Rolleiflex problem film winding problem

Huh! Must be something about the new year. Let's hope this isn't a trend!

I chose the Rolleiflex New Standard to take downtown on New Year's Day this year as it works quickly and the weather was challenging: 20 deg. F., windy, snowing heavily. The Mayor's New Year's Eve party at the ice skating park had been held the night before but I thought there would still be plenty of people skating and wasn't disappointed. However, the Rollei let me down. I've noticed this happening more and more often over the course of the year and am wondering at how much of a repair I'm looking at on this old favorite.

Being before the Automat series, the New Standard has a red viewing window to use in starting the film to the first frame after loading; afterward the automatic counter is supposed to keep up. Unfortunately, they've moved the frame numbers on modern film so they don't show in the window. However, I've gotten used to winding the film's start arrow to the first set of rollers, closing up the back, and then winding on two and a half revolutions before winding the crank backwards to set the shutter. The frame counter is set to '1' and it used to be pretty accurate about counting them. The drill used to be, click the shutter, wind the crank until it stops and the frame counter advanced, then reverse the crank until it stops again and now the shutter is set and ready to go. Alas, my Rollei frequently and at random times (but lately most of the time,) doesn't automatically stop when winding the next frame on. In other words, it just keeps on going and the frame counter resets to '1'. I can stop winding whenever I want, reverse wind to set the shutter and take a picture, but obviously the mechanism is out to lunch.

Do you think this is a difficult or expensive repair? I can't afford another $140 plus shipping for a CLA like I spent last year. Alternatively, if I were to wind one-half revolution after making an exposure and then reverse to ready for the next one, is that enough wind-on or do you think I should go a bit further than half a revolution - say, three quarters? Obviously, I'd have to keep track of the frame number in my head, but that's not an issue. Counting to ten has always been one of my strengths!

Note that I'm not unhappy with the CLA service I got. I bought the camera cheaply at an estate auction and it had been literally sitting in a cardboard box in a drafty old shed for who knows how many decades. It was froze up and let's not forget, it was A. An early attempt by Rollei at making a cheaper camera, and B. being made in March of 1939, is 70 years old. The wonder is that it works at all! But I always wanted a Rollei and have fallen in love with the lens, so I'd like to continue using it, somehow. Any suggestions?

Mike

Provided the camera works well otherwise, $140 isn't that much. It's an investment in a camera.

A camera is a mechanical device, and like most mechanical devices, it will benefit from routine service.

After sitting in a shed for decades, it's a wonder that the camera works at all and is a testament to the German engineering and selection of parts.

I'd bite the bullet and have the camera serviced.

I have a '37 Automat that I had completely serviced. It works like the day it was new. Well worth the money and it was more than the $140 to service mine. Cameras like these, IMO, are meant to go on forever and be passed along to the next appreciative user. I hope 120 film is around forever.

Where did you have it serviced?

Jurgen Kuschnik serviced it before he went back to Germany from California. The camera was an heirloom/gift and I had it completely gone through, including new leathers because the old were quite worn, torn and discoloured.

Dead Link Removed

Hello ; sometimes , friction wheel behind recept roll (up) doesn't turn correctly with roll .
You can put 2 or 3 tape turns on the empty roll , as described on the picture (sometimes Old Standard counter has also problem , because of some rolls with a too small diameter) .
Perhaps that solves your problem...

Perhaps a fatigued spring?

I suggest describing the problem to Karl Ehlers in an e-mail directed to kgehlers3 AT verizon DOT net (remove spaces and replace AT with @ and DOT with .). Like Jurgen, Karl is an excellent Rollei repair person. If the shutter and all is fine perhaps it will be a simpler matter to just overhaul the transport system.

I think Andy38 may be correct - I've seen this happen with other TLRs that depend on the movement of the rotating take-up spool against a toothed wheel to advance the frame counter properly.

Thanks for all of your suggestions so far; I'll try the tape around the take-up reel as soon as I can and send an e-mail to Mr. Ehlers as well. Maybe it won't be hugely expensive...
The problem isn't that I don't want to maintain or repair the camera, it's that I don't have the money now. Perhaps later in the year; my employer did all right last year.

Mike

I don't understand. If one winds tape on the takeup reel, doesn't that interfere with the slot?

Tape is on both sides of the take-up spool , not on center .

I have a New Standard Rolleiflex , only for collection , never tried before with a roll .
This afternoon , I have just tested it and noticed the same counter problem ; tape around the reel has solved it .

(There is not friction wheel in Old Standard ; but with tape on take-up spool , negatives on film don't overlap , as it often happens with this camera .)

Andy38 said:

Hello ; sometimes , friction wheel behind recept roll (up) doesn't turn correctly with roll .
You can put 2 or 3 tape turns on the empty roll , as described on the picture (sometimes Old Standard counter has also problem , because of some rolls with a too small diameter) .
Perhaps that solves your problem...

Click to expand...

It being the simplest thing, I tried this when I got home with some black gaffer's tape and ran some simple tests with my "practice" roll of film. It seems to solve the problem! One question, though: you mentioned that it needed tape on both sides (ends) of the spool. Is this to keep the film straight?

Thanks a million for the advice! I won't be able to actually shoot film tomorrow but I'll try it during daylight and see what happens.

Mike

mjs said:

One question, though: you mentioned that it needed tape on both sides (ends) of the spool. Is this to keep the film straight?
Mike

Click to expand...

Yes , and to insert correctly the film into the slot .

Bummer: the camera worked fine for four frames, then the problem was back. The next roll, it only worked for two frames. I'll try one more turn of tape and e-mail Mr. Ehlers, I guess. Thanks for your help, everyone!

Mike