King Concept ImageMaker Reel Issue

I have acquired a King Concept ImageMaker (1970s-era rotary tube processor controlled by an ingenious music-box style program drum). It's an interesting machine and very well-designed.

What I haven't been able to figure out is what I'm doing wrong with the reels. I am using standard 35mm Hewes (and various other brands) of steel reels, and they fit too loosely in the tubes. Plastic reels are too large, but the metal reels seem too small.

When the tube rotates, the reels clunk around in the tube like a pair of shoes in the dryer. Sometimes delivers great results, but sometimes results in scratched film, bent edges, and film unraveling in the drum.

-Were these machines originally supplied with some type of film clip?
-Am I missing some other accessory which immobilizes the reels inside the tube?
-Anyone have manuals?

Would love to chat with anyone who used these gadgets in the "bad old days"! I'm also working on restoring a Wing-Lynch but that's a project for another day!

Measure the tube inside diameter.

There are two sizes of stainless reels. The standard ones, an larger diameter ones that fit the same Nikor tank as their 4x5 cage. The larger ones I have are for 220 -- same heavy wire as a Hewes or Nikor 120 reel for a standard tank, but more of it.

If they'll fit, I could be convinced to part with my Nikor tank and 220 reels; 220 is never coming back (and they're inefficient for 120), now that I've got my Agitank figured out I'll probably never drop the money for a B&W King 4x5 cage, and the Nikor ones either cost too much or vanish before the electrons have settled when they show up on eBay.

Thanks Donald! I tried it with my 220 Honeywell Nikor reels and they are too big; the tube is about 3 7/8inch in diameter.

Aha! The infamous "lock-in" design.

Looks like there one for sale https://www.ebay.com/itm/King-Conce...961755?hash=item23e234ba5b:g:5LIAAOSw-ntfel~M

This is an old thread but others may need the info. I actually ran one of these daily in the mi-1970's. You CAN use Paterson reels but you'll need to cut a small notch in the reels so that they will slide down the bar on the inside of the tube. And there's still a chance the film will unwind--don't ask me how I know!). You can also use Hewes reels. The Omega Arkay version of the Hewes reels came with clips to retain the film.