Want to Buy looking for odd-ball sheet film processing systems.

tim48v · Sep 18, 2016

Interested in any odd and unusual sheet film tanks (mainly 4x5) for my collection. I've got the common stuff but I know there's some really interesting designs left over from years ago. I'd like to publish an online museum, outlining the history of sheet film processing technology.

Send me an email with what you've got, maybe we can work a deal. Might even trade one of our SP-445s!

Kevin Caulfield · Sep 18, 2016

I assume you've got Combiplan?

tim48v · Sep 18, 2016

Not yet! I made an offer but the guy was insane on his price. I've almost bought another one but it doesn't have the funnel. Picky but if I want to know how well it really worked, I'd like all the parts. What have you got?

tim48v · Sep 29, 2016

Still looking for a combiplan...

Kevin Caulfield · Sep 29, 2016

tim48v said:
Not yet! I made an offer but the guy was insane on his price. I've almost bought another one but it doesn't have the funnel. Picky but if I want to know how well it really worked, I'd like all the parts. What have you got?

Sorry for my late reply. I do have a Combiplan, but am not willing to part with it.

Ian Grant · Sep 29, 2016

Look for a Dallan processing tank, made by David Allan in the UK. I don't want to sell my Dallan 5x4 sheet film tank, it's stainless steel has a small cage and takes a dozen sheets each sitting in individual holders.

Note the inserts are upside down so film could fall out. . . .

This tank takes plates or cut film, note the spacer adapter alondside the cage.

I think this may be an approach that could be used for largerfilm sizes.

Ian

Ian Grant · Sep 29, 2016

I should add that most Dalan tanks were for glass plates and often for daylight use with a cap and bit with a light baffle to fill on the side at the top, and a tap at the bottom of the other side to empty the tank. Dacvid Allan (the company) were around from 1868 until about 1960, in the eraly 60's Britain went into a depression and a lot of old established photo companies disappeared.

They used this corragated metal approach early on for rack holders for plate developing and laso drying. It's quite a nice idea and I'm sure film holders in various sizes similar to the last image aboe could be made very easily in either plastic or metal. I think you could make a holder to use two different formats, say 7x5 and 10x8, although for 5x4 and 7x5 would be easier. I'm thinking look at the cage and have the corrugated bit on all 4 sides, so the 5x4 fit as above and the 7x5 would fit at 90 degrees, obviously you'd need to fill to a different hight for the large size.

Ian

tim48v · Sep 29, 2016

Ian,
Very cool. I shudder to think what it must have cost to manufacturer something like this.
So you'd have to fill/empty this in the darkroom?

Ian Grant · Sep 30, 2016

tim48v said:
Ian,
Very cool. I shudder to think what it must have cost to manufacturer something like this.
So you'd have to fill/empty this in the darkroom?

Yes, I don't use it because the rubber material in the top is porous and would contaminate chemistry, I used deep tanks for a few years so working in the dark is second nature if I have to. This tank would only need filling and emptying in the dark which would be qute quick. I have an older tank for I think 6.5x9 plates and that has daylight filling and emptying, Ill photograph it for you later today Iif I can find it).

Ian

dbendo · Oct 6, 2016

The "Morse" Processing System", I found this years ago. I am looking for the tanks that came with it, misplaced since i moved
When I find them I will put it up for sale. The Tank "Basket" can be used in daylight it is submerged into Developer then agitated like using hangers and hard rubber tanks,
withdrawn, drained, then the same for stop fix etc.It has a baffle on the bottom that somehow allows chemistry to drain and not expose film. holds 10 or 12 4x5 hangers.

has anyone seen or heard of this? only morse system I have seen is for Cine film

see photos

tim48v · Oct 8, 2016

I have seen it. Interesting concept. Let me know if you want to sell yours. With or without the tanks. The only ones I've seen are for 5x7; they're labeled "507".

I just bought a Dallan like Ian's. Not in as nice of shape but it was only $30.

sepiareverb · Oct 9, 2016

Enjoying this thread immensely, even tho I'm a tray developer.

tim48v · Nov 6, 2016

Anyone interested in trading a Combiplan for a new SP-445? I've come close to getting one but often they don't have the funnel; since it will just be a museum piece, I'd like all the parts.

tim48v · Nov 6, 2016

Just posted our first entry in the online museum: http://stearmanpress.com/ensign tank.html

Ian Grant · Nov 6, 2016

I have the quarter plate Houghton Victo, quarter plate Houghton King enlarger, Ensign safelights - 2 glass to take standard bulbs, i candle powered, to go withnthat tank I could have a complete early 1900's Houghton darkroom. I have the 3½x2½ version of the Klimax tank.

Ensign is Houghton's main trade name and they owned a number of companies, by 1910 they had a large factory in Walthamstow, the buildings covering 2.5 acres.

Klimax was a name used by Butcher for cameras, tanks, printing frames, printing boxes etc. Butcher manufactured some items for Houghtons and both companies formed part of British Photographic Industries Ltd registered in 1915, but they already had a joint Houghton Butche Manufacturing Co, Houghton and Butcher traded under their own names despite joint ownership until merging into Houghton Butcher Manufacturing Co in 1926.

There's an important US link, a major shareholder in BPI was Lord Astor and his family, born in the US & moving to the UK at the age of 5, he owned the Times newspaper, was a banker, politician etc etc. He was probably behind Houghton establishing an Indian subsidiary company as he was Aide de Camp to the Viceroy of India j before WWI.

Ian

Want to Buy looking for odd-ball sheet film processing systems.

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