Tower 57-A 35mm Rangefinder(?)

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 15, 2016

I bought a Tower 57-A with three lens filters and a wide angle lens on Saturday, it even had the owners manual, lol, (score!). The camera had an exposed roll of Tower Reversal type Color DAYLIGHT type film inside (125 speed maybe?). The canister does not give me any clue to how it might be processed, i.e. what chemistry is required. The camera was made in Japan, presumably in the 60's and I can assume that the film came with the camera from the manufacturer. my first reaction is to take the film into my Pro Lab to see if they can send it out for processing. I would love to be able to tell them what I need in case they haven't seen anything like it either.

I appreciate any feedback you might offer!

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 15, 2016

I just called and spoke with Seattle Film Works. They believe the film is an E-4 Process and my best bet is to develop it as B&W negative using either D-76 or T-Maxx. Any further thoughts on times, etc?

bdial · Feb 16, 2016

Tower is a trade name used by Sears. The Tower 35mm rangefinder I have was made by Nicca, but Sears sold cameras with the "Tower" name made by many manufacturers.

As for the film, E-4 is probably a good guess, though that would make it around 40 years old. It could be some other proprietary process too. It's probably not a Kodak film, more likely from GAF or Ansco, and probably more like 64 ASA.

I have no idea on the timing, Jnanian works with old film quite a lot, he may have some suggestions.

Rick A · Feb 16, 2016

I bought one of those a couple of years back at a flea market, for a quarter. Sweet camera until it died. I think I still have the leather ever ready case for it somewhere.

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 16, 2016

bdial said:
Tower is a trade name used by Sears. The Tower 35mm rangefinder I have was made by Nicca, but Sears sold cameras with the "Tower" name made by many manufacturers.

As for the film, E-4 is probably a good guess, though that would make it around 40 years old. It could be some other proprietary process too. It's probably not a Kodak film, more likely from GAF or Ansco, and probably more like 64 ASA.

I have no idea on the timing, Jnanian works with old film quite a lot, he may have some suggestions.

I spent an hour on the phone with a film processor in Colorado yesterday, he said he sees a roll of tower film every year or two. he said it's either Kodachrome or Ektachrome slide film and told me how to find out which it is. I can develop them as negative in either D-76 stock solution (72-75 degrees) for 3:05 or cold C-41 (72-75 degrees BUT NO HOTTER!!) for 12-14 minutes.

I'll post more step by step in a separate post later.

1L6E6VHF · Feb 16, 2016

I'd be curious to see a picture of the film cassette.

I know that one incarnation of Tower Reversal Color was rebadged Dynachrome with a film speed of ASA 10 and K-11 process (i.e., a copy of original Kodachrome)

It went to 25 in the mid-sixties (well after EK had introduced Kodachrome II), and may (later) even have been Ferraniachrome.

Is the backside of the film a deep black?

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 16, 2016

1L6E6VHF said:
I'd be curious to see a picture of the film cassette.

I know that one incarnation of Tower Reversal Color was rebadged Dynachrome with a film speed of ASA 10 and K-11 process (i.e., a copy of original Kodachrome)

It went to 25 in the mid-sixties (well after EK had introduced Kodachrome II), and may (later) even have been Ferraniachrome.

Is the backside of the film a deep black?

I don't have a leader puller and the camera shop in town, San Antonio, Tx. doesn't carry them so I cannot check for the rem-jet carbon backing signifying Kodachrome/Film Stock.

I found a shop in Austin, Holland Photo Imaging, that does two hour dunk developing for 7dollars a roll and that's a good enough reason for me to drive to Austin, lol.

The tech I spoke to at Rocky Mountain Film figures the film is either E-4 or K-2.

The can is flat yellow metal with no indications on the label.

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 16, 2016

bdial said:
Tower is a trade name used by Sears. The Tower 35mm rangefinder I have was made by Nicca, but Sears sold cameras with the "Tower" name made by many manufacturers.

As for the film, E-4 is probably a good guess, though that would make it around 40 years old. It could be some other proprietary process too. It's probably not a Kodak film, more likely from GAF or Ansco, and probably more like 64 ASA.

I have no idea on the timing, Jnanian works with old film quite a lot, he may have some suggestions.

The tower is a Samoca produced between 1952-1958 if I can trust my research.

