Tabletop RA4 processors

mnemosyne · Nov 17, 2015

AgX said:
Thermaphot still offer their complete ACP range, which is 7 processors.

When I visited Mr. Kümmerl (the Thermaphot founder and owner) last year in Nürnberg there was no mentioning that he is selling new product. He showed me around his reasonably small workshop and his reservoir of spare parts, all in the second floor of a small building on the former Grundig site. The GmbH still exists (as does the web site) but it is a one man show now and Mr. Kümmerl (who is well past retirement age), at least as I understood him, is concentrating on repairs and maintenance to help keeping the units still in use up and running as long as possible. But I think he mentioned that ocassionally he does buy used processors and resells them as refurbished equipment. So if anyone is interested in buying one of these machines and cannot find them locally it might be an idea to ask Mr. Kümmerl directly if anything is available.

AgX · Nov 17, 2015

His website indicates that some products are no longer available, but not for the ACP range. From this I concluded that this range is still available (as unused stock).
Thank you for the update!

Wayne · Nov 17, 2015

Its nice to know parts are still available. I'd like to replace some rollers for my ICP someday but would prefer not to order from Europe. Anyone know of someone stateside who might still have parts laying around? I used to have the name of someone about 10 years ago but I lost it and they probably are out of the business by now anyway.

mnemosyne · Nov 18, 2015

Wayne said:
Its nice to know parts are still available. I'd like to replace some rollers for my ICP someday but would prefer not to order from Europe. Anyone know of someone stateside who might still have parts laying around? I used to have the name of someone about 10 years ago but I lost it and they probably are out of the business by now anyway.

Problem with rubber rollers is there limited lifespan as a spare part. The rubber will harden and loose its flexibility after a couple of years --- whether you use it or just have it sitting around makes no difference. So even if you find someone who still has some old stock sitting around, chances are that it is junk by now. This is the reason why even Thermaphot/Mr. Kümmerl does not hold a large cache of rubber rollers for the ACP processors but regularly orders new material from a supplier, that then is ground down by him to the required dimensions. This makes the rollers relatively expensive to replace but guarantees that you get the best possible use out of them. Some individual rollers (I think the large diameter ones) at least in the ACP can also be restored by regrinding/reconditioning the surface.

Contact Mr. Kümmerl at Thermaphot (I will send you his Email address via PM). I don't know to what extent he offers support for OEM product like the ICP but I have the impression that he is a gentle and helpful person. If there is anyone in the US that still offers parts or service, he will probably know. If not he might figure out the most convenient and cost effective way to help you.

AgX · Nov 18, 2015

Wayne said:
Its nice to know parts are still available. I'd like to replace some rollers for my ICP someday but would prefer not to order from Europe.

A common way to handle the roller issue is to have them refurbished at a specialized workshop.

fdonadio · Sep 20, 2016

Dusepulchre said:
Here is the link to the ACP 505 manual... If usefull to anybody... ;-)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ah0k1sm6pfdx1jx/Thermaphot ACP 505.pdf?dl=0

Link is broken... I know it's been a long time but, if anyone can send me a working link, I'd be grateful!

Cheers,
Flavio

Yuriy Kuzin · Feb 21, 2019

mnemosyne said:
Problem with rubber rollers is there limited lifespan as a spare part. The rubber will harden and loose its flexibility after a couple of years --- whether you use it or just have it sitting around makes no difference. So even if you find someone who still has some old stock sitting around, chances are that it is junk by now. This is the reason why even Thermaphot/Mr. Kümmerl does not hold a large cache of rubber rollers for the ACP processors but regularly orders new material from a supplier, that then is ground down by him to the required dimensions. This makes the rollers relatively expensive to replace but guarantees that you get the best possible use out of them. Some individual rollers (I think the large diameter ones) at least in the ACP can also be restored by regrinding/reconditioning the surface.

Contact Mr. Kümmerl at Thermaphot (I will send you his Email address via PM). I don't know to what extent he offers support for OEM product like the ICP but I have the impression that he is a gentle and helpful person. If there is anyone in the US that still offers parts or service, he will probably know. If not he might figure out the most convenient and cost effective way to help you.

