I didn't think it could be done!

Pioneer · 02-14-2016, 12:28 PM

Well, Eric told me yesterday that I finally wore out my old K1000. The film transport gears are worn down to the point where the advance sprockets no longer stay in time with the take up reel.

I have owned the camera since 1984 and have used it steadily since I bought it. It has never given me any trouble whatsoever until just recently when the film take up started to bind up. I have no idea how much film has been put through the camera since I picked it up used in a Reno Pawnshop but I know that I personally have shot a lot of film in it.

Has anyone here managed to wear their camera out? Not break it, actually wear out parts to the point where they no longer work properly.

j0n4hpk · 02-14-2016, 12:44 PM

Impressive, Pioneer. I hope I can get same mileage with my old LX.

**ffking** · 02-14-2016, 12:54 PM

the auto-wind on my Z-1 (PZ-1) gave up the ghost (I could feel it 'swell' and stop inside the hand-grip) after several hundred rolls of film - never counted - between 500 and 1000, I guess - it was in was about ten years old - and there's more strain on automated camers

LesDMess · 02-14-2016, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by Pioneer

Well, Eric told me yesterday that I finally wore out my old K1000. The film transport gears are worn down to the point where the advance sprockets no longer stay in time with the take up reel.

Curious as to which generation K1000 this is: made in Japan, assemble in Hong Kong or made in China?

**Digitalis** · 02-14-2016, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by Pioneer

Eric told me yesterday that I finally wore out my old K1000. The film transport gears are worn down to the point where the advance sprockets no longer stay in time with the take up reel.

well that is spectacular, you wore out a camera widely held to be nigh on indestructible.

My grandfathers Leica M3, purchased new (circa 1956) had to have a substantial segment of its film transport and shutter gears replaced in 2006, Good thing Leica has a 50 year policy of keeping parts for older camera repairs.

Pioneer · 02-14-2016, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by LesDMess

Curious as to which generation K1000 this is: made in Japan, assemble in Hong Kong or made in China?

Made in Japan. I don't know exactly when it was made though obviously it was before 1984. That was when I bought it along with the M50/2 that still works fine. I always figured that it was some student's camera since the pawnshop was a few blocks down Virginia St from the U of Nevada.

---------- Post added 02-14-2016 at 03:50 PM ----------

Originally posted by Digitalis

well that is spectacular, you wore out a camera widely held to be nigh on indestructible.

My grandfathers Leica M3, purchased new (circa 1956) had to have a substantial segment of its film transport and shutter gears replaced in 2006, Good thing Leica has a 50 year policy of keeping parts for older camera repairs.

I always thought the shutter would die first but evidently not.

Eric is installing some new parts and says that it should work good as new when finished.

I have a 57 M3 that I love but it has certainly had a couple of repairs done to it over the years. The K1000 has always amazed me because I certainly did not treat it very nicely, particularly in its early years. And mid-state Nevada is not known to be a gentle environment for anything, let alone cameras.

**pentaxus** · 02-14-2016, 06:12 PM

Mechanically the K1000 is a Spotmatic series camera. Compared to the competitors of the time - Nikkormat, Canon FT series, Minolta SRT etc, the Spotmatic is way more durable. It is not uncommon to see a well used 23102 Spotmatic working well after 45 years of use. That being said, everything that has parts rubbing against each other wears. Transport gear replacement is more common than shutter part replacement, though. I would call it a happy end for a good friend.

Jamey777 · 02-14-2016, 06:43 PM

That's incredible!

Xmas · 02-14-2016, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by Pioneer

Well, Eric told me yesterday that I finally wore out my old K1000. The film transport gears are worn down to the point where the advance sprockets no longer stay in time with the take up reel.

I have owned the camera since 1984 and have used it steadily since I bought it. It has never given me any trouble whatsoever until just recently when the film take up started to bind up. I have no idea how much film has been put through the camera since I picked it up used in a Reno Pawnshop but I know that I personally have shot a lot of film in it.

Has anyone here managed to wear their camera out? Not break it, actually wear out parts to the point where they no longer work properly.

You need to start saving pennies for a 'new' body?

**bobbotron** · 02-14-2016, 07:23 PM

Nice, that's impressive!

