Want to Buy 4x6 Speed-E-Zel?

mfohl · Jun 3, 2019

Might anybody have a 4x6 inch speed-e-zel they're not using? I don't think it was a standard size at the time, but at one point, A. J. Ganz would make custom sizes on request.

Bill Burk · Jun 4, 2019

Sorry, I only have 8x10 standard, 5x7, 4x5 an a bunch of smaller ones

mfohl · Jun 4, 2019

Yeah, I got all those, too. Sadly, another niche product by the wayside. Thanks.

L Gebhardt · Jun 4, 2019

That seems like something that could be easily modeled and 3D printed using the existing ones as a model.

pentaxuser · Jun 4, 2019

Just out of interest, who made a 6x4 and when did they stop? Paterson was the usual supplier of such easels in the U.K. but I could find nothing that indicated it ever made that size. At a loose end one night I searched everywhere to see if I could find a 6x4 but no luck. I may be wrong in my recall but I think this kind of inquiry was made before on Photrio/APUG several years ago and even then the consensus was that no such speed-e-zel existed which now sounds to be a wrong conclusion.

Thanks

pentaxuser

mfohl · Jun 4, 2019

In the 1950s and 1960s, and maybe earlier, the A. J. Ganz company made Speed-E-Zels. They are lightweight metal easels, made for common sizes. They sit about a half an inch off the baseboard, are yellow, and most have a quarter inch border on all four sides. Paper slides into either long side. I have a 16x20 inch, 11x14, 8x10, 5x7, 4x5, 3 1/2 x 5 7/16 postcard, and 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. I believe there is a 20x24 version, and maybe larger. I recently (~ 5 yrs) bought a used 8x10 full frame model. This accepts 8x10 paper, but it has a wide border on the bottom to accept a full 35 mm format. I remember seeing, long time ago, that Ganz would make custom size easels on request. Maybe in the 70s, the company was purchased, maybe by Saunders, and the custom size option went away.

I'm not familiar with Paterson easels.

I like the idea of the 3D printing. Now to find somebody with the capability. Unless somebody already has a 4x6.

Steve Goldstein · Jun 4, 2019

Yes, there was also a 20x24 version. I have one, not for sale.

I just took delivery of a good-condition 8x10 Speed Ez-El in the box, and discovered something to look out for. The yellow paint finish was applied after the easel was welded together, so the metal lips that retain the paper are bare metal that's not stainless steel. The insides of all the retaining channels had a small bit of surface rust, some of which came off on the first piece of paper (a scrap print) that I inserted. Cleaning it out using folded-up pieces of paper towel was quite tedious, and there's probably still a bit of rust in there.

Tina Kino · Friday at 3:00 PM

There have been 4x6" versions apparently - at least that size is listed on the packaging I saw in an eBay ad:

..would love to buy one, but that proves to be next to impossible, especially over here in the EU

Dani · Friday at 3:33 PM

There’s this https://www.printables.com/model/886802-4x6-speed-ez-el

That might help in the meantime.

Tina Kino · Friday at 3:39 PM

..thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it!

Did you use one of these, do they work well?

mfohl · Friday at 5:24 PM

Actually, there is another source for easels. It is bitbybitphoto.com. Tim (I think that's his name) is a great guy to work with. He has various size 3D printed easels, including 4x6. I have a few sizes, and they work great. Also has negative carriers.

Tina Kino · Friday at 5:48 PM

Thank you @mfohl - unfortunately for me the shipping is basically as much as the easel itself, but I'm still considering buying a 4x6" one from him!

Dani · 2026-01-10T10:10:18-0500

Tina Kino said:
..thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it!

Did you use one of these, do they work well?

No, I haven't used it, but by opening the model using their the 3D viewer, I don't see how it wouldn't work.

AnselMortensen · 2026-01-10T10:24:28-0500

I have one of the bitbybit 4x6 easels.
It works pretty well.
I'd recommend taping the bottom part to the baseboard.
I'd prefer a hinged top or a slide-in design instead of the removable top.

AZD · 2026-01-10T11:13:25-0500

Just thinking out loud here - finding one might be the best solution, but I suppose you could build a workable copy using various bits of wood, thick cardboard, masonite, and basswood or balsa wood strips, etc. Paint it black and there you go. These easels are really very simple and should be easy to recreate.

I have made a bunch of miscellaneous doodads this way when the real deal is either nonexistent or overpriced.

Tina Kino · 2026-01-10T11:34:21-0500

Thanks for your feedback guys

@AnselMortensen ..yes I thought a hinged version would be more comfortable as well. A slide-in design like the original EZ EL / like the model on printables that Dani linked to would also be quicker - but does that actually give a nice, sharp border on the fourth side (where you slide in the paper)

@AZD yea, I thought about building my own as well, alas lacking some precision tools / a real workshop this might not be feasible / hard to do one that works really well (and also might not be much cheaper I guess)..
I appalud you for doing your own though! Would love to see them..

Tina Kino · 2026-01-10T11:37:43-0500

@mfohl ..thanks again for pointing me towards bitbybitphoto.com - not only because of the easels, but also I realize this guy does some under-the-lens filter holders, which are super hard to find for my enlarger

mshchem · 2026-01-10T11:47:17-0500

I have an antique speed ez easel 4x6, works like all of them. It's early painted a buff white, I ended up spraying a light coat of flat black as I was getting fogging around the edges.

I have been using the bit by bit, bought both 1/8 and 1/4 edge masks. For rc paper these are perfect. I taped it down to an older heavy steel easel, worked perfectly. You need to mount or fix these to something, then best available. Ideal solution would be the old Saunders sing l size, but I've never seen it in 4x6.

Tina Kino · 2026-01-10T11:51:14-0500

Happy to hear this works so well for you @mshchem - why would you say is the bitbybit one better that the speed ez easel (apart from the fogging)?

I suppose the EZ EL is easier, handling wise - but does the bitbybit one give sharper / more even borders, or why do you prefer this?

Thanks!

mshchem · 2026-01-10T12:45:51-0500

Tina Kino said:
Happy to hear this works so well for you @mshchem - why would you say is the bitbybit one better that the speed ez easel (apart from the fogging)?

I suppose the EZ EL is easier, handling wise - but does the bitbybit one give sharper / more even borders, or why do you prefer this?

Thanks!

The b by b is easy to use and gives perfect borders. Sometimes feeding paper into a speed easel can be a bit tricky. I never have liked speed-ez-easels. Having said that I know someone that has made 100's of thousands of fiber base 3 1/2 × 5 postcards using one.

Want to Buy 4x6 Speed-E-Zel?

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