Grafmatic holder that violates the laws of physics?

[StoneNYC]

So a strange thing just happened to me and I'm really confused and trying to figure it out and could use some advice.

I unloaded one of my 4x5 Grafmatic holders to process some shots, I own 4 Grafmatics and have used them all many times with no issues. (Heard this before?)

The thing is, it unloaded fine, the septum's are fine, unbent, this was the least used of all of them (in terms of how banged up they were before they got to me).

Then, when I went to place the septums back in, they wouldn't fit.

Unfortunately the other three holders are all loaded with them so I can't take one of them apart to compare, but they went in just fine all the other times, this time it's as if there just isn't any more space, it's fractional but it's significant enough to prevent me from fitting the top 3 septums in.

Some pictures. Any explanation would be helpful. I've looked, the inside portion is a solid piece so I don't understand. I've spent the better part of an hour examining and fiddling the film is processed and drying and I still can't figure out what's going on here.

Pictures...

Just doesn't fit..


The top edge


The bottom edge


The bottom "bump" that seems to be "in the way" but obviously is needed to rotate the film.

[StoneNYC]

And the holder... (To show which generation this one is)

[dave_whatever]

The septums go in the other way, i.e. you slide the ends with the cutout into the unit first. That would explain it.

[StoneNYC]

The septums go in the other way, i.e. you slide the ends with the cutout into the unit first. That would explain it.

Well it is 3am and I'm exhausted, wow, I've loaded these probably 100 times...

You're totally correct...



Thanks, what a nincompoop! If we can't laugh at ourselves who can we laugh at.

[dave_whatever]

[StoneNYC]

Exactly what I did (and everyone reading) hah!

[Sirius Glass]

The septums go in the other way, i.e. you slide the ends with the cutout into the unit first. That would explain it.

Yup, the other way. Bin thar. Dun dat.

[Michael Cienfuegos]

Yup, the other way. Bin thar. Dun dat.

I've done it too. These things happen when you are sleep depraved and running on fumes. Don't ask me how I know.

[Bill Burk]

OK I usually put them in the other way too. But when they don't fit...

Look at the bottom of the upper side of the chamber. There is a tab that is used to reveal the red dot when there's 5 septums in the chamber (because - well - the 6th one is up top being exposed).

That little finger only allows 5 septums in the chamber.

When you ratchet the Grafmatic, it normally gets pushed back in to let all 6 fit.

But sometimes when you are loading, that finger manages to get in the way.

[Jmarmck]

Just out of curiosity, what is the likelihood of getting the sheet film caught and creased by the dark slide when closing?
I can see how this contraption would be worth it if only to replace three holders for one grafmatic.
Any issues with the film laying flat?