Voigtlander Bessa 1 Tight/Lumpy Winding

Tom Cross · May 13, 2016

Does anyone have a Voigtlander Bessa I that they could post an image of the back open with no spools in? I bought one quite cheaply but its quite stiff/lumpy winding on. Some pictures of mine are here, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tqkj9f8aruos89t/AAAKhITD37yt2O1bQU_tOipka?dl=0

It looks as if there is a piece of metal missing from the top pin that holds the film in place, but I cannot find any images online to compare and some of the Bessa I's had some sort of guard around the film to protect it. It may just be the design of it. Seems to move easier with a metal spool but not with a plastic one.

Many thanks

shutterfinger · May 13, 2016

Looking at your picture of the take up spool cavity it looks like the seat is damaged. Looking at the film loading instructions http://www.cameramanuals.org/voigtlander_pdf/voigtlander_bessa_i.pdf it appears to use a different style of film spool than is currently available.

Tom Cross · May 14, 2016

Thanks shutterfinger, I'm not sure which side you mean. The take up side had a spool in it in the photo. The feed side is where it looked a bit shiny. Do you have a photo of your Bessa I you can show?

I took the plunge and put some Vaseline around the tops of where the spools sit and it seems fine now.

shutterfinger · May 14, 2016

I am referring to your photo #1. In the linked manual the photo on pdf page 10, the top of the film spool looks different than the slot end type currently in use.
No I do not have a Bessa. I have solved several problems problems for others reading the user manual. Once I know the basics about the camera I can sometimes point the user in the right direction. In this case I see some differences in the film spool itself and the chamber where it goes. On pdf page 9 of the linked manual it says "The Bessa I has been purposely designed to take roll film spools having a thick core of metal or wood and marked on the packing with B II/8 or 120." This makes me wonder if you have the correct type spool.

Tom Cross · May 14, 2016

I've never heard of Bessa's using special spools. They say wood or metal in the manual because that's what was used at the time. I've looked at the manual too but what I really wanted was some photos of the chamber to compare. All the ones I could find online had spools in which covered the area I wanted to see.

02Pilot · May 14, 2016

My understanding is that the "thick core" specification was simply to distinguish between 120 and 620, the latter being commonly available at the time, but of course having a thinner core and smaller holes in the flanges.

Tom Cross · May 15, 2016

I eventually found a photo online and the "pin" at the top of the supply chamber was exactly the same as mine. So I'll just keep a small tin of Vaseline handy...

Voigtlander Bessa 1 Tight/Lumpy Winding

Tom Cross

shutterfinger

Tom Cross

shutterfinger

Tom Cross

02Pilot

Tom Cross

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