Adjustable developing tank spirals to 16mm

wahiba · Mar 23, 2024

I have been having a go with 110 which is 16mm and while I managed it OK in a basic 35mm tank, I attached the film to the centre and left it loose, ensuing plenty of agitation ensured development was even. However I seem to recollect that back in the day some tanks were adjustable down to 16mm from 35mm, 127, 120 etc. Now I have no intention of paying the silly prices for old tanks some people are asking on eBay, but as obviously many are being sold by people without photographic experience descriptions can be a bit vague.

Personally I have found old Johnson and Paterson tanks bout for 120 and 35m work fine. So long as spiral is really dry never any loading problems, but none adjust down to 16mm. I have thought of converting a current adjustable Paterson or AP if possible, has anyone managed this?

With Lomo releasing a new 110 and also colour and black and white film it is an area that could start attracting interest again.

Don_ih · Mar 23, 2024

I cut a Jobo reel down to use for 16mm. I imagine you could do the same with a Paterson reel. You might need to fully glue it together.

guangong · Mar 23, 2024

Modified reels for 16mm and Minox are sometimes offered for sale, although you could modify one yourself. The difficulty is little wiggle room for spacing. Steel reels for 16 mm were made and can still be found if persistent. The steel reels are much easier to load than plastic. Also design is different from steel reels for 35mm and 120 film making loading simple.

neilt3 · Mar 23, 2024

16mm reels for Jobo turn up occasionally , I've a couple that I bought apparently unused , still in their boxes .
I think I paid about £15 for one and around £20 for the other .
I thought they were well priced , bought from Jobo , they would cost more .

Just keep your eye open for one at the right price . I also have some Jobo drums , but if you don't already then total price is going up .

When I get chance I'm adapting a spool for APS film so I can develop my own too .

xkaes · Mar 23, 2024

There are plenty of 16mm/110 reels available. That's been discussed a lot on this FORUM recently. I use the Yankee Master tank which is CHEAP on EBAY. It's even modified one of their 16mm/110 reels to take Minox film.

http://www.subclub.org/creative/reel.htm

VinceInMT · Mar 23, 2024

I had an old GAF developing tank and reel and used that. The reel is adjustable for 35mm and 120 by moving the top reel up and down on the center post. It has a spring clip that locks into a slot on the center post. I used a hack saw to cut slots into the center post and had to trim the top reel up a little but it, and the ratchet, work fine for 16mm. I just looked and these tanks and reels (with the little thermometer that is also used to agitate) seem readily available online from the usual places for about $15.

pentaxuser · Mar 23, 2024

I wish you well in your search, Wahiba. Can I point out to the respondents in case they are not aware of it, Wahiba in located in Yorkshire, England so what may be available here might be wholly different in terms of ease of obtaining such reels

Yes you can order from any country's e-bay but it's a mater then of postage and duty costs which can be a lot

pentaxuser

xkaes · Mar 23, 2024

That may well be the case, and the link I provided above offers suggestions for Do-It-Yourself developing reels -- if necessary.

neilt3 · Mar 23, 2024

pentaxuser said:
I wish you well in your search, Wahiba. Can I point out to the respondents in case they are not aware of it, Wahiba in located in Yorkshire, England so what may be available here might be wholly different in terms of ease of obtaining such reels

Yes you can order from any country's e-bay but it's a mater then of postage and duty costs which can be a lot

pentaxuser

I had no problem getting the Jobo spools in Lancashire , he's less than an hours drive from me !

If he does a search on ebay for the Jobo 1502 or DuoSet 1502 ( same thing ) and then save the search and tick the box for email notifications , as soon as one comes up , he'll get an email .
That's what I do when I'm after anything .

I've a few things I get the notifications on , but each time it's the same ridiculously priced listing that will never sell .
Sooner or later one will come up at the right price , and I'll get an email fairly quickly .

The OP could do two searches , one for UK listings only , and one for Europe , prices from Europe aren't too bad , especially if the total value is below the VAT threshold .
Buying from the US is a non starter though .
There's one listed now for £41 and another £25 just for postage . That's a lot for a jiffy bag !
Add 20% VAT and about £16 handling and your up to almost £100 !
4 x more than I'd pay .

The one I have in front of me to make sure I gave the correct part number still has the shops price sticker on it .
It was from Royston Photographic , priced at £12.15 .
Presumably on old sticker from a long gone shop , but I didn't pay much more than that myself for it .

mshchem · Mar 23, 2024

See saw in a small cup, like the good old days. Put a clothes pin on either end and turn off the lights. 110 is a joke, better to save your money. Bah humbug!

mshchem · Mar 23, 2024

neilt3 · Mar 23, 2024

mshchem said:
See saw in a small cup, like the good old days. Put a clothes pin on either end and turn off the lights. 110 is a joke, better to save your money. Bah humbug!

It might ( is ) be inferior to 35mm and everything else bigger , but it can be fun to use .

mshchem said:
View attachment 366289

Is that for your nose 'cos you think 110 stinks ?!

mshchem · Mar 23, 2024

Developing Equipment History

Spiral Loaded Developing Tank History

www.photomemorabilia.co.uk

I have one of these little Photax developing troughs

neilt3 · Mar 23, 2024

mshchem said:
Developing Equipment History

Spiral Loaded Developing Tank History

www.photomemorabilia.co.uk

I have one of these little Photax developing troughs

I've done something similar with 16mm film .
I made three troughs out of some 2" half round guttering , put the stop ends on them and put an inch or so chemical in each . Dev , stop and fix .

