Prehistoric densitometer, Weston model 877

[BobF]

I just purchased a Weston Photographic Anyalyser Model 877 which seems to be a very early densitometer from the mid 1950s. It is almost unused and in good working order with all instructions. I will take it to compare with a more modern unit but I was wondering if anyone knows anything about it.

It must use a selenium photocell and I have heard they don't age well or "wear out" on light meters so could that be a problem? Am I right in assuming that the calibration knob will take care of that, or is there something else I don't know?

Even if it doesn't work properly it is worth the huge $10.00 investment just because it is all beautiful bakelite and the same age as my enlarger.

 

[Europan]

Bob, if you still have that densitometer, know that you can get fresh selenium cells but in most cases the cell is sound, only contact may be poor.

http://www.megatron.co.uk/homepage.html

 

[RJS]

I have one and yes, it does use a selenium cell. I also have a Stouffer calibrated step wedge I always use with my Weston; I measure whatever density is closest to the one I am checking with the Weston so I know my measurements are quite accurate. I had a considerable correspondence with one of the designers of the Weston some years ago as I had found that if I 'zeroed' the Weston it progressively showed increasing densities at the higher levels. It turns out that the design of the Weston was 'tweaked' to read densities for printing with a condenser enlarger. At least that is my recollection. For that reason I always check a density on my Stouffer that is close to the one I am checking. Sounds tedious but it isn't. The only problem I have these days is that I use PMK and the yellow stain doesn't work well with the selenium cell. If you use a non-staining developer you have a very accurate and usable basic densitometer as long as you calibrate it against a calibrated wedge.

Maybe there is another dinosaur out there who remembers more than I. I think I have a very nice pamphlet with operating instructions stuck away somewhere which I could probably find if offered an enticing incentive; something intangible and useless sounds about right!

 

[Kino]

I have one and haven't really used it much but hold on to it for the styling.

Beautiful machine.