wlaidlaw Posted March 9, 2014 Share #1 Posted March 9, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) For the last 50+ years, I have managed to load film into LTM Leicas, without trimming the leaders using an ABLON template. This goes back to my first LTM camera, a very well used , RAF surplus Reid II, in 1958 (bought I suspect to stop me “borrowing” my father’s Leicas). About my second film, I could not find my father’s ABLON, so did a rough (very rough!) job with kitchen scissors. Inevitably the film tore and jammed solid in the camera. It was one of the very few times I saw my father angry. After a couple of hours of picking shreds of film out of the camera with tweezers, he taught me how to load film, if I did not have an ABLON to trim the film properly, not across the sprocket holes and with no nicks to tear. He used a thin shiny celluloid card, with rounded corners, about the size of a visiting card but the thickness of a playing card. You slide this down very slowly and carefully behind the sprocket nearest the film cassette. You then slide the untrimmed film behind it with the cassette and take-up spool and then gently remove the card. For the first wind, you do it very slowly and gently to ensure that the film is seated properly on the sprockets. I even remember the card he gave me to do this, an advertising card from the Ragosine Specialist Textile Oil and Grease company, long since lost. I have recently acquired a 1931 Model C with matching period nickel Elmar, in good user condition. The film slot is far too narrow to use the card method of loading. So I am off this morning to CamFair at Brighton Racecourse, on the hunt for an Leitz or Zeiss ABLON or the Prinz copy of one. I might be lucky! I know I can trim the film by eye but memories of my disaster over 50 years ago persist. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 Hi wlaidlaw, Take a look here After 50+ years of Leica use, I admit defeat and search for an ABLON. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
laffertyphotography Posted March 9, 2014 Share #2 Posted March 9, 2014 That was an interesting tale Wilson. I use an Ablon copy and find it to be part of the LTM cameras "ritual," No doubt my friends with digital cameras will have already taken several hundred shots though, by the time I have loaded a film! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted March 9, 2014 Share #3 Posted March 9, 2014 Wilson, If you didn't find one Reg Roach has one for sale in his shop. Pete. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted March 9, 2014 I probably should go and buy a lottery ticket this afternoon. After asking at all the stalls at Camfair today, that were selling anything resembling Leica gear, only to received mournful head shaking and teeth sucking, I came to the last stall: “Do you have a Leica/Leitz ABLON by any chance?” “No mate” was the answer. I then spotted a corner of something sticking out of a load of junk. I pointed at it and he said “oh you want a film trimmer, why didn’t you say?” Of course with the magic logo on it, it was not cheap but considerably less than most are asking on eBay. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/223286-after-50-years-of-leica-use-i-admit-defeat-and-search-for-an-ablon/?do=findComment&comment=2546281'>More sharing options...
M9reno Posted March 9, 2014 Share #5 Posted March 9, 2014 Wilson, nice find. Is that an original ABLON case? I've never seen one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted March 9, 2014 Share #6 Posted March 9, 2014 Wilson, nice find. Is that an original ABLON case? I've never seen one. looks more a case for a comb ! usually the case is just a carton board Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/223286-after-50-years-of-leica-use-i-admit-defeat-and-search-for-an-ablon/?do=findComment&comment=2546360'>More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted March 9, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Wilson, nice find. Is that an original ABLON case? I've never seen one. I gather both the inner and outer case/bag are original. The outer bag is exactly the same material as used on some of my Minox accessories, from the period that Minox was owned by Leica. There should be a cardboard box as well but I guess long disintegrated. From the lack of wear/scratches on the plating of the cutting edge, I am guessing the ABLON has not had a lot of use. That is the first photographic fair I have been to for a long time. Lots of interesting stuff at quite reasonable prices. I was tempted by a George Houghton wood and brass full plate field camera with a “drop in aperture" 6” Trioplan lens and huge wooden tripod but managed to resist. I now know where all the train spotters with wine bottle bottom spectacles, mended with sellotape, went when they disappeared off the end of station platforms. They went to camera fairs instead. I was talking to an old friend who runs a small classic camera shop in Brighton and leaning over the counter to read a number off his mobile phone to copy to mine, of the Contax RF service technician in Hertfordshire. I was suddenly poked in the ribs by this odd looking complete stranger, to be told in a very nasal voice that I was occupying his personal space and would I move away immediately, as he had got there first. There was plenty of room to his right but as I was already against the wall I could not move away to the left. Recognising that he was probably a bit mentally wobbly, I gently suggested that, as I was talking to the stall proprietor, it might be better if he came back later. He stalked off humphing and tutting. Apparently he was well known by the traders, for buying 30+ year old cameras and coming back hours later, complaining he had found a scratch on the body and demanding a full refund and damages. Wilson 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted March 9, 2014 looks more a case for a comb ! usually the case is just a carton board I have seen other ABLON’s pictured with this same stitched leather case, so either it was original or a common accessory at the time ABLON’s were sold. