Unknown print washer hookup

[MarkL]

I picked up this used 8x10 print washer which has no manufacturer markings on it. It has three hoses, but two of them have threaded faucet adapters. Assuming the upper right (larger) hose is a backup overflow drain, am I correct in assuming that the upper left hose (which curiously has a faucet hookup) is the primary outflow? Surely the water enters only at the bottom four corners. Or it could be that the water enters at the upper left and is supposed to exit at four points in the bottom of the tank (which also has a faucet adapter)?

Thanks for any help!
Mark

 

[mrosenlof]

it would probably help to see how 8x10 paper fits in the thing. The four corners are almost certainly the input, with water pressure from the supply preventing the tank from emptying.

 

[Saganich]

Washing will work either way. The tip off is if there is evidence of flow regulation on any of the hoses.

 

[tezzasmall]

Looking the picture, I would think that the connector on the hose top left is surely the way the water tap connects and the way water goes in?

I'm saying that with what I can see, but maybe a picture of it taken from a little further back will help make a final decision, after seeing the whole item.

But also, I think you might just have to try the connector(s) one at a time and see what happens.

I must say that I have never seen a similar thing that you have in all my photography days.

Terry S

PS Looking at the picture again, but especially the dividing wall, I am curious as to how big the item is and what size prints can fit in?

 

[darkroommike]

I have the same washer, never used, but now that the new sink is in I have room for it in the sink. The single line attached to the right side (with the box) is the input and should be the one with the hose fitting, the four lines at the bottom are a drain, should be a pinch fitting on the line, and the last line is the overflow. BTW that's what the design of the tank tells me. It really makes little sense but I fired it up and it seems to work well. The brand is Red Village (yeah never heard of them, either).

 

[darkroommike]

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=003jPA

 

[Vaughn]

I would venture to say that inflow at the upper left, outflow via the five other openings. You control the incoming water, and also the out-going water from the bottom openings. They should be balanced to allow some water to exit via the upper right opening (and over-flow protector) as well as the lower ones.

 

[mgb74]

I would agree with Vaughn, except that I think you fill until the water reaches the upper "overflow" drain, then adjust the volume of incoming water so it stays at that level (almost to overflow drain).

 

[MarkL]

Thank you guys! Darkroom Mike...thanks for being able to ID the thing. The Red Village website is long gone though.

Attached another picture. Yeah there's a pinch valve on the 4 point drain hose. So that's the drain and the confusing faucet adapter must've been for a quick connect for an extension hose to a sink. Size wise, the top of an 8x10 print is just below the top of the separating rings.

Below is a message that was forwarded to me from someone who designs washers, so this may not be the ideal design.

"Looks like there are 3 hoses. There is a semi-myth that hypo is heavier than water (true) but it dissolves in water thus, in solution and not really heavier. If the designer thought this was true then I would guess the bottom 4 drains would be for exiting the wash water or just draining the washer at the end of a wash. The bottom tube has a pinch valve again suggesting it is a drain. It would appear that the washer needs to be used in a sink so that overflowing water can spill over the top. Anyway trying to figure out someone's design is fun."

 

[John Koehrer]

Bottom four= drain

highest connection=overflow

remaining connection=Fill . Is the black "valve" an air bleed?

You wouldn't want the overflow to be below the top edge of the prints, would you?

 

[mgb74]

I can't claim to be someone who designs print washers, but even if the "heavier than water" notion is false, you still want you're drain to be opposite the input. So I'd still argue the bottom tubes are best used as a drain while in operation. I still think the top right tube (original photo) is, in fact, for overflow to prevent overflowing water from spilling over the sides.

It does seem that no 2 print washers are designed the same.

 

[John Koehrer]

I can't claim to be someone who designs print washers, but even if the "heavier than water" notion is false, you still want you're drain to be opposite the input. So I'd still argue the bottom tubes are best used as a drain while in operation. I still think the top right tube (original photo) is, in fact, for overflow to prevent overflowing water from spilling over the sides.

It does seem that no 2 print washers are designed the same.

I don't think there's a viable argument to your logic in this dimension.