ISO Time-o-lite history

[Logan Evans]

Good morning, please delete this if not allowed in this topic.

I have acquired an old time-o-lite P-49 from an old House in upstate NY. Now, I have never done anything with darkroom photography, but being an electrician I thought it was a really cool collectable for my shop. Because of my general curiosity, I would like to obtain any information about them that I can, from first manufacturing date to replacements for older models etc. Any information would be awesome, as I can't seem to find much about the older styles anywhere.

Kind regards,
Logan

 

[MattKing]

Logan,
Welcome to Photrio, and thanks for starting what may end up being a really interesting thread.
I think you may get more of a response if this thread is in the Darkroom Equipment sub-forum, so I will move it there.
Feel free to post any of your electrician's observations of the timer.
There are many, many, many of the Time-O-Lite timers out there, and many of the members here will have used them, or maybe are even using them now.

 

[Logan Evans]

Thank you for directing this to the right thread, much obliged

 

[wiltw]

Time-O-Lite was made by the Industrial Timer Company, from their web site...

"Industrial Timer Company's more than 70 years of experience in all phases of design, manufacture and assembly of electro-mechanical components and assemblies "​

OTOH, via the web there is a copy of an ad placed in 1947, for a Time-O-Lite product! https://www.kpraslowicz.com/2010/04/03/timeolite-1947-advertisment

And someone posted:

Ernie Generalli July 26, 2012, 12:07 PM
My grandfather, Victor E. Tamburr, invented this timer and started the Industrial Timer Corp. Thanks​

My high school had a darkroom for the school newspaper and yearbook to use, and there was a Time-O-Lite there, which I used 1966-1968

 

[C-130 Nav]

Logan,

I have 2 Time-o-Lite P-49 timers. One is currently in use in my darkroom and the other is a backup in case my in-use unit fails. They both work very well and are consistent timers despite their age. My photographic work is not limited in any way by what might considered obsolete equipment.

Online searches indicate the M-49 & P-49 models hit the market around 1942 based on Popular Photography advertisements. The M-49 and P-49 are nearly identical with the difference being the P-49 was rated for 1500W and the M-49 for 750W.

Both of mine are painted with black wrinkle finish which I believe indicates they are early versions. P-49s/M-49s also came in a metallic gray paint which seems more common on online auctions and I suspect indicates higher production numbers post WWII. I’ve seen early 1950s dates associated with these. I have the manual for the P-49 but it is not in digital format so I’ll need to scan it before I could send it to you.

That largely exhausts my knowledge of these units. Time-o-Lite timers (newer versions) are still manufactured. The parent company, Industrial Timer Corp., many be able to assist you with more history and technical information on these units. Their website is: http://www.industrialtimercompany.com/

Hope this helps,

Dan

 

[Ernie G]

Hi Logan,

The original Time-o-Lite was invented by Victor Tamburr, my grandfather. His first shop was in Newark, NJ, then Orange, NJ, then Parsippany, NJ. The company was sold to Singer in the 70's. My father worked there for 27 years and my uncle was president after my grandfather. I think the original shop was one previously used by Thomas Edison. I found this old patent online.

I'm glad you're interested. I'm amazed they still manufacture and use these precise, analog, mechanical timers. They were certainly the gold standard of darkroom timers. I believe some of their timers were used on Mercury or Gemini space ships.

 

[MattKing]

Hi Logan,

The original Time-o-Lite was invented by Victor Tamburr, my grandfather. His first shop was in Newark, NJ, then Orange, NJ, then Parsippany, NJ. The company was sold to Singer in the 70's. My father worked there for 27 years and my uncle was president after my grandfather. I think the original shop was one previously used by Thomas Edison. I found this old patent online.

I'm glad you're interested. I'm amazed they still manufacture and use these precise, analog, mechanical timers. They were certainly the gold standard of darkroom timers. I believe some of their timers were used on Mercury or Gemini space ships.

Welcome to Photrio.
We appreciate your contributing here.

 

[ags2mikon]

If I remember correctly they used synchronous motors so if your electricity was running at 60 HZ they were accurate. If your power was off they were off. Pretty ingenious.

 

[chuckroast]

If I remember correctly they used synchronous motors so if your electricity was running at 60 HZ they were accurate. If your power was off they were off. Pretty ingenious.