Xmas · 02-15-2016, 12:29 AM

Originally posted by pentaxus

Mechanically the K1000 is a Spotmatic series camera. Compared to the competitors of the time - Nikkormat, Canon FT series, Minolta SRT etc, the Spotmatic is way more durable. It is not uncommon to see a well used 23102 Spotmatic working well after 45 years of use. That being said, everything that has parts rubbing against each other wears. Transport gear replacement is more common than shutter part replacement, though. I would call it a happy end for a good friend.

I had wondered what that number on my SP was...

'23102 Spotmatic'

Pioneer · 02-15-2016, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by Xmas

You need to start saving pennies for a 'new' body?

Nah, Eric or his help will be able to get mine up and running again.

I know it may be heresy, but I am actually thinking that it may be time to give some shutter time to my K2. I had it cleaned up and re-skinned a few years ago but have not been giving it much exercise.

Xmas · 02-15-2016, 05:06 PM

Originally posted by Pioneer

Nah, Eric or his help will be able to get mine up and running again.

I know it may be heresy, but I am actually thinking that it may be time to give some shutter time to my K2. I had it cleaned up and re-skinned a few years ago but have not been giving it much exercise.

Hi

I had seen that you had sent it off for repair. But can you bear to be without one?
I have two...

Noel

Pioneer · 02-15-2016, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by Xmas

Hi

I had seen that you had sent it off for repair. But can you bear to be without one?
I have two...

Noel

Well...

If you promise not to tell anyone...

Shhh...

I am pretty sure I have another in the drawer somewhere.

Xmas · 02-17-2016, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by Pioneer

Well...

If you promise not to tell anyone...

Shhh...

I am pretty sure I have another in the drawer somewhere.

Your info is secret squirrel I've been 'bad' too.
Sat last I bought a sad SP off a street market stall rusty chrome (!) everywhere with a takumar semi auto 55/2 from an earlier era perfect optics good mechanicals.
Meter was kaput but ok now.
Needs new foam as well but has a c41 in it while I find craft knife...
I normally use single coated lenses and mono.

02-14-2016, 12:28 PM	#1
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411	I didn't think it could be done! Well, Eric told me yesterday that I finally wore out my old K1000. The film transport gears are worn down to the point where the advance sprockets no longer stay in time with the take up reel. I have owned the camera since 1984 and have used it steadily since I bought it. It has never given me any trouble whatsoever until just recently when the film take up started to bind up. I have no idea how much film has been put through the camera since I picked it up used in a Reno Pawnshop but I know that I personally have shot a lot of film in it. Has anyone here managed to wear their camera out? Not break it, actually wear out parts to the point where they no longer work properly.

02-14-2016, 02:49 PM	#5
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Pioneer Eric told me yesterday that I finally wore out my old K1000. The film transport gears are worn down to the point where the advance sprockets no longer stay in time with the take up reel. well that is spectacular, you wore out a camera widely held to be nigh on indestructible. My grandfathers Leica M3, purchased new (circa 1956) had to have a substantial segment of its film transport and shutter gears replaced in 2006, Good thing Leica has a 50 year policy of keeping parts for older camera repairs. Last edited by Digitalis; 02-14-2016 at 02:55 PM.

02-14-2016, 04:45 PM	#6
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411 Original Poster	Originally posted by LesDMess Curious as to which generation K1000 this is: made in Japan, assemble in Hong Kong or made in China? Made in Japan. I don't know exactly when it was made though obviously it was before 1984. That was when I bought it along with the M50/2 that still works fine. I always figured that it was some student's camera since the pawnshop was a few blocks down Virginia St from the U of Nevada. ---------- Post added 02-14-2016 at 03:50 PM ---------- Originally posted by Digitalis well that is spectacular, you wore out a camera widely held to be nigh on indestructible. My grandfathers Leica M3, purchased new (circa 1956) had to have a substantial segment of its film transport and shutter gears replaced in 2006, Good thing Leica has a 50 year policy of keeping parts for older camera repairs. I always thought the shutter would die first but evidently not. Eric is installing some new parts and says that it should work good as new when finished. I have a 57 M3 that I love but it has certainly had a couple of repairs done to it over the years. The K1000 has always amazed me because I certainly did not treat it very nicely, particularly in its early years. And mid-state Nevada is not known to be a gentle environment for anything, let alone cameras. Last edited by Pioneer; 02-14-2016 at 04:54 PM.

