Hassi A12 back with a hole in the back side

Andres9 · Dec 20, 2009

SO I just received a A12 back from my brother-in-law.
It has been sitting in the garage for 15 years, but looks good.
Few quesitons:
Why is there a hole in the back side all the way into the film holder?
How do I clean/lube a back side that has been sitting for so long?
Instead of a handle to advance the film, there is only a silver Half-circle knob? why is this A12 different that my other ones?
thx in advance for your comments and help

mikebarger · Dec 20, 2009

It's not an A12, it's a C12.

See this thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Maybe this will help a little more

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Mike

Andres9 · Dec 20, 2009

thx for the reply
what is a C12 and what is the difference between the two?

Anscojohn · Dec 20, 2009

A hole in the back and a silver half circle knob (har, har). Actually, it has to do with the way the film is positioned to first frame. You load the film the usual way; put the insert back and advance the film (using the knob) until frame number 1 is visible in the hole. then turn the silver knob backwards to bring the number 1 onto the film counter.

Final question: Are you sure it is a Hassy back and not a Kiev? My C12 Hassy back has an advance crank; my Kiev backs have the silver half cirle.

chriscrawfordphoto · Dec 20, 2009

Anscojohn,

I had a Hassy C-12 that had the half-circles knob, not a crank. the crank came out with the A12...I bet someone put the crank on yours later

edtbjon · Dec 20, 2009

Andres9 said:
thx for the reply
what is a C12 and what is the difference between the two?

Please do read the links that Mike Barger supplied above. But to answer your question in short, the C12 (or just "12") is the older version of the Hasselblad film magazine for 120 type film. As you have to manually check for when you're at the first frame, it isn't automatic. Later on when the 'blad engineers had come up with an automatic magazine (i.e. one where you just cranked until stop) they named it A(utomatic)12.

//Björn

mikebarger · Dec 20, 2009

If a C12 has a crank, I suspect is one of the add ons. I've bought a couple C12's that had them. They are held on with one set screw. Under the set screw/crank are the two half circles. Personally I don't care for them, but don't know why. maybe it's just something to catch on the bag...

Mike

Len Robertson · Dec 20, 2009

mikebarger said:
If a C12 has a crank, I suspect is one of the add ons. I've bought a couple C12's that had them. They are held on with one set screw. Under the set screw/crank are the two half circles. Personally I don't care for them, but don't know why. maybe it's just something to catch on the bag...

Mike

I have six 12 magazines. I think only one came with the add-on crank. I've bought other cranks off eBay. One came in a Hass. box labeled "Quick Winding Crank for Magazine 41076". I suspect this is a long discontinued item, but don't really know. You see them on eBay, although not every day. They really do speed up winding to the first frame, and winding on after the last frame. But as Mike said, they are quite the little bag catchers, at least in my Tamrac bags. In a attache style case, I don't think this would be a problem.

Len

Sirius Glass · Dec 20, 2009

Len Robertson said:
I have six 12 magazines. I think only one came with the add-on crank. I've bought other cranks off eBay. One came in a Hass. box labeled "Quick Winding Crank for Magazine 41076". I suspect this is a long discontinued item, but don't really know. You see them on eBay, although not every day. They really do speed up winding to the first frame, and winding on after the last frame. But as Mike said, they are quite the little bag catchers, at least in my Tamrac bags. In a attache style case, I don't think this would be a problem.

Len

For the cost of the Quick Winding Crank for Magazine 41076 on eBay, one can buy another Hasselblad A12 back.

Steve

Q.G. · Dec 20, 2009

I wouldn't spend the money for the crank (it rotates during transport, so something to watch out for in use, else it catches something with possible harmful results).
But would happily use a non-automatic back without. They are perfectly fine, not even that much slower to load.

Anscojohn · Dec 20, 2009

chriscrawfordphoto said:
Anscojohn,

I had a Hassy C-12 that had the half-circles knob, not a crank. the crank came out with the A12...I bet someone put the crank on yours later

******
AHA!

mikebarger · Dec 20, 2009

Guess I should figure out if I saved them and run them over on Ebay.

Mike

Sirius Glass · Dec 20, 2009

mikebarger said:
Guess I should figure out if I saved them and run them over on Ebay.

Mike

Be sure to include: "mint" or "minty", "rare" or "hard to find" or [my personal favorate] "rare and hard to find", and the ultimate "I do not know much about these things".

Steve

Hassi A12 back with a hole in the back side

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