Clipped a peg at each end and dropped it in on edge to make sure I didn't have it emulsion side down .
I can't remember if I rocked the troughs end to end to agitate it or moved the film around.
It used more developer than necessary, but at the time it was the only way I had to develop it .
That was before eBay and the internet , and buying new stuff from a camera shop wasn't cheap .
I earned a pittance back then !

mshchem · Mar 23, 2024

neilt3 said:
I've done something similar with 16mm film .
I made three troughs out of some 2" half round guttering , put the stop ends on them and put an inch or so chemical in each . Dev , stop and fix .

Clipped a peg at each end and dropped it in on edge to make sure I didn't have it emulsion side down .
I can't remember if I rocked the troughs end to end to agitate it or moved the film around.
It used more developer than necessary, but at the time it was the only way I had to develop it .
That was before eBay and the internet , and buying new stuff from a camera shop wasn't cheap .
I earned a pittance back then !

Kindermann made a stainless spiral for 110, problem is today everyone on Ebay want a fortune for this stuff.

armadsen · Mar 23, 2024

I have a 16mm/110 stainless reel that I bought for $5 or $10 within the last couple years. Can't remember where I got it for sure, but I think probably a local used camera store.

I also have a Yankee Master tank that has a reel usable for 110. I prefer the stainless reel (just as I do for 35mm and 120).

mshchem · Mar 23, 2024

armadsen said:
I have a 16mm/110 stainless reel that I bought for $5 or $10 within the last couple years. Can't remember where I got it for sure, but I think probably a local used camera store.

I also have a Yankee Master tank that has a reel usable for 110. I prefer the stainless reel (just as I do for 35mm and 120).

Ha, I refused to buy one of these for $5 to keep from being tempted. I always wanted to buy a Minox carrier for my 4x5 Beseler, absurdity

xkaes · Mar 23, 2024

mshchem said:
Ha, I refused to buy one of these for $5 to keep from being tempted. I always wanted to buy a Minox carrier for my 4x5 Beseler, absurdity

Beseler appreciated that 4x5" camera users, like myself (and many others), can't always carry a 4x5, or even a 35mm camera, and use smaller cameras as needed.

Leave the preconceived notions behind.

Anyone interested in what tiny cameras are capable of, can visit the GALLERY in the SUBCLUB, or visit the LINKS -- to countless websites devoted to the small, yet capable formats.

VinceInMT · Mar 24, 2024

There is always the orange juice can method and that is what I used to use. Used a small orange juice can and tape the ends of the film, emulsion side out, loosely to the can in a spiral. Drop it into a 1 liter tank and develop.

ic-racer · Mar 24, 2024

I have used both metal spiral and Jobo 16mm/110 reels since 1985 and have obtained excellent results with both.

The metal ones don't work in the Jobo processor, but the Jobo reels will fit in a metal tank.

So, depending on the type of tank you have, you will need the appropriate reels.

BobUK · Mar 24, 2024

wahiba said:
I have been having a go with 110 which is 16mm and while I managed it OK in a basic 35mm tank, I attached the film to the centre and left it loose, ensuing plenty of agitation ensured development was even. However I seem to recollect that back in the day some tanks were adjustable down to 16mm from 35mm, 127, 120 etc. Now I have no intention of paying the silly prices for old tanks some people are asking on eBay, but as obviously many are being sold by people without photographic experience descriptions can be a bit vague.

Personally I have found old Johnson and Paterson tanks bout for 120 and 35m work fine. So long as spiral is really dry never any loading problems, but none adjust down to 16mm. I have thought of converting a current adjustable Paterson or AP if possible, has anyone managed this?

With Lomo releasing a new 110 and also colour and black and white film it is an area that could start attracting interest again.

Wahiba

Have a look for a Johnsons, Roto Two tank on the secondhand market.

They take 116, 127, 35mm 36 exp., 120, 6 foot of 16mm.

A couple of them on the well known auction site at the moment.

Good Luck.

p.s. I have just read that the original Roto tank does not take 16mm films.
It has to be the Roto Two.

mshchem · Mar 24, 2024

xkaes said:
Beseler appreciated that 4x5" camera users, like myself (and many others), can't always carry a 4x5, or even a 35mm camera, and use smaller cameras as needed.

Leave the preconceived notions behind.

Anyone interested in what tiny cameras are capable of, can visit the GALLERY in the SUBCLUB, or visit the LINKS -- to countless websites devoted to the small, yet

mshchem · Mar 24, 2024

I just bought a freaking Nikor 16mm reel for 20 USD, why i have no idea.
1 left USA ONLY

Nikor 16mm Stainless Steel Developing Reel 39”For 16mm Film 3071 Vintage | eBay

We cannot correct a problem if we do not know about it.

www.ebay.com

mshchem · Mar 24, 2024

I'm crazy

MattKing · Mar 24, 2024

mshchem said:
I'm crazy

We knew already

Adjustable developing tank spirals to 16mm

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