Anyone using Shirley-Wellard cassettes?

StepheKoontz · May 20, 2020

I recently discovered these and what an interesting solution these are! I have found they won't work well with every camera, but they are a neat solution to bulk film loading for the ones they will, which they seem to fit most of the older ones I use. I use the Leica FILCA in my early Barnacks and have these for my Nikon rangefinders (and have a collection of these labyrinth cassettes from Contax to my Leotax) but this universal model is a cool little doodad

https://www.shutterbug.com/content/...sal-cassettebrdelightful-labyrinth-style-dood

Truzi · May 20, 2020

I have two or three but haven't used them yet. Part is being lazy, and part is because they are in nice shape and I'll probably mess them up, lol. I'll eventually use them... I've just not done much bulk loading in the past few years.

BAC1967 · May 20, 2020

I use the FILCA cassettes in my Leica's and I have some Contax Cassettes for my Kiev but I’ve never used those ones. I think I would forget to open or close it.

Subversive Mk II · Jul 3, 2021

I picked up a trio of them a decade ago when all the film gear was cheap. The way they were made is absolutely astounding, and the resultant price probably astounded many back in their day.

I fully intend to use them, and with that in mind I've just bought 100ft of Fomapan 200. Some that will be going into the SW cassettes, but I'll need to get my hand back into normal re-loading with conventional cassettes first.

Trask · Jul 4, 2021

I have one of these, but it’s missing the screw that goes into the end, as seen in OP’s photo. If I can find a replacement, then I’m in business. But given that they were made in Croydon, England, it’s possible that the thread pitch etc on the screw will be to a British standard that might be difficult to find.

LimeyKeith · Jul 5, 2021

It's difficult to be accurate from this image but that looks like a 1/4" BSW thread - the same size as many tripod/camera screws - try one and see if it fits. The old British screw threads are still available in a wide variety of sizes and head shapes and if you can confirm the size I'll try and find a stockist for you. The large flat head may be a problem but it's worth a try.

Subversive Mk II · Jul 5, 2021

Trask said:
I have one of these, but it’s missing the screw that goes into the end, as seen in OP’s photo. If I can find a replacement, then I’m in business. But given that they were made in Croydon, England, it’s possible that the thread pitch etc on the screw will be to a British standard that might be difficult to find.

View attachment 279306

I've just measured one and it's 28 teeth per inch, with a major thread diameter of 0.202" and a shank dia of 0.159". I couldn't get the minor thread dia because my vernier isn't sharp enough.
The head dia is 0.412", the total shank length is 0.334" and the head thickness is 0.055"
I'll leave you to peruse the Whitworth thread tables...

LimeyKeith · Jul 5, 2021

Here are links to the common British thread standards that may help.

https://www.fastenerdata.co.uk/whitworth
https://www.fastenerdata.co.uk/bsf
https://www.ring-plug-thread-gages.com/PDChart/BA-thread-data.html

benjiboy · Jul 5, 2021

I have somewhere about six Shirley Wellard cassettes, I've had them for around fifty years, I have no idea where they are, I have moves house three times since I bought them, and since they don't work on my current cameras, and I no longer use bulk film, I can't be bothered to turn my house upside down to look for them.
P.S. I once met Ken Corfield who is mentioned in the Shutterbug article, he was later knighted for his services to photography and was then Sir Keneth Corfield, he was a very talented camera engineer who invented the Corfield Periflex camera that was mirrorless, had no prism and used a retractable periscope viewfinder.

Anyone using Shirley-Wellard cassettes?

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