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted March 9, 2014 Share #9 Posted March 9, 2014 … I now know where all the train spotters with wine bottle bottom spectacles, mended with sellotape, went when they disappeared off the end of station platforms. ... They never went anywhere - they're still there but they try to blend in nowadays. There's legions of 'em at Clapham Junction everyday (bless 'em) only they all carry portable video cameras as well as notebooks so they can bore the pants off each other (not literally of course* - nothing to see here;)) for much, much longer. I've always wondered what happens to those collections of dog-eared notebooks when their owners and fondlers make that final journey to the Great Marshalling Yard in the Sky. Presumably they end up in a skip which seems slightly sad in a way considering all the effort that's gone into producing them. Glad you found an ABLON and it looks like a nice one too. Pete. *Those would be Gricers. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted March 9, 2014 Share #10 Posted March 9, 2014 About as boring as those who gather to talk about the serial numbers of their cameras. .. :-) Gerry Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 10, 2014 Share #11 Posted March 10, 2014 Hi Wilson, Nice that you one. How 'easy' is it to use that in practice? I imagine it's awkward to cut the film with scissors - I think Leica also sold the ABLON with a small scalpel knife for that purpose. Camera fairs do seem to attract a certain type of person though I find some have techniques clearly designed just to piss others off, like standing right in the middle of a stall, a large camera bag from each shoulder, effectively blocking off the stall from anyone else being able to look. They also feign deafness when asked to move, or more commonly, have chosen not to wash for the week leading up to the fair so that you are repelled from getting anywhere near them by the stench of BO. I'm pretty sure most of them don't even like photography, they just like gathering in halls full of dusty boxes on their weekends! That said, if you are prepared to fight your ground, camera fairs can turn up some great items. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted March 10, 2014 James, I have one of the very small 58mm swiss army knives, which has in addition to the standard blade, a scimitar shaped one and a hook shaped one http://www.victorinox.com/ch/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Classic/MiniChamp-Alox/0.6381.20. Either of these are perfect for trimming the film leader in the ABLON. It sits in the front of my Billingham all the time. I have to remember to take it out if I am taking the Billingham as aeroplane hand luggage. I already lost a Leatherman micro tool by forgetting to remove it from a bag. I do feel security should allow you to post an item you have overlooked, back home, for a small fee. Wilson PS. I know what you mean about the BO. Some of it was so strong, you could cut it with a knife. Don’t these people have a shower/bath? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted March 10, 2014 Share #13 Posted March 10, 2014 PS. I know what you mean about the BO. Some of it was so strong, you could cut it with a knife. Don’t these people have a shower/bath? Yes, but it's full of dusty cardboard boxes. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted March 10, 2014 Share #14 Posted March 10, 2014 Years ago somebody gave me a new one, but since I had an M4 it never came out of its original package...after about 10 years sitting in a box I sold it. Fast forward to last year when I got my first LTM camera, and realized the leader should be trimmed, I looked on Ebay but they were scarce or way overpriced...so were the knock-offs. One online site had a pattern for one, and I made a copy from an aluminum hinge. It worked ok, but occasionally the film jammed or tore, so I experimented around a little and found that counting 24 sprocket holes and changing the leader from a horizontal cut to an angled one cleared everything up with no subsequent issues. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted March 10, 2014 I went to Switzerland with my parents, on my first overseas holiday in 1961. We went up the Engelberg-Titlis cable car. As my father and I were both taking lots of pictures (him with Leica IIIa, me with Reid II), we both needed to reload and bought some Perutzchrome film at the top of the cable car. The ABLON got left behind on a bench outside the cafe. I would guess someone found it, did not have a clue what it was and threw it away. We only remembered when we got back to the hotel in Engelberg. The hotel phoned the cafe but nothing was found. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted March 10, 2014 Share #16 Posted March 10, 2014 Hi Wilson, Nice that you one. How 'easy' is it to use that in practice? I imagine it's awkward to cut the film with scissors - I think Leica also sold the ABLON with a small scalpel knife for that purpose. . Amazing how this little cutter, ABCOO, is doing its job James, really, and note the 3 language engraved on the ABLON for positioning the film with the emulsion side up Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/223286-after-50-years-of-leica-use-i-admit-defeat-and-search-for-an-ablon/?do=findComment&comment=2547172'>More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share #17 Posted March 10, 2014 J-C, The texture of the leather and stitching on your ABCOO knife case is identical to the case for the ABLON that I have, except mine is a bit dull from lying around for a long time. Either someone was making OEM cases for both of these or they were being sold by Leica. Now I am going to have to search for an ABCOO Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted March 10, 2014 I have just spotted an ABCOO for sale but I’m not saying where Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share #19 Posted March 11, 2014 My Leica accessory book says the ABCOO is for cutting the film inside the camera not for use with the ABLON. The book also shows a small folding knife without a code, which I assume is for trimming the film with the ABLON. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/223286-after-50-years-of-leica-use-i-admit-defeat-and-search-for-an-ablon/?do=findComment&comment=2547331'>More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 11, 2014 Share #20 Posted March 11, 2014 ... On a Leica IIIa syn of 1933, the trick with a thin flexible card works very well, thanks a lot. But even with the scissors of a very small Swiss Army knife you can cut a film clean without having to buy and transport a completely overpriced ABLON. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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