Identifying some old equipment

[ThomasE]

Hi all, new user here:

I recently acquired a darkroom's worth of equipment from someone who got out of the analog game about 25 years ago, and who generously donated much of the equipment to me. Unfortunately, the basement where everything was kept had a mouse problem, and just about everything was covered in mouse droppings, or had been chewed into. I've got a few questions about some of the equipment, and was hoping for some insight here - Please see the attached image which includes some of the items in question.

1. What here is so outdated it should be replaced? I'm not willing to fiddle with something for an hour if 15$ buys me a new digital device that works better. (The timer, for example, there's simply better digital equivalents today)

2. What is the Fotoval? It's some sort of light meter, but that's all I know. I've tried to search online (to no luck), but pressing the two buttons on the sensor hasn't gotten me very far other than randomly moving the needle. The cable also seems to be quite frayed...

3. The color analyzer seems to be in good condition, but every channel except blue seems to have the same issue: My guess is that the potentiometer's in the base have gone bad, since the needle jumps around or doesn't move when the respective knob is twisted. Is this a known/fixable issue?

4. Anything else I should know? I suppose in this case, I just don't know what I don't know.


Thank you for your help! (I'm new to this!).

 

[Kilgallb]

Replace the Kodak poly contrast filters, they fade. Only Ilford makes them now..

The enlarger is good, the Greylab timer, if it works is good.

The Beseler colour meter really does not have a replacement in the digital world.

 

[eli griggs]

The PM meter, when working correctly is a good one, I have my second PM2 and use it regularly.

Get the manual and check out the troubleshooting section, for instructions.

I may be wrong but I think this takes a glass vial fuse.

 

[mshchem]

Fotoval is for previewing color negatives as positives on an old analog tv.

 

[mshchem]

All the filters should be fine. The Kodak ones in the dark cardboard frames are for judging color print filter corrections.

 

[koraks]

Fotoval is for previewing color negatives as positives on an old analog tv.

Neat, never knew that existed! Kind of superfluous now as you can simply make a smartphone snap of it and invert it to see what's going on.

My guess is that the potentiometer's in the base have gone bad, since the needle jumps around or doesn't move when the respective knob is twisted. Is this a known/fixable issue?

It's possible there's a problem with the pots, although I'd wait with judgement until properly testing the device with an actual color negative and with the user manual at hand. If, that is, you are planning on using the device. I've never seen all that much use for them.

It looks like the person you got this from was an active color printer.

Welcome to Photrio, have fun with that setup! The enlarger looks like a good one & is probably fully functional; that's the main thing. The color filters in the enlarger head can be used for both color and variable contrast B&W printing. You technically don't need the Multigrade/Polycontrast filters. Some find those easier/quicker to use though.

 

[MattKing]

Fotoval is for previewing color negatives as positives on an old analog tv.

Neat, never knew that existed! Kind of superfluous now as you can simply make a smartphone snap of it and invert it to see what's going on.

The difference being that, at least on the commercial and industrial side, equipment like that was incorporated into calibrated printing systems.
The labs who used and maintained them were able to custom print exposure and colour balanced machine prints at reasonably high volumes and speeds, with very low waste.

 

[mshchem]

I agree with Koraks, use the built-in dichro filters in the enlarger for variable contrast paper, Ilford has the settings to use. I wouldn’t throw away the acetate filters they'll be handy at some point. The Fotoval and color analyzer are nothing I would want. Doesn't mean someone might use. The Gralab big old timer is something I still use out of habit. Cheap digital or phone work nicely.

 

[mshchem]

Fotovals were marketed to small to medium sized portrait and wedding photographers to sell final albums to avoid distribution of "proofs" which people would have copied by a drug store chain or a friend with skills. Kodak made pebble surfaces, printed "Do Not Copy" on the back side of professional papers.
I know a fellow, in his late 70's, he had one of these machines.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Fotovals were marketed to small to medium sized portrait and wedding photographers to sell final albums to avoid distribution of "proofs" which people would have copied by a drug store chain or a friend with skills. Kodak made pebble surfaces, printed "Do Not Copy" on the back side of professional papers.
I know a fellow, in his late 70's, he had one of these machines.

Are you thinking of a different device? I recall, Fotovals were a measurement device for exposing paper under the enlarger's light. I feel sorry for Mr. Thomas and his mouse dung.

 

[mshchem]

Are you thinking of a different device? I recall, Fotovals were a measurement device for exposing paper under the enlarger's light. I feel sorry for Mr. Thomas and his mouse dung.

That's different from what I remember. What I recall was something made by Tamron, which I now see is the FOTOVIX, my bad for not checking the internet first

 

[Kodachromeguy]

That's different from what I remember. What I recall was something made by Tamron, which I now see is the FOTOVIX, my bad for not checking the internet first

How interesting. That was another device to let customers see their slides or negatives on a Television. Of course, in USA, that would have been the dismal NTSC color televisions. It reminds me of another attempt to bridge the world of analog film media with electronics, like the Kodak Photo CD:

Abandoned Early Digital Technology: the Kodak Photo CD

worldofdecay.blogspot.com

 

[mshchem]

How interesting. That was another device to let customers see their slides or negatives on a Television. Of course, in USA, that would have been the dismal NTSC color televisions. It reminds me of another attempt to bridge the world of analog film media with electronics, like the Kodak Photo CD:

Abandoned Early Digital Technology: the Kodak Photo CD

worldofdecay.blogspot.com

Dismal indeed!! I was an early adopter of digital HDTV, I had a huge antenna with amplifier, it was very hit or miss because, in part the local stations didn't use full power etc. But when the first network shows came in it was beautiful.