Is Paterson still in business?

[chip j]

Just curious.

 

[NB23]

Me too.
Are the english plastic loving manufacturing blokes still in it?

 

[logan2z]

Sure looks like it:

https://www.patersonphotographic.com/

 

[James Bleifus]

I’ve been outfitting my new darkroom with plenty of Paterson product from B&H, and I love it. Paterson is typically, though not always, my go-to brand.

 

[markbau]

Sure looks like it:

https://www.patersonphotographic.com/

Yes their website is up but good luck getting a reply to an email! I’ve been trying to make contact with them to buy a replacement basket for a print washer for over two years, still no replies to my emails.

 

[AgX]

In the 70s I got their broshures (from the photo shop I think), but cannot remember actually seeing their products on the shelves.

 

[logan2z]

Yes their website is up but good luck getting a reply to an email! I’ve been trying to make contact with them to buy a replacement basket for a print washer for over two years, still no replies to my emails.

Despite the fact that it's 2019, some companies are terrible at electronic communication. Maybe try calling them instead. Or maybe a large dealer like BH Photo (or the Australian equivalent) could be of help in getting a replacement part.

 

[Neal]

I love their trays.

 

[pentaxuser]

Me too.
Are the english plastic loving manufacturing blokes still in it?

Does this mean they make things out of plastic that others make out of other material and is this good or bad? I just wonder how Paterson gained the reputation of being plastic loving?

That's a new epithet to me

pentaxuser

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I love their trays.

Me too. I have on that I've used for over 30 years. My latest Paterson acquisition is a Paterson Orbital. I shoot 8x10 and 4x5 film and it processes film with no scratching with little chemistry. Best piece darkroom gear I bought in a while. I also use a Paterson test strip easel. They manufacture very well thought out equipment.

 

[AgX]

Are the english plastic loving manufacturing blokes still in it?

Does this mean they make thing out of plastic that others make out of other material and is this good or bad? I just wonder how Paterson gained the reputation of being plastic loving?

If I remember right glancing through their broshure in the 70s I wondered of them producing quite some products I expected to be made from steel.

 

[MattKing]

If you are trying to reach Paterson, try Harman Technology, as they are the distributors for Paterson in a number of locations around the world.

 

[Bill Burk]

In the 70s I got their broshures (from the photo shop I think), but cannot remember actually seeing their products on the shelves.

I have a small collection of their bright red packages on the wall of my darkroom...

 

[AgX]

The filter, the effect screens, but what is that at the far right?

I just remember, I got the lens resolution test charts from them.

 

[markbau]

Despite the fact that it's 2019, some companies are terrible at electronic communication. Maybe try calling them instead. Or maybe a large dealer like BH Photo (or the Australian equivalent) could be of help in getting a replacement part.

I've done all that you suggest. B&H referred me to Patterson's US importer. (who referred me to the Australian importer) The local Australian importer is notoriously bad at dealing with anyone that doesn't want to buy a minimum order. Even Melbourne's biggest photo supplier had no luck as they only wanted to order one. Anyway, it's a moot point now as I've gone with a Versalab.

 

[Bill Burk]

The filter, the effect screens, but what is that at the far right?

I just remember, I got the lens resolution test charts from them.

That’s a nice glass thermometer. I just got the blue fluid back in one piece by alternating between boiling and salted ice water (slowly)

 

[pentaxuser]

If I remember right glancing through their broshure in the 70s I wondered of them producing quite some products I expected to be made from steel.

Maybe by using the new material called plastic they were the equivalent of those people who decided that there had to be a better way of making radios than metres of wire and large power hungry valves or people who decided that low power flat TV screens were better than cathode ray tubes. In the U.K. we didn't get much right in the 1970s but maybe Paterson led the way in darkroom equipment

pentaxuser

 

[mshchem]

I agree with Matt, probably have customer support from the distributors. I think that the tooling is at a large injection molding shop. They can probably run 3 days a month and meet demand. My first non Bakelite tank was the small Paterson System 4, I have always been a fan of their trays. I've got every size they've ever made.

 

[NB23]

Does this mean they make things out of plastic that others make out of other material and is this good or bad? I just wonder how Paterson gained the reputation of being plastic loving?

That's a new epithet to me

pentaxuser

No idea of it’s their reputation or not. All I know coming from them is that it’s made of plastic. It kinda hit me.

All well made plastic stuff

 

[Stephen Prunier]

I just checked their social media accounts and they appear to be active on their Twitter account. https://twitter.com/patersonphoto maybe try posting something on there? If you don't use Twitter maybe get someone you know to do it for you. I hope it helps. I would be so frustrated if it was me.

 

[AgX]

I thought people here at Apug being that old that they still remember something as a letter...

 

[Pioneer]

I thought people here at Apug being that old that they still remember something as a letter...

But then we would have to remember what we did with the stamps...

...and envelopes...

 

[Randy Stewart]

I think Paterson has a reputation of making plastic darkroom equipment, because that is what they do. IMO most of their darkroom stuff is cheap and junky, starting with their developing tank system, which mixes excessive amounts of air into solutions if use for inversion agitation. Their grain focusers give you a headache from eyestrain. The print washers are also cheap plastic, easily break. and are very noisy to use. Their agitation system barely works unless watched all of the time. So, I don't care if Paterson is still in business, but remain surprised that they are. They filed bankruptcy some years ago, and I though we were rid of them then. I've purchased a number of Paterson products in the past, but except for a graduated cylinder (plastic), I gave it all away.

 

[radiant]

I think Paterson has a reputation of making plastic darkroom equipment, because that is what they do. IMO most of their darkroom stuff is cheap and junky, starting with their developing tank system, which mixes excessive amounts of air into solutions if use for inversion agitation. Their grain focusers give you a headache from eyestrain. The print washers are also cheap plastic, easily break. and are very noisy to use. Their agitation system barely works unless watched all of the time. So, I don't care if Paterson is still in business, but remain surprised that they are. They filed bankruptcy some years ago, and I though we were rid of them then. I've purchased a number of Paterson products in the past, but except for a graduated cylinder (plastic), I gave it all away.

Not in context of topic but could you list better alternatives for these that are still commercially available?

 

[BMbikerider]

But then we would have to remember what we did with the stamps...

...and envelopes...

Poor man suffering from Dementia