automatic film loader?

ssince my recent stroke, i'mparalized on the eft an d lst the functionslity of my left arm and hand.which makes it impossible for meto ooad my filmdevelopment reels. does anybody know of an automatic film loader?

Maybe the Jobo 1x135 daylight dev. tank could be an outcome.

I think you may just have to adapt rather than look for a cruch--it's possible to load with one hand--

when my left arm was messed up I couldn't use it at all while it healed...

anyways--I was able to do all kinds of things with my right hand only---using the left to lean with...unless you can even use it to lean---if the whole arm is dead with no control at all...well..then you'll have to figure something else out...I made all kinds of makeshift devices and techniques--mostly techniques---change in procedures--to do things like shower, brush teeth---flossing...you get them pre-stretched floss things, but I was actually able to do it with floss between 2 fingers--just to see if I could---VERY difficult but possible

I'd just find some way to clamp the reel down....say a vertical post with suction cup---like a toilet plunger...stick it to the table top...reel slides on in middle...and then have some kind of thing that goes on top to provide friction so you can push on it without it rotating...this will work for steel reels... use the left arm to just rest on the reel while the right hand did all the work...this is a steel reel i'm talking about....once the film is on you just roll...friction off reee...rotate reel...roll...till the roll's done

if it's a plastic reel that needs to go back and forth...maybe "spring load" it with a rubberband or some kind of torsion spring so you can use it with only one hand, you know?

hell...I figured out, in the first hour after my surgery, how to tie my shoe with one hand...took a while but I DID it...everything with practice....that was zero functionality--still nerves dead from the surgery...so absolutely no control at all of the left

washing dishes...hey...I was able to figure out how do that one arm too..using the sink to push against with the one arm.

there's a way...just keep messing with it till you find something that works and then the rest is practice.

alternatively, maybe stop using reels---you can use a pvc pipe maybe...the length of the roll...just like how they used to develop movie film in black tubes....just push the film in -- if the pipe diameter is just right, you can have it like 5' long and the film will curl almost to touch the pipe--supported at the extremes of the inside....then you can fill the pipe and roll it...totally filling it will be wasteful of chemistry---or an elongated "tray"....square enclosed channel that you can rock chemistry back and forth, you know....kind of have clamps at each end...long skinney "tray"....

I'd try to use the reels though--try to use what you have...there's a way...hopefully you start getting functionality back....but in the meantime.....you must be inventive.

any rehab people can help? they should at least have suggestions or some kind of clamps they could suggest for holding things in place of your left arm--but try to do without the crutches if you can--my opinion.

Hi Ralph,

You are on your way to recovery!!!.You have the drive to continue. I sufferred damage to my right(dominant) arm and damage to fingers of my right hand.

It took a while for work around to show itself but show itself it did.

In your case ,mybe outside help your wife or a friend could load the reel for you.Then you can tke over for the rest of the process.

In the above post, Johnielvis, put forth number of good suggestions. I would second the one about getting one the rehab people in to help.

Keep on trying, Ralph, succes is just around ther corner.

Wishing you speedy recovery and happy holidays.

Howard Dvorin

Hi Ralph,

Good to hear you are back! Would these ebay items be any good for you?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370552963497


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikor-Semi-Automatic-Roll-Film-Loader-35mm-Film-Reels-/170732024984

Jaap Jan

Welcome back Ralph and best wishes! Keep working on recovery. Mobility can return.

Ron

Certainly, there must be a member near you who'd be willing to assist while you recover. The chance to spend time, and learn from Ralph Lambrecht, would be invaluable.

eddie said:

Certainly, there must be a member near you who'd be willing to assist while you recover. The chance to spend time, and learn from Ralph Lambrecht, would be invaluable.

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+1

Welcome Ralph.

I have very little dexterity in my right hand, so when I load steel reels I basically use it to clamp the reel against my body, and feed the film and rotate the reel with my left hand.

I expect it would be easy to adapt something like the first ebay item listed above to that purpose.

What reels were you using before your stroke?

Another possible solution would be to try the old Kodak film aprons. With a bit of thought and masking tape beforehand, I can load those with just one hand. They are, however, more finicky when it comes to evenness of development.

All the best!

Welcome back! Best wishes, and good luck on your road to recovery.

I didn't know about what happened to you. I wish you a good recovery.
Best,
Guillaume

I DID IT

I figured...I couldn't remember if I did any developing or only polaroid while my arm was FU...so I tried to do it and I DID IT....

just now...didnt' take that long...CAVEAT---lights ON.......but I'm sure after a couple of rounds more of practice I can do it in the dark with little swearing...

using a stainless spiral....what I did NOT do--I did NOT, as I usually do...totally unroll the roll of film..I unwound the paper to the endof the roll where the "end" of the film begins and left the rest of the film and paper wound on the spool....