Hello,

Could you please share Mr. Kümmerl e-mail? I'm trying to find some spare rollers or maybe even fully assembled racks for Thermaphot ACP 302 machine. I have some image banding issues, I suspect the reason is two rollers in dev rack look like someone chewed them.

AgX · Feb 21, 2019

It is given at their site, at the distributors page.

Yuriy Kuzin · Feb 21, 2019

AgX said:
It is given at their site, at the distributors page.

Thank you, will give it a try.

V Kapoor · Oct 29, 2020

Reopening this thread, as I'm looking for a tabletop processor. Does anyone have a Fujimoto or a Durst RCP and prefer one over the other?

If anyone is looking to sell, please let me know!

Thank you/

mshchem · May 30, 2021

I'm curious if anyone is still using these tabletop units? I have a Durst RCP-20 in the mail. I doubt I will get much use out of it but I'm curious. I've got Jobo CPP setup, other processors etc. Is there someone that has a copy of the RCP-20 manual?
I know these are originally for EP2, timing isnt a big deal. My fantasy is to run 5" wide roll paper through this.

It will keep me buried in projects

Best Mike

fdonadio · May 30, 2021

mshchem said:
I'm curious if anyone is still using these tabletop units?

I guess so. I took my darkroom apart, but I planned on using my ACP-505 to process RA-4.

In my opinion, it’s way much better than using open trays: the temperature and timings are always right, the chemistry is replenished automatically, the print comes dry at the end of the process, and the fumes are mostly contained.

If one is so inclined, the processor can be installed in a separate room or compartment with its own separate ventilation system. That way, one’s lungs are totally safe from harm by blix vapors. Exposed and unprocessed paper can be taken to the processor room inside an empty paper box.

mshchem · May 30, 2021

fdonadio said:
I guess so. I took my darkroom apart, but I planned on using my ACP-505 to process RA-4.

In my opinion, it’s way much better than using open trays: the temperature and timings are always right, the chemistry is replenished automatically, the print comes dry at the end of the process, and the fumes are mostly contained.

If one is so inclined, the processor can be installed in a separate room or compartment with its own separate ventilation system. That way, one’s lungs are totally safe from harm by blix vapors. Exposed and unprocessed paper can be taken to the processor room inside an empty paper box.

I don't have a problem with fumes, but I'm not making prints everyday. Some of these machines are 40 years old. I think using for black and white processing makes some sense.

I've even toyed with the idea of using something like this to tone black and white prints. Changing pulleys on these little Durst machines makes different speeds possible.

fdonadio · May 31, 2021

mshchem said:
I don't have a problem with fumes, but I'm not making prints everyday. Some of these machines are 40 years old. I think using for black and white processing makes some sense

I think these machines are more beneficial to printers that have a considerably high throughput, no matter if processing B&W or color paper.

mshchem · May 31, 2021

fdonadio said:
I think these machines are more beneficial to printers that have a considerably high throughput, no matter if processing B&W or color paper.

Yes, I agree. I have the old Kodak Rapid Color Processors. These are work in the dark, drum machines, I love these. All mine have heaters. You can process 1 or 30 prints. 2 to 6 ounce 1 shot. No replenishment or control strips. 2 minute clean up.

fdonadio · May 31, 2021

mshchem said:
Yes, I agree. I have the old Kodak Rapid Color Processors. These are work in the dark, drum machines, I love these. All mine have heaters. You can process 1 or 30 prints. 2 to 6 ounce 1 shot. No replenishment or control strips. 2 minute clean up.

Sounds cool. I’ve never seen one, though.

Edit: just found this.

mshchem · May 31, 2021

fdonadio said:
Sounds cool. I’ve never seen one, though.

Edit: just found this.

Yep, that's me

adamlugi · Jun 15, 2021

https://www.colenta.at/php/index.php
He sells new machines for RA4 all the time.

Avalancheofbricks · Sep 18, 2022

Hello. Does anyone know if the heating elements for the RCP 20 can be replaced? I’m looking at purchasing a unit that seems to be missing one. I would love to refurbish it

Tabletop RA4 processors

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