Big Washer for silver printing

[gordrob]

That is a mammoth build. Can't wait for more updates.
Gord

 

[mshchem]

Oh the memories.

Many years ago, I lived in Chicago. Darkroom Aids was an absolute toy store for photographers. Beyond the usual new stuff like paper, chemistry, lenses, sinks, etc., they were an absolute goldmine of all things used for the the darkroom. I bought my push-up Omega DII with a 150mm Schneider Componon, Lens cone, and carrier for $300 there ! Better still, they had a wall mount turnbuckle for it. I still use it to this day. I also bought an 8 foot stainless sink from them, and the store manager delivered it to my home. That is still in use today as well, though nowhere near Chicago.

Terry G. ran the place and was a walking encyclopedia of all things darkroom and all things Sinar. (He was also an active shotgunner.) When DA shut down it was a dark, dark, day. It was the last of the great darkroom-focused stores anywhere for a thousand miles. It was THE place to go hang around with other darkroom nerds, pros, and people that just plain loved the craft. I bought my first M645 used from them and used it for some years before upgrading to a 'Blad.

Terry went on to work at Calumet until it folded up as well.

Many of these things can still be found on line at various company websites and eBay, but there's nothing that replace the "hanging around" ethos found at places like Darkroom Aids.

Thanks for the memory

OMG! Darkroom Aids! Wonderful place, I traveled there a couple times from Iowa. Once with a buddy who bought a really nice 8x10 Elwood for $350.00. That was big money in the early 80's

 

[Sundowner]

That's a hell of a washer, for sure. I approve.

 

[snusmumriken]

I was wondering what it will be like to load those huge prints into the washer? I imagine they are difficult to handle without damage when wet. I have only a 16x12 inch washer, but even such small FB sheets are often cussed about being loaded. They stick to the separators, and can carry enough little air bubbles to totally resist being pushed in. Often I have to lift the sheet out and try again, sometimes it’s best to leave it half in, half out and let it settle in under its own weight. So I’ll be fascinated to hear how it goes for you. Best of luck, and thanks for sharing the epic!

 

[Carnie Bob]

I was wondering what it will be like to load those huge prints into the washer? I imagine they are difficult to handle without damage when wet. I have only a 16x12 inch washer, but even such small FB sheets are often cussed about being loaded. They stick to the separators, and can carry enough little air bubbles to totally resist being pushed in. Often I have to lift the sheet out and try again, sometimes it’s best to leave it half in, half out and let it settle in under its own weight. So I’ll be fascinated to hear how it goes for you. Best of luck, and thanks for sharing the epic!

No issue at all prints slots are wide enough to handle two prints back to back and when we put them in the washer they slide perfectly... There is a video of Clyde Butcher assistant using a large vertical floor washer and this is where I got the idea, we have floor drains in the building so its all good.

 

[snusmumriken]

No issue at all prints slots are wide enough to handle two prints back to back and when we put them in the washer they slide perfectly... There is a video of Clyde Butcher assistant using a large vertical floor washer and this is where I got the idea, we have floor drains in the building so its all good.

Good to hear that. Is this RC paper?

 

[Steve Goldstein]

No issue at all prints slots are wide enough to handle two prints back to back and when we put them in the washer they slide perfectly... There is a video of Clyde Butcher assistant using a large vertical floor washer and this is where I got the idea, we have floor drains in the building so its all good.

Do you get sufficient water flow between the two sheets in each slot to ensure that all the fixer is washed out?

 

[Carnie Bob]

Good to hear that. Is this RC paper?

Never used RC paper other than contact sheets back in the 90's

 

[Carnie Bob]

Do you get sufficient water flow between the two sheets in each slot to ensure that all the fixer is washed out?

Good Question, the slots are bigger than normal and when one puts back to back we can see the water separating between the two print, I also know that the fix is being released by the fibres in a leaching effect so the fill and dump kind of makes sure of this, if the paper did not separate in the slots then we would have a potential issue. I have heard many times that just filling a bucket or tube of water many times will be enough to wash prints, fill and dump, We wash prints after fix , then hypo clear then go into the washer, next day we tone and rewash.