-40%

Film trimming template guide for vintage Leica and Leica copies

$ 13.2

Availability: 11 in stock
  • Custom Bundle: No
  • Brand: Photonbox
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Non-Domestic Product: No
  • Condition: New
  • Type: film trimming template
  • Modified Item: No
  • All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted

    Description

    An affordable film trimmer to replace the original Leica ABLON!
    More than 890 sold! (Yes, I've made each one by hand.)
    Photographers who use vintage Leica cameras, as well as the Russian, Japanese and Italian copies, know that the film leaders should be cut longer than the standard leaders on 35mm film.
    They also know that the original Leica trimmers are now considered collectible items and usually command premium prices. (The last one was manufactured in 1964). Several hand-drawn templates are available online for printing out on cardboard, but these can be flimsy and inaccurate. I think it's time for something more durable but also more affordable than the originals.
    I love using my own 1930 and 1936 Leica cameras, but I can't afford one of the original trimmers, so I've been making my own version. Unlike the ones manufactured by the Wizards of Wetzlar, mine are plastic. I pour each one individually into my own hand-made molds using high-quality urethane. They don't have a famous name on them, but they're practical, affordable, and they serve the same purpose.
    I’ve worked hard on making this template very accurate, right down to the very slight, almost invisible, taper from the curve to the foot. This is recommended by many users of old Leicas. An additional feature: these templates include markings and instructions for cutting standard 35mm film leaders, handy for bulk film users.
    Because I make each one by hand, there will be some variations in the surface finishes and usually some small bubbles and marks. These are consequences of the hand-casting process.  I don't have a factory, and I don't have access to a million-dollar injection molding machine. I make these as a retirement hobby and to serve the world-wide vintage Leica community. The cosmetic imperfections never affect the function.
    I try to make 5-10 at a time, but I have other work to do, so I often sell out for short periods. If you are watching this listing and it disappears, check back in a few days and I'll probably have more available.
    The pictures in this listing are of the prototype. Production models are identical, but with the variables as noted above. Film and fingers shown in the photos are not included....
    Basic instructions:
    Because the template is plastic, you should be very careful to avoid cutting into it with the blade. I find that a narrow blade (like a #11 by Xacto) is best for following the contours of the sharp curve. A customer of mine reports that he has good results with a Swiss army knife.
    If you do happen to cut slightly into it, you may be able to smooth it with fine sandpaper. For deep cuts, it may be necessary to stop cutting with it altogether. If that happens, you can use it to draw the curve onto the film with a fine-point marker like a Sharpie. Then cut the film with scissors. If doing this, remember that
    the cut at the top edge of the film must fall between sprocket holes. If this is not done accurately, you risk damaging your camera.
    After cutting the film and before loading your camera, make absolutely certain that there are no chips or small fragments of cut film that could get into the camera! (Recently I was examining an old non-functioning Leica in an antique store and found exactly this kind of film chip inside it. I pulled it out and got the camera working, thoroughly impressing the clerk.) I cannot be responsible for how you use this device.
    Note to buyers outside the USA:
    I ship free to eBay's international shipping service in Kentucky. After leaving there, they will be subject to an additional international shipping charge. And in most cases the destination country will add an import (customs) charge. These vary from country to country. For instance, my trimmers sent to Japan have no import charges, but when sent to Great Britain and France the import charges are almost as much as the item itself. I apologize in advance for this, but it is entirely beyond my control.