1L6E6VHF · Feb 16, 2016

Seeing that artwork, I'm REALLY thinking that's K-11.

I'm not sure when Sears stopped naming their film (and other photography products) "Tower" and when they switch to just calling them "Sears".

My 1963 S/R catalog calls their films "Tower". In 1969, the film was "Sears Film", but you could join the "Tower Photo Club" if you wanted to have your film developed and a new roll of film sent to you with your pictures.

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 16, 2016

1L6E6VHF said:
Seeing that artwork, I'm REALLY thinking that's K-11.

I'm not sure when Sears stopped naming their film (and other photography products) "Tower" and when they switch to just calling them "Sears".

My 1963 S/R catalog calls their films "Tower". In 1969, the film was "Sears Film", but you could join the "Tower Photo Club" if you wanted to have your film developed and a new roll of film sent to you with your pictures.

what is this "tower photo club" of which you speak?

1L6E6VHF · Feb 17, 2016

Fredrick Van Atta said:
what is this "tower photo club" of which you speak?

I made a minor mistake. It was the Tower Film Club.

Quoting an envelope bound into the Fall and Winter 1969 Sears catalog, between pages 1294 and 1295:

"JOIN THE TOWER FILM CLUB
You get prompt, fine quality processing roll after roll after roll.
You take the pictures. . . Send us the exposed film, We process the film . . . send pictures plus a fresh, new roll of film postpaid to you. All at one low price."

I think I'll take them up on this offer. 20 exposure size 126, ASA 64, is $2.49, including a roll of film (1969, almost surely a proprietary process substantive chrome film made in Italy by Ferrania, by then owned by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing.)

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 17, 2016

1L6E6VHF said:
I made a minor mistake. It was the Tower Film Club.

Quoting an envelope bound into the Fall and Winter 1969 Sears catalog, between pages 1294 and 1295:

"JOIN THE TOWER FILM CLUB
You get prompt, fine quality processing roll after roll after roll.
You take the pictures. . . Send us the exposed film, We process the film . . . send pictures plus a fresh, new roll of film postpaid to you. All at one low price."

I think I'll take them up on this offer. 20 exposure size 126, ASA 64, is $2.49, including a roll of film (1969, almost surely a proprietary process substantive chrome film made in Italy by Ferrania, by then owned by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing.)

that offer can't possibly be still legitimate! lol

1L6E6VHF · Feb 17, 2016

I think that this is the ad copy for the film from Fredrick's camera.

From 1963 Fall and Winter Sears catalog:

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 20, 2016

1L6E6VHF said:
I think that this is the ad copy for the film from Fredrick's camera.

From 1963 Fall and Winter Sears catalog:

that is so cool! thank you for posting! I am headed to Austin tomorrow to get this tower roll, and a roll of Kodacolor-X which came out of a Brownie Hawkeye Flash I bought at the same time developed! I'm taking a couple other cross processes with me also... should be fun... I'll post some images if I get any.

AgX · Feb 20, 2016

bdial said:
As for the film, E-4 is probably a good guess, though that would make it around 40 years old. It could be some other proprietary process too. It's probably not a Kodak film, more likely from GAF or Ansco, and probably more like 64 ASA.

GAF did not use any E-process.

Xmas · Feb 20, 2016

Yo

Fredrick Van Atta said:
I don't have a leader puller and the camera shop in town, San Antonio, Tx. doesn't carry them so I cannot check for the rem-jet carbon backing signifying Kodachrome/Film Stock.

I found a shop in Austin, Holland Photo Imaging, that does two hour dunk developing for 7dollars a roll and that's a good enough reason for me to drive to Austin, lol.

The tech I spoke to at Rocky Mountain Film figures the film is either E-4 or K-2.

The can is flat yellow metal with no indications on the label. View attachment 150787 View attachment 150788

The best leader puller is made from scrap 35mm film and scissors.
Google for instructions...

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 20, 2016

Xmas said:
Yo

The best leader puller is made from scrap 35mm film and scissors.
Google for instructions...

lol I ordered a 3$ tool from B&h yesterday and dropped the canister off this morning... I appreciate your help though!

Fredrick Van Atta · Feb 26, 2016

I

These are Cross Processed images shot on Fujichrome 64T expired 2005

Tower 57-A 35mm Rangefinder(?)

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