developing tanks and reels for large format roll film.

[spoolman]

With all of the new film developing reels, like Mod 54 for sheet film, has anyone suggested an adjustable reel that would take the larger format roll films,such as 122,103,104, Cirkuit film and fit into an existing tank,such as the Paterson Super series tanks or would there be enough demand to enable manufacturers to recover costs and make a profit.?

Doug

 

[The Tuesday Group]

I use a 10x8 print drum designed for developing colour paper. It uses very little developer, 80ml for upto a 10x 8.

Jim

 

[Ian Grant]

I see developing tanks for these sizes every so often at a Camera fair I go to, usually porcelain or plated metal, big vertical tanks and the films hang full length. While they need quite a lot of developer they'd be ideal with replenished developer. This was the way formats larger than 120 were processed, the alternative is to see-saw a film through a tray.

You could easily make something from black plastic pipes and end caps. I have a Alliance Roll Film Co 110 camera (5x4 format roll film) and some 10" Aerial film I've thought about slitting. The B&L lens and shutter are in excellent condition.

I'll see if I can scan some images of the original tanks.

Ian

 

[Photo Engineer]

Many older reel tanks had adjustable reels. Yankee and Ansco tanks come to mind among many others.

You might try one of these.

PE

 

[Ian Grant]

Ron might know how these Kodak tanks worked, I've seen them but not opened them to look.

These are the DAllan tanks, I have the cut film type Newer version.

Finally Butcher were one of the largest UK manufacturers of equipment Cameras as well in the UK. They were also a very large film manufacturer with contracts to make the distributable copies of many Hollywood & UK films, they were investigated by a Monopolies commission. They had already merged with Houghtons before WWI but the company kept both trade names going.

This is for larger scale processing of various roll film sizes, however other companies made similar tall tanks for single films.
You could use roof guttering and end pieces to make long narrow trays which wouldn't need much developer and tray process.

Ian

 

[Photo Engineer]

Well, photofinishers used a modified Butcher system which was automated by a moving track and rails. The racks were moved by the track. Any size film could be processed, even side by side. Pako made the one I used.

The Kodak tank(s) often used a celluloid spacer that had dimples along the edge to separate film. They came in various sizes. I have the 35mm version, but forget the name OTOMH.

The other Kodak tank used a mechanism somewhat like a bulk loader in reverse. You placed the 35 mm cassette in the small part and attached the film to the crank which then allowed you to put the lid on and crank the film into the chamber and onto a spiral reel. The only problem was that it came only in 35mm and not roll film sizes whereas the other in the above paragraph came in several sizes.

PE

 

[Ian Grant]

Well, photofinishers used a modified Butcher system which was automated by a moving track and rails. The racks were moved by the track. Any size film could be processed, even side by side. Pako made the one I used.

I have adverts in other BJP Almanacs for both Kodak and Ilford versions, a lot of companies made them though - but it's later than 1924 when they really become mechanised dunk dip lines

The Kodak tank(s) often used a celluloid spacer that had dimples along the edge to separate film. They came in various sizes. I have the 35mm version, but forget the name OTOMH.

Eastman Kodak I think made one

That's what I'd assumed, I think I still have a 35mm tank like that. I have a very comprehensive Kodak Ltd 1940 Professional Catalogue I'll have to see if they are included - you would need a spool and its celluloid spacer for each film size.

Here in the UK and Europe (and I'd guess it would be much the same in the US as well) in 1940 Kodak sold everything a professional photographer would need, if they didn't make it - they stocked it, Thornton Pickard Roller Blnd shutters , Wray Packard shutters, Wray Grafmatic backs, Norka shutters it's an endless list of other products, of course they never sold anything that competed with what they made themselves !

Ian

The other Kodak tank used a mechanism somewhat like a bulk loader in reverse. You placed the 35 mm cassette in the small part and attached the film to the crank which then allowed you to put the lid on and crank the film into the chamber and onto a spiral reel. The only problem was that it came only in 35mm and not roll film sizes whereas the other in the above paragraph came in several sizes.

PE

Agfa made them as well I think called Rodinax, there's a current or recent Kickstarter project to make something similar.

 

[Arklatexian]

Many older reel tanks had adjustable reels. Yankee and Ansco tanks come to mind among many others.

You might try one of these.

PE

Let us not forget the adjustable reel tank that I and many, many others cut our teeth on, the FR tank made by Fink and Roslieve. I think I can still find mine somewhere buried in my darkroom. I bought it in 1945 or maybe during WW2.......Regards!

 

[darkroommike]

You might be able to make a darkroom only tank system for one roll at a time with PVC or ABS 4 inch DWV (drain waste vent pipe). Use a stainless steel weighted clip, like from a big Pako dip and dunk, on the bottom and a regular clip on top. Not you'll need a stool or VERY long arms to make this work and it's a darkroom only system.