Horseman 6x12 back, question about loading

A member of our Large Format Users Group here in Calgary has graciously lent me his Horesman 6x12 back to play with. I have run one roll of film thru it and find that the first frame was exposed 1/2 on the leader and 1/2 on the beginning of the roll. It then did 5 more perfect frames but left enough room on the end for another frame (or at least the 1/2 frame that was missing on the front end).

When I loaded it I advanced the film until I could see the arrows on the leader, shut the cover up and then finished advancing until the back stopped at frame number 1.

What did I do wrong??

Hello Eric

I have a Horseman 6x12. Load as follows, Stage 3 should solve your problem:

1. Remove insert from casing. Botton on RHS to 0 position.
2. Place new film on LHS, film backing paper goes out through bottom gap around film plate and into take up spool.
3. Use film advance lever until the head of arrow is visible and central through the hole in the centre bottom of the back between the spring butterfly plate. Ensure film has some tension.
4. Place film and insert into casing. Close back and move lock to down (L) position. Then advance film using lever until it stops at position 1.
5. To move to next frame, have to nudge small chrome lever to LHS before using film advance lever.

They are nice backs and work well. For composition, instead of marking GG, I made a plastic frame which I can hold or blu-tack to the GG.

Thanks Baxter. I will give it a go this weekend.