Any Idea What Camera This Fits?

Punkinhed7 · Aug 17, 2014

Just picked up what appears to be a bottom plate winder/film advance lever adapter for, judging by the size and the little guide tabs on the sides, a 35mm camera. Other than that I haven't been able to figure out much about exactly which camera it would fit. It has a black matte/crackle finish and no distinguishing marks/names that I can see. Any help would be much appreciated.

PS. Sorry for the poor photo quality...took them with shaky hands on an iphone.

AgX · Aug 17, 2014

Which camera has

-) a body with rounded edges

-) the transport/cocking lever at the bottom

-) takes an accessory winder

Punkinhed7 · Aug 17, 2014

Well, it looks fairly similar to the bottom-located winder on a retina, but why would you need to add a second one...

I also thought possibly leica/other old knob-wind rf's but the only thing I could find was the Leicavit style trigger.

As to your second point, why would the transport lever need to be on the bottom in the camera's native state? An accessory winder port/access seems like it would do the job fine.

The total lack of branding/maker's mark is also throwing me a bit.

If you know the answer: please, share your thoughts (sorry if I'm missing something glaringly obvious).

AgX · Aug 17, 2014

My idea is that your part is the standard lever, that could be substituted by a winder.
And most winders, including old models, are located at the bottom.

A special access to the transport gear-train for a winder may mean more space needed. Then a detachable lever may be the better solution.

Retina:

Well, some Retinas and the Retinette have exactly the same location of the gear-unlocking button with respect to the lever. But that's it.

Dr Croubie · Aug 17, 2014

I've got a Retina Reflex S and Retina Reflex IV, and it doesn't look like either of them (but I'll check when I get home anyway).

To me it looks more like an accessory, to add bottom-wind capability to a regular top lever/knob body, in which case that's a whole lot bigger field in which to look.

snapguy · Aug 17, 2014

well

Why do you believe it is for a camera? Could it be a winder for an accessory film back instead?

Punkinhed7 · Aug 17, 2014

A bit more info: from end to end the base/black metal part measures ~63mm, the width is about 31mm, the inner diameter of the part that engages the camera is 12mm and exterior (around the threads) is 15mm.

AgX: I'm more inclined to think it's an accessory winder rather than the standard piece because of the two little tabs on the side to keep it stable/to stop it from rotating once attached.

snapguy: that's an interesting thought that I hadn't considered...any suggestions of type?

AgX · Aug 17, 2014

Punkinhed7 said:
AgX: I'm more inclined to think it's an accessory winder rather than the standard piece because of the two little tabs on the side to keep it stable/to stop it from rotating once attached.

The same would apply to a standard lever that is substitutible with a winder.

snapguy · Aug 17, 2014

first thought

My first thought was a winder for a roll film back for a Speed Graphic or something similar.

Punkinhed7 · Aug 17, 2014

The same would apply to a standard lever that is substitutible with a winder.

I know we're getting down to semantics here, but if it's substitutable by design wouldn't that then make the winder by itself an accessory?

Chris Lange · Aug 17, 2014

looks a great deal like a Retina rangefinder advance lever.

snapguy · Aug 17, 2014

looked up

I Googled "35mm film camera with winding lever on bottom" and one photo that I saw looks exactly like your gizmo. It is from a Retina Reflex III. I am gobsmacked.

Punkinhed7 · Aug 17, 2014

They're definitely similar but, at least compared to mine, have some noticeable differences.

Here it is alongside the lever on a II-c.

Notable differences: the circle covering the center hub/axle of the lever is much larger on the retina while the lever portion is both a different shape and slightly longer on the mystery piece. The spool release button is also much smaller on the retina. Structurally, the lever on the mystery is piece is substantially elevated and spaced further from the edge of the camera than on the retina.

As I look more at the crackle finish it's seeming more reminiscent of something you'd see on a Russian piece...any ideas there?

Finally, one more measurement I thought could be helpful: the distance from the edge of the circle that would protrude into the winder to what would presumably be the edge/end of the camera/back is ~37mm

Punkinhed7 · Aug 17, 2014

oops, that last reply was to Chris...taking your google advice now snapguy

Edit: I looked and the winder on the Retina Reflex III looks more like the one on my IIc than the unidentified one. Maybe you found a different image...can you link it?

AgX · Aug 18, 2014

Punkinhed7 said:
I know we're getting down to semantics here, but if it's substitutable by design wouldn't that then make the winder by itself an accessory?

Precisely! That was my idea.

That lever being the standard part (though substitutible), and the winder being the accessory.

Punkinhed7 · Aug 18, 2014

any other leads? doing some more snooping around last night I started thinking maybe it could fit some/one of the Zorki's but don't have one laying around to test the theory.

E. von Hoegh · Aug 18, 2014

Punkinhed7 said:
any other leads? doing some more snooping around last night I started thinking maybe it could fit some/one of the Zorki's but don't have one laying around to test the theory.

I saw something like that attached to one of the very early knob wind SLRs, something like a Contax D.

Punkinhed7 · Aug 18, 2014

Success! Thanks for the Contax tip...led me down the right path:

Quick Winder (Schnellschalthebel)

E. von Hoegh · Aug 18, 2014

Punkinhed7 said:
Success! Thanks for the Contax tip...led me down the right path:

Quick Winder (Schnellschalthebel)

View attachment 93083

Nice. I couldn't remember which one...

AgX · Aug 18, 2014

That was where I saw it before... But I was looking for a body with rond edges...

Thus two groups were right:

-) those who thought it to be a lever to be substituted by a winder

-) those who though it to be a additional lever to add bottom film winding to a camera with top winding.

That bottom access to the transport gear-train was designed

-) to couple to the transport mechanism of a 17m back

-) to couple to a spring-driven and a electrical winder

-) to couple to this transport lever

The idea probably was less to have bottom film transport, but to have fast film transport. Faster than with the original transport knob at the top.
The question remains though why the camera did not get a fast transport lever at the top anyway?

Dr Croubie · Aug 18, 2014

AgX said:
Thus two groups were right:

-) those who though it to be a additional lever to add bottom film winding to a camera with top winding.

Yay I won!
What do I win?

Something about the shape of the engaging mechanism just reminded me of the one that fits my grip to my EOS 3...

Any Idea What Camera This Fits?

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