I put the reel between my legs when I was sitting down...so it was resting so that I can load the film with my right hand loading the film perpendicular to my legs pushing the film towards the left if you get the jist......then was able to get the curl on the film (very tricky, but possible) and still have my index finger to depress the spring in the middle to slide the film in...then once you get the first wind right going, it like winds itself...just roll the reel 1/4 turn or so..put on more film...push the reel...all while resting between your 2 legs....I was able to do that with my eyes closed...and very quickly--the rolling on part goes quick...it's the getting it anchored that takes the time and "new tricks"...NOW however, I'm faced with the probelm of removing the tape from the front of the roll by the paper....I see that that's no problems either now if I slowly peel the paper away from the tape part...I dont' want to remove it totally...it's my test roll...for film backs...

anyways---the toughest part now I can see is probably unloading it from the camera OR..if you licked some of the rolls together, cutting that slip...I'd do that with a razor or somethign...anyways...start a practicing...you'll get it down in a day I"m sure as long as your right side is still ok I'm thinking.

hey--also--you should practice...OH...when my arm was out, I did all kinds of things...learned to cut/shuffle a deck of cards and deal with my right hand too...so maybe my learning curve is "faster" since I built up this dexterity---and now you will do the same...

NO special devices needed!!!! go to it, now....

actually now I'm thinking that pouring the chemicals in (I used to use one hand to tilt the tank while the other poured) will be a problem...i think maybe set the tank at a slight ange in the dish rack would work....taped down so that the weight of the liquid filling it don't dump it over....

yeah...better practice the WET stuff first...that will be the most tricky and messy if you mess up......it will be literally.

Dear Ralph,

Welcome back and good luck with your recovery. It looks as though Hewes has products for 35mm (click on "Products", then "Spiral Film loader"), but they don't look very easy to operate with one hand. For sheet film I would think the Jobo expert drums would be easier to load than any other thing I can think of. I couldn't find anything to make 120 easier to deal with.

Again, good luck with your continued recovery,

Neal Wydra

Welcome back, Ralph! It's so good to see you posting again. You've been missed

I push my film onto my reels rather than ratcheting as I'm supposed to. My thought is, if you did the same, perhaps you could have a vise clamped to a bench to hold the reel for you?

Take care, Ralph, and my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Molli

Ralph,

I've already expressed my pleasure in seeing you back on the forum in another thread, but let me just add again here, along with the others, that I'm glad to see you are back participating. I've missed your posts.

I wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

As for loading film on reels, two things come to mind. First, figuring out a way to deal with loading one-handed, as many have mentioned above, but perhaps someone in your area would be happy to trade personal instruction from you for a post as part-time assistant? I'm sure it would be worth it to them!

Just a thought.

And again, welcome back!

Doremus

I have no experience of stainless steel reels but, if I understand correctly how do they work, it should be possible, after having locked the film end with the central clip with one hand (raising the spring with a finger under which is already placed the film end, slipping the film end under the spring to lock it), to load the reel by making it "roll" on its side. The index finger checks the positioning of the film inside the groove while the hand (or thumb and middle finger) rotates the reel.

As an alternative, one might consider using an ordinary plastic reel which normally uses an alternate motion of each side. One might flip repeatedly the reel: keep the reel flat on the table; rotate upper half (the lower half should remain still thanks to the pressure applied); now turn upside-down the reel; rotate upper half; repeat until end of work.

I don't know if these suggestions have some validity, I never tried them myself. Best wishes for a complete recovery.

Fabrizio

eddie said:

Certainly, there must be a member near you who'd be willing to assist while you recover. The chance to spend time, and learn from Ralph Lambrecht, would be invaluable.

Click to expand...

my darkroom heartsnd brain are open to the one who wantsto give this a try!my plz is 51379

An old Agfa Rodinax for 35mm and one for 60 (120) they can be loaded by daylight and only require one hande to load and operate.

Baldige Besserung

Dominik

Ralph, so happy to see you posting again, and showing the desire to NOT let it stop or slow you down. God answeres prayers, as you are testimony of, we all prayed for your recovery, and if you believe, it will come. I only wish I were near you, I'm at 15834(USA), is your s a US or German postal code?. I'll do what I can to help find what you need, and I will be talking to my good friend who is a physical therapist and specializes in hand modalities. I hope I speak for all here when I say we all want you back 100%.

God Bless!

RalphLambrecht said:

my darkroom heartsnd brain are open to the one who wantsto give this a try!my plz is 51379

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I think this is an incredible opportunity for someone nearby. People pay good money for one of Ralph's workshops. A one on one chance, like this, is priceless...

Nice to see you back Ralph. In 35mm and with Jobo reels I do what at least one other poster does which is to push the film onto the reel and have never tried the back and forth two handed motion that the reel is specially shaped for. With one hand only the reel would need to be held steady by some form of reel holder but once this was done then I see no reason why it won't work.

I hope you find a solution that's best for you.

pentaxuser

Ralph, I am not able to locate the 51379 zip code. If you are close to the Memphis TN area I would be more than happy to come to your aid. It is good to see you back and posting, I am sorry to hear of your physical problems but I am certain that there is someone close by that will be able to assist you.

Hey Guitstik, thats because it's across the pond, just outside of Cologne, Deutschland.

Ah, Deutschland. No matter how much I like Ralph, I'm not traveling that far. I hope he finds someone to help.

Welcome back, Ralph!

Kindermann made a reel loading system for 35mm and 120. Never tried it myself, but here's the 120 version--

Dead Link Removed

David A. Goldfarb said:

...Kindermann made a reel loading system for 35mm and 120. Never tried it myself, but here's the 120 version--

Dead Link Removed

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Kinderman did make a 120 version (despite the erroneous "mm" after 120), but it's long discontinued. That link takes one to a version for 110 film, also with an erroneous "mm" appended.