Are there Cesco or flat bottom trays in UK?

[Jarin Blaschke]

Hello, I just moved to the UK from the US. I am seeking flat bottomed trays to develop sheet film (and paper), in an array of sizes between 8x10 and 20x24. I only seem to find the deep-grooves Patterson trays out here, which have scratched my film in the past. I imagine the eddies in the grooves also create uneven developing patterns in fast-oxidizing pyro.

Does any one know where to look For Cescolite or other flat-bottomed trays on this country?

-Jarin

 

[Lachlan Young]

See if Firstcall can help - they can get flat bottomed DeVille trays as well. The standard Deville trays with the bumps are some of the best print processing trays ever - but get pretty massive rather fast.

That said, the Paterson trays are really excellent for sheet film processing if you aren't trying to use questionable developers that actively fail to exploit the full technology of most modern emulsions - i.e. developer solvency + quite strong/ active agitation are what modern emulsions are designed to exploit for maximum sharpness. Just don't try and starve a Paterson (or Deville) tray of solution volume.

 

[mshchem]

Try Secondhand Darkroom Supplies

 

[Lachlan Young]

Try Secondhand Darkroom Supplies

Quite unlikely to have them - Cesco and similar trays are pretty rare here & Paterson near ubiquitous.

 

[richyd]

Preservation Equipment do them.

https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Equipment-Tools/Hand-Tools/Conservation-Trays

Great company, a little under the radar for photographers but they are suppliers of all archival, presentation and conservation equipment, mainly to museums, and have a huge range of products. A great resource.

 

[Lachlan Young]

Preservation Equipment do them.

https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Equipment-Tools/Hand-Tools/Conservation-Trays

Great company, a little under the radar for photographers but they are suppliers of all archival, presentation and conservation equipment, mainly to museums, and have a huge range of products. A great resource.

It probably says a lot about the vastness of PEL's catalogue - I've never have thought to look into that part of the catalogue, despite being familiar with their storage/ framing ranges etc!

 

[Jarin Blaschke]

Preservation Equipment do them.

https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Equipment-Tools/Hand-Tools/Conservation-Trays

Great company, a little under the radar for photographers but they are suppliers of all archival, presentation and conservation equipment, mainly to museums, and have a huge range of products. A great resource.

Ah - seeing this now! In the end I ordered through B&H and paid the silly tariffs. I know what to do next time - THANK YOU.