Noob Question: Opening Vintage Ilford Film Cassettes

Thepng

Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2019
Messages
35
Location
Tucson
Format
35mm
Hello,

I just got some vintage Ilford film Cassettes because I have read that they are great for respooling film. How do I open these up? Having a hard time finding a description after a bit of googling...and don't want to mess them up.

Thanks!

 
Last edited:

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
Press with two fingers at one end the drum firmly together at the slit and with the other hand pull off the cap at the slit. It takes some force at pressing. I rather sit down and put the hand with the cassette on my leg.

Best open the cassete at the end with the protruding stud.

Concerning opening and closing I prefer the plastic cassette with the tightening bayonet (breech lock) cap.
 
OP
OP

Thepng

Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2019
Messages
35
Location
Tucson
Format
35mm

Success! Thanks for the advice and happy I didn't damage it trying to force it. Squeezing the lips directly seems to not take much force on my particular cassettes.
 
Last edited:

Bill Burk

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
9,323
Format
4x5 Format
Yes! Those old Ilford films came in very nice reusable cassettes!
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,182
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Position the cassette with the protruding end of the spool pointing down toward a hard surface.
Squeeze the cassette between your thumb and fingers - firmly, but without distorting the sides very much.
Push the protruding end of the spool hard down against the hard surface, until the cap pops off from the end at the top.
Eye protection is recommended.
 

ic-racer

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,560
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
I still have some using from the 1980s and the felt is in great condition.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,182
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
JerseyDoug said:
Back in the day we simply held the cassette with the projection facing down and banged it down hard on the darkroom countertop.
Click to expand...
The method I described a couple of posts earlier is the kinder, gentler and quieter version of this.
 

tokam

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
586
Location
Sydney, Aust
Format
Multi Format
ic-racer said:
I still have some using from the 1980s and the felt is in great condition.
Click to expand...
+1

I just gently squeeze the cassette at the end where the spool protrudes and flick off the end cap with my thumbnail. Dead simple.

(Helps if you don't chew your fingernails. )
 

Craig

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 8, 2004
Messages
2,349
Location
Calgary
Format
Multi Format
JerseyDoug said:
That can distort the cap enough to make the cassette useless for reloading. Back in the day we simply held the cassette with the projection facing down and banged it down hard on the darkroom countertop.
Click to expand...
That's what I always did.
 

Juan Valdenebro

Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2010
Messages
1,286
Location
South America
Format
Multi Format
The plastic ones sold by Freestyle are a good option too...
I bought ten many years ago, and one of them didn't adjust well since I got it, so I threw it away.
The other nine have never failed in 12 years, and they're very easy to use.
 

cmacd123

Subscriber
Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
4,314
Location
Stittsville, Ontario
Format
35mm
I often just push off the cap on those with the end of a fingernail. At the time those were made, Agfa used an almost identical cassette. (spool was sometimes a bit different)
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
I got the impression that the Agfa cassettes from same period are more easy to open, but likely I have to do a blind-test to be sure.
 

cmacd123

Subscriber
Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
4,314
Location
Stittsville, Ontario
Format
35mm
AgX said:
I got the impression that the Agfa cassettes from same period are more easy to open, but likely I have to do a blind-test to be sure.
Click to expand...
My collection have been used so many times that it might be hard to tell. Also I got some of the Agfa ones from Freestyle as USED cassettes, (labeled with various agfachrome labels, (with or without mounting!) that they may not be representative.

{My impression is that Ilford bought the packing machine that they used in those days from Agfa, {typography on the edge printing was similar} and they both likely had the cassettes made in the same factory. AP Photo seems to have also made identical cassettes. (or perhaps made them for both companies?)

the current Ilford Packing machines were also made by Agfa.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…