Leica 1 Model A and Filca

[laffertyphotography]

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I have just acquired three of these Filcas and am in the process of obtaining a bulk loader and some bulk film. Before I buy these I wonder whether someone can advise me.

 

The Filcas are the black as opposed to silver coloured mushroom types so I think they may be correct for the 1a - can anyone say for sure? -although I am not certain as I think there may be a unique filca for the 1a. I have included couple of photos of one of the filcas I have.

 

The Filcas I have are bigger than the modern 35mm film cassette. The modern film cassette fits in the 1a and it works. There are no sprocket holes visible etc in my photos. I wondered whether the 1a had been adapted to allow this to work or whether this is normal?

 

Given the modern film cassette works I wonder whether the Filcas will as they are bigger and the film may not be positioned at the correct height to transport through the camera.

 

Having said that, when I put the modern film cassette up against the filca , although the filca is bigger, it looks like the film will be in the same place and height when transported through the camera

 

Can anyone tell me, therefore, do I have the right type of Filca for the 1A and will it work properly given the 1a transports the film from a modern film cassette properly.

 

Finally. If I buy a bulk loader is it possible to load the 3 filcas and then leave the rest of the bulk film till I have used the three filcas and then re-load the three filcas. I presume so otherwise I will need 17-18 filcas at a time!

 

John

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Edited May 15, 2014 by laffertyphotography

[TomB_tx]

I don't have a 1A (just a Standard), so I can't try it, but I do have 3 different types of Leica cassettes - the old and newer FILCA (not sure if the old carried the same ID) and the IXMOO. Both the old ones for LTM models are the same height (but are on an uneven quilt here so look a bit different) - and the M model is a couple mm shorter to match the standard cassette (which didn't exist when Leica made theirs). I believe Contax and others made shorter cassettes, so the film industry also made shorter ones as they would work in all makes of cameras.

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The construction of the LTM models differs primarily in the latch, where the original design had a bent spring that formed the catch:

and the newer model had a straight spring with block attached as the latch:

The latch angles to the end are the same on all, so I would expect them all to work on normal LTMs, but it does seem like I've heard the first 1A had differences. I'm sure someone on the forum can tell us.

 

ADDED; Did a quick search and found reference that the FILCA was introduced in 1931, and required a change to the bottom locking mechanism to activate the FILCA. Leica noted earlier cameras needed a modification to use the FILCA. So it depends on whether your 1A was pre-1932, and if so, whether it received teh modification to use FILCA.

Edited May 16, 2014 by TomB_tx

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[TomB_tx]

I believe the changes to allow FILCA use were to the latch in the camera bottom plate. The latch has to both release the FILCA spring catch and engage the "mushroom" to rotate the inner part of the FILCA to open the window.

Here's the latch on my Leica III:

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Notice it has a raise collar to fit the end of the cassette, and a slot that engages the FILCA mushroom knob, as well as a finger that opens the catch:

Later models changed the shape of these features a bit, but they still have these essentials. Here's a IIIc series latch:

You should be able to check the fit of the end of a FILCA to your 1a baseplate and see if it would work.

[TomB_tx]

Finally. If I buy a bulk loader is it possible to load the 3 filcas and then leave the rest of the bulk film till I have used the three filcas and then re-load the three filcas. I presume so otherwise I will need 17-18 filcas at a time!

Yes, you can leave film in the bulk loader, and just re-fill your 3 cassettes as you use them. I've used a Watson 66 loader for about 50 years this way. After a 25-year dry spell without a darkroom I'm setting up again, and found 30 ft. of Panatomic-X still in the loader. Might be a bit fogged by now...

Of course, if your 1a doesn't have the modified latch to use the FILCA, you can use a bulk loader with standard-type reloadable cassettes, which have end caps that snap or screw off. Just be careful to keep the felt trap clean.

The best standard-type reloadable I've found was made by Pentax in the 1950s. Their cameras didn't use a removable base, so there was no way to open a FILCA type cassette. But they made a hybrid cassette that has a felt trap, but also opens in a bulk loader like a FILCA, then closes the trap for normal use:

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Edited May 16, 2014 by TomB_tx

[TomB_tx]

Perhaps this is what you need for a pre-FILCA 1a:

Leica Film Cassette Leitz Agfa Cassette DRP A Fuer Agfa Leica Film | eBay