I'm currently using a standard LCD digital (kitchen) timer to time my film and paper development. As a timer it works fine. However, it has one annoying problem: it wakes the neighbourhood. What I'm after is a timer that has a single ping, or something, at the end of the timed period, rather a continuous alarm that need to be cancelled by the user. Does such a device exist?
I've got a small handheld kitchen timer. It beeps at the end of the time then beeps again 1 minute later. You do need to stop the beep but it's not loud enough to wake the dead.
Perhaps there are slots or holes on the timer case where the sound is coming from? If so, a piece of electrical or other tape should muffle it noticably.
Durst Coltim , only problem is it is 30 second increments. Clockwork with a fluorescent dial and a single reassuring 'ping' at the end of each operation ( can go up to 30 min with almost infinite number of steps). I've seen them on e-bay and at secondhanddarkroom.
MP3 recordings and audio editing software and a burned CD or MP3 player with speakers may be better. Unless you have tape editing capabilities, it is tough to adjust timing or to change just one part of the process on a tape.
Been done. I understand that George Eastman used to time his development experiments by singing short musical pieces. But I don't think he was a big Led Zep fan.