120 & 220 tanks & reels

[John Shriver]

Nikor Products made the 4-1/4 inch diameter tanks in at least four sizes.

The smallest holds one 35mm reel, which is wide spaced like a 20-exposure reel, but holds 40 exposures. There was also a later "six foot" 35mm reel that fit in that tank. Not sure why they made this, maybe it was better for early Ektachrome processing requiring using light to re-expose the film.

The next size up holds one 220 reel. This reel has the same wire size and pitch as their 120 reels.

The next size up is the 4x5 tank. Not quite tall enough for two 220 reels.

The next size up holds two 220 reels. Of course, it also holds the 4x5 cage.

Some of these sizes may only have been made in the original design, with the horizontal baffle. I know that at least the one and two-reel 220 sizes were made in the later "Quick Pour" design. The single 220 reel one was the "Q25", catalog number 3023 under Honeywell distribution.

The Quick Pour design is much better. Much faster fill and drain times. Unfortunately, the Quick Pour lids don't fit the earlier tanks, distinctly different diameter.

 

[Peter Black]

Umm, I'm not sure whether I'm going to confuse matters or make them clearer, but Hewes do (at least) 2 ranges of spirals as stocked at Retrophotographic (below). One type fits the Paterson and Jobo tanks while the other does not, but I don't know if this affects loading or capacity of the reels. I hate loading 120 onto Paterson spirals, but sometimes they load so easily that they are a dream. OTOH, last night I spent forever trying to load one without success, then finally it just loaded straight off and no messing. :confused:

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