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02-14-2016, 12:44 PM	#2
j0n4hpk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 293	Impressive, Pioneer. I hope I can get same mileage with my old LX.

02-14-2016, 12:54 PM	#3
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038	the auto-wind on my Z-1 (PZ-1) gave up the ghost (I could feel it 'swell' and stop inside the hand-grip) after several hundred rolls of film - never counted - between 500 and 1000, I guess - it was in was about ten years old - and there's more strain on automated camers

02-14-2016, 12:57 PM	#4
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Originally posted by Pioneer Well, Eric told me yesterday that I finally wore out my old K1000. The film transport gears are worn down to the point where the advance sprockets no longer stay in time with the take up reel. Curious as to which generation K1000 this is: made in Japan, assemble in Hong Kong or made in China?

02-14-2016, 06:12 PM	#7
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,315	Mechanically the K1000 is a Spotmatic series camera. Compared to the competitors of the time - Nikkormat, Canon FT series, Minolta SRT etc, the Spotmatic is way more durable. It is not uncommon to see a well used 23102 Spotmatic working well after 45 years of use. That being said, everything that has parts rubbing against each other wears. Transport gear replacement is more common than shutter part replacement, though. I would call it a happy end for a good friend.

02-14-2016, 06:43 PM	#8
Jamey777 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 426	That's incredible!

02-14-2016, 07:14 PM	#9
Xmas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 617	Originally posted by Pioneer Well, Eric told me yesterday that I finally wore out my old K1000. The film transport gears are worn down to the point where the advance sprockets no longer stay in time with the take up reel. I have owned the camera since 1984 and have used it steadily since I bought it. It has never given me any trouble whatsoever until just recently when the film take up started to bind up. I have no idea how much film has been put through the camera since I picked it up used in a Reno Pawnshop but I know that I personally have shot a lot of film in it. Has anyone here managed to wear their camera out? Not break it, actually wear out parts to the point where they no longer work properly. You need to start saving pennies for a 'new' body?

02-14-2016, 07:23 PM	#10
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	Nice, that's impressive!

02-15-2016, 12:29 AM	#11
Xmas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 617	Originally posted by pentaxus Mechanically the K1000 is a Spotmatic series camera. Compared to the competitors of the time - Nikkormat, Canon FT series, Minolta SRT etc, the Spotmatic is way more durable. It is not uncommon to see a well used 23102 Spotmatic working well after 45 years of use. That being said, everything that has parts rubbing against each other wears. Transport gear replacement is more common than shutter part replacement, though. I would call it a happy end for a good friend. I had wondered what that number on my SP was... '23102 Spotmatic'

02-15-2016, 02:25 PM	#12
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411 Original Poster	Originally posted by Xmas You need to start saving pennies for a 'new' body? Nah, Eric or his help will be able to get mine up and running again. I know it may be heresy, but I am actually thinking that it may be time to give some shutter time to my K2. I had it cleaned up and re-skinned a few years ago but have not been giving it much exercise.

02-15-2016, 05:06 PM	#13
Xmas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 617	Originally posted by Pioneer Nah, Eric or his help will be able to get mine up and running again. I know it may be heresy, but I am actually thinking that it may be time to give some shutter time to my K2. I had it cleaned up and re-skinned a few years ago but have not been giving it much exercise. Hi I had seen that you had sent it off for repair. But can you bear to be without one? I have two... Noel

02-15-2016, 06:27 PM	#14
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411 Original Poster	Originally posted by Xmas Hi I had seen that you had sent it off for repair. But can you bear to be without one? I have two... Noel Well... If you promise not to tell anyone... Shhh... I am pretty sure I have another in the drawer somewhere.

02-17-2016, 09:32 PM	#15
Xmas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 617	Originally posted by Pioneer Well... If you promise not to tell anyone... Shhh... I am pretty sure I have another in the drawer somewhere. Your info is secret squirrel I've been 'bad' too. Sat last I bought a sad SP off a street market stall rusty chrome (!) everywhere with a takumar semi auto 55/2 from an earlier era perfect optics good mechanicals. Meter was kaput but ok now. Needs new foam as well but has a c41 in it while I find craft knife... I normally use single coated lenses and mono.