be emulsion side out, except on each spool, like the backs for a Graflex (or the inserts of a Mamiya 645).<br>

I replaced the cloth pieces in a roll holder, not exactly like yours but similar; it's a reducing back for a quarter-plate camera. I bought a length of black satin ribbon at a craft store, which was fortuitously almost exactly the width it needed to be, so the sides are ready-finished, and naturally don't fray. I used double-sided tape to fix the pieces in, and relied on that to keep the fixed ends from fraying, but I hemmed the loose ends.</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses everyone. Just to clear up a bit of possible confusion, this is a very simple holder with an insert that lifts out and has a spool and a single roller on each side. The film wraps around from the supply side, under the insert and back around to the take up side. The film faces outwards until it gets around to the take up spool and is wound in. It's similar to, although much simpler than, the insert on my Mamiya M645.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17923090-md.jpg" alt="DSC_4170" width="680" height="453" border="0" /></p>

<p>I'm leaning towards playing it safe and replacing them with cloth. I don't have a lot of time these days to devote to shooting, and don't want to waste an outing taking shots that I later find out are ruined with light leaks. </p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

I've taken some favorite shots with my Avus. Even adapted down to 2 1/4 square, it gives rich tones. I've never used it for color film, but this inspires me to try it. The prints you get when using it at 9x12 cm are mindblowing.

 

It's been said that the dominant technology of a period strongly influences industrial design. The Avus was made when reailroad travel was glamorous and luxurious. Now take another look at that Avus up there.