Rolex-Patent film holder does not stay wound

[aconbere]

Hey all,

I’m working on getting a Patent-etui working. Mine came with a Rolex-Patent 120 roll film holder that does not seem to be working.

As I roll the film the take up spool seems to lack any tension and unwinds as soon as i let go of the winder.

Curious if anyone has any clever ideas before I start just trying stuff

 

[Dustin McAmera]

The only thing I can think of immediately is that there may be a spring that bears on the uptake spool, like in this one at Flickr:



Not certain that's a Rollex, but that spring bears on each spool to make them resist turning too freely, so you might check if your holder has that spring (and if not what is supposed to stop the spools turning), and if it's maybe bent away from the spool. Good luck.

 

[aconbere]

Ah that’s a great picture. Mine looks pretty similar, but has no evidence of a spring near the take up spool.

The one pictured also has felt along the edge of the take up spool… i wonder if that would be enough to create the friction needed.

 

[aconbere]

Ahhhh interestingly if I jigger it so that the take up spool takes up the film paper out, (reverse of the documented winding direction) it actually stays wound alright.

This could work!

 

[Dustin McAmera]

 

[lobitar]

I seem to remember having had this problem, too. I think there is a possibility you wind the film the wrong way round on the take-up spool. The film has to go in a sharp bend UNDER the spool when you wind it.