New Camera, now the search for film begins.....

I was out cycling today, about 15 miles from the house when I rode by a yard sale, I usually don't pay much attention to them, but I noticed an enlarger on one of the tables so I figured an enlarger usually means good stuff.

I get off my bike and give my legs a little break from cycling against the wind for the past 40 minutes, not to mention that big a$$ hill I just went up. Made a bee line to the enlarger and it looked decent, I couldn't find a name on it, but it has seen better days. I noticed some Nikon SLR's, an FM (I think) and an EM. A few E-series lenses and this Eastman box, I wonder what kind of random spare parts are in here? Oh, wait! It its heavy. It's gotta be something good. And indeed it was. A new in box, totally unused Kodak Junior Six-16. I thought they would want a little change for that, I was thinking $20, hoping to settle on $10 because thats all I had with me. I ask the lady and she says "Thats old, nobody shoots that anymore, but it will look good on your bookshelf if you need a decoration" I ask her how much and she says "2 bucks" I gave her the $10 and said "thanks" Tucked it into the back of my cycling jersey and started home. The longest ride of my life it seemed like.

I know 616 film is pretty much non existent, but I was hoping there was some sort of modification I can do the my 120 spools to allow me to use 120 film. Nothing that damages or alters the camera. It's a freaking beauty, I almost don't want to use it.

there are more elaborate ways, but i went to the hardware store and found some round dealies with a threaded piece of steel in the middle that make excellent spacers to hold 120 in a 116 space, same should work for 616.

Lovely find, you are right, it is almost wrong to use it, but you should.

I believe there's a thead on here about that. Find it and read-up. I remember as being very informative. It was maybe a month ago, but don't remember exactly how to find it for you.

Too bad the camera isn't a 620. That would only require re-spooling 120 film onto 620 spools.
In a 616 camera, 70mm film can be used, but you'll need to find/make backing paper plus a supply of 616 spools.
The camera can be [reversibly] modified for 120 film; see PDF link, inside the below link.
Dead Link Removed

Lots of hoops to jump through.
Nice find, though.

Marc

Google 616 film, lots of ideas on respooling to use 616 and even shimming with 120.

You paid less than the original price tag, not even considering inflation...What a steal!

Here is another example of someone's approach: http://www.makinghappy.com/archive/000179.php

Ilford is taking orders for its annual "ULF" production, that includes 70mm unperforated.
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/page.asp?n=137
Good advice on that bnphoto site.
Just adapting to 120 spools will leave the long edges of the film unsupported across the film chamber; if you choose to go that route, be sure to advance the film just before taking each picture to minimize slack.

Absolutely splendid! I just love seeing things like this - it's like a time machine.

Now go make some pictures!

I recently shot some rolls with an older similar format Kodak- a #3. It was pretty simple to adapt 120 to work. A couple of spare 120 donor spools to cut up for adapters, a short piece of aluminum tubing from a hobby shop and a small rectangle of styrene for an advancing paddle to fit in the slot of the end of a spool. Some Cyanoacrylate glue held the bits together. To keep the film flat I used some basswood from the hobby shop but you could easily use some plastic from the recycle bin. I used a removable glue (rubber cement) to hold the plastic when reducing the opening, sand the plastic to create a tooth for the glue to take. Some gaffers tape to secure it as well. It should pop off easily and leave no trace.

I was hoping to read how you got that enlarger home on your bike.

Thanks for the good ideas, yeah I was going to go back and grab the enlarger and 35m stuff, but I don't shoot 35mm more than once a year. So I figured I'd leave it for someone else that might get more use out of it.

Thinking of getting some adapters 3D printed if I can find a place to do it cheaply. I already measured the spools and camera so now its just a matter of designing it. In the meantime I have some 120 spools I can cut up and make an adapter with.