So did the original Gralab timers.

 

[AnselMortensen]

PM sent to OP.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hi Logan,

The original Time-o-Lite was invented by Victor Tamburr, my grandfather. His first shop was in Newark, NJ, then Orange, NJ, then Parsippany, NJ. The company was sold to Singer in the 70's. My father worked there for 27 years and my uncle was president after my grandfather. I think the original shop was one previously used by Thomas Edison. I found this old patent online.

I'm glad you're interested. I'm amazed they still manufacture and use these precise, analog, mechanical timers. They were certainly the gold standard of darkroom timers. I believe some of their timers were used on Mercury or Gemini space ships.

Welcome to Photrio

 

[Don_ih]

I use a Time-o-Lite, seemingly made by Singer. I use it to time film and print developing. It does not have a grounded outlet. Here are some pictures:

 

[davidmposner]

Logan,

I have 2 Time-o-Lite P-49 timers. One is currently in use in my darkroom and the other is a backup in case my in-use unit fails. They both work very well and are consistent timers despite their age. My photographic work is not limited in any way by what might considered obsolete equipment.

Online searches indicate the M-49 & P-49 models hit the market around 1942 based on Popular Photography advertisements. The M-49 and P-49 are nearly identical with the difference being the P-49 was rated for 1500W and the M-49 for 750W.

Both of mine are painted with black wrinkle finish which I believe indicates they are early versions. P-49s/M-49s also came in a metallic gray paint which seems more common on online auctions and I suspect indicates higher production numbers post WWII. I’ve seen early 1950s dates associated with these. I have the manual for the P-49 but it is not in digital format so I’ll need to scan it before I could send it to you.

That largely exhausts my knowledge of these units. Time-o-Lite timers (newer versions) are still manufactured. The parent company, Industrial Timer Corp., many be able to assist you with more history and technical information on these units. Their website is: http://www.industrialtimercompany.com/

Hope this helps,

Dan

Dan, this is some great personal history! Do you know what the difference would be between the M-59 and M-72 models? I have an M-72 that I have had for 50+ years that the start button mysteriously has failed just yesterday. I thought I bought a replacement new in the box M-72 but it looks like it is actually an M-59. They look identical. Is there any significant difference I should be concerned about? Thanks! David

 

[davidmposner]

Logan,

I have 2 Time-o-Lite P-49 timers. One is currently in use in my darkroom and the other is a backup in case my in-use unit fails. They both work very well and are consistent timers despite their age. My photographic work is not limited in any way by what might considered obsolete equipment.

Online searches indicate the M-49 & P-49 models hit the market around 1942 based on Popular Photography advertisements. The M-49 and P-49 are nearly identical with the difference being the P-49 was rated for 1500W and the M-49 for 750W.

Both of mine are painted with black wrinkle finish which I believe indicates they are early versions. P-49s/M-49s also came in a metallic gray paint which seems more common on online auctions and I suspect indicates higher production numbers post WWII. I’ve seen early 1950s dates associated with these. I have the manual for the P-49 but it is not in digital format so I’ll need to scan it before I could send it to you.

That largely exhausts my knowledge of these units. Time-o-Lite timers (newer versions) are still manufactured. The parent company, Industrial Timer Corp., many be able to assist you with more history and technical information on these units. Their website is: http://www.industrialtimercompany.com/

Hope this helps,

Dan

Hi Logan,

The original Time-o-Lite was invented by Victor Tamburr, my grandfather. His first shop was in Newark, NJ, then Orange, NJ, then Parsippany, NJ. The company was sold to Singer in the 70's. My father worked there for 27 years and my uncle was president after my grandfather. I think the original shop was one previously used by Thomas Edison. I found this old patent online.

I'm glad you're interested. I'm amazed they still manufacture and use these precise, analog, mechanical timers. They were certainly the gold standard of darkroom timers. I believe some of their timers were used on Mercury or Gemini space ships.

Ernie, this is some great personal history! Do you know what the difference would be between the M-59 and M-72 models? I have an M-72 that I have had for 50+ years that the start button mysteriously has failed just yesterday. I thought I bought a replacement new in the box M-72 but it looks like it is actually an M-59. They look identical. Is there any significant difference I should be concerned about? Thanks! David