What is this Zone VI thing?

[frobozz]

With my treasure haul off Craigslist this week, I got this thing that I just can't figure out what it is. It's made by Zone VI, and everything else in this haul was for darkroom use, not taking pictures, so I don't think it has anything to do with their cameras. So I'm listing it in this forum, I hope that was a good guess!

Duncan

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

It uncurls fiber based prints. A Fred Picker invention I assume.

 

[Ektagraphic]

A device to uncurl fiber prints If you don't want it I'll surely buy it off of you!!

 

[frobozz]

Aha! A google search with that does in fact bring up the scattered references to it - I guess they later made a plexiglass version.

Sending PM to Ektagraphic

Duncan

 

[bill schwab]

Haven't seen one of those in years!

 

[frobozz]

I have a big stainless drum dryer, so I don't think I'll be needing this. SO....i f anyone is interested, it's for sale in the classifieds section. (Shameless plug)

Duncan

 

[lxdude]

Interesting town name. I guess all their stuff is Newfanegled.

 

[pentaxuser]

It uncurls fiber based prints. A Fred Picker invention I assume.

Might be just me but I can't work out how it does this.

Anyone care to elaborate a little. Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Ian Grant]

Haven't seen one of those in years!

OK so as you've seen one before please describe in a 100 words just how on earth it works

Ian

 

[frobozz]

Here is a picture of one in use:

http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/store/Zone-VI-Print-Flattener_130351381708.html

Duncan

 

[Ian Grant]

Jesus $104 to add a reverse curve, that's CAPITALISM true US style.

Ian

 

[pentaxuser]

Ah that's how it works. Seems quite simple. These days I'd have thought anyone with access to a reasonable workshop could have knocked them out for a profit at way below $104. Maybe it's a collector's item - having Zone VI on its side.

At $104 or even its equivalent in pounds sterling, I think I'll pass on it

pentaxuser

 

[frobozz]

Well, I'm not asking anywhere near that much for mine That's just what they have on that webpage. As near as I can tell, it actually sold for that much on ebay a month or two ago. Weird. I'm betting they didn't cost that much new!

Duncan

 

[David Lindquist]

Original prices

Well, I'm not asking anywhere near that much for mine That's just what they have on that webpage. As near as I can tell, it actually sold for that much on ebay a month or two ago. Weird. I'm betting they didn't cost that much new!

Duncan

This print flattener is in the Zone VI 1985-86 where it is described as a new item. Looks like the white plastic version shown in this thread. Price was $24.50. Same item, same materials, same price in the Spring 1990 catalogue.

The next Zone VI catalogue I have is 1994. The print flattener is now made of clear plastic and the price is almost double at $45.00. The last Zone VI catalogue I have is 1995-96. Plastic is still clear, price is still $45.00.

This is probably more than anyone wanted to know.
David

 

[frobozz]

This one looks plastic, but it's actually heavily painted wood.

Duncan

 

[2F/2F]

Jesus $104 to add a reverse curve, that's CAPITALISM true US style.

Ian

I guess most people here have never heard of an iron, let alone know how to use one!

When I don't have access to a dry mount press, an iron works just fine. I use an old ferrotyping plate below, and a mat board on top.

 

[David Lindquist]

This one looks plastic, but it's actually heavily painted wood.

Duncan

Well never assume anything. The Zone VI catalogues don't say what either the opaque white or the clear models are made of.
David

 

[lxdude]

Ah that's how it works. Seems quite simple. These days I'd have thought anyone with access to a reasonable workshop could have knocked them out for a profit at way below $104. Maybe it's a collector's item - having Zone VI on its side.

At $104 or even its equivalent in pounds sterling, I think I'll pass on it

pentaxuser

At that price, I'd say piss on it!

 

[frobozz]

Well never assume anything. The Zone VI catalogues don't say what either the opaque white or the clear models are made of.
David

No, I mean, I am holding the one in this thread in my hands and it is heavily painted wood. You can see the plys on the end cuts, through the white paint.

Duncan

 

[clayne]

Jesus $104 to add a reverse curve, that's CAPITALISM true US style.

Ian

Haha, I couldn't agree more. If one's stupid enough not to be able to figure out how to replicate this, then they deserve to hand over their money.

 

[frobozz]

Just for the historical record, I sold it for $40 shipped...and since shipping was $15, that would peg the current "street price" of this thing (at least amongst the APUG crowd) at $25.

Duncan

 

[frotog]

Just for the historical record, I sold it for $40 shipped...and since shipping was $15, that would peg the current "street price" of this thing (at least amongst the APUG crowd) at $25.

Duncan

The "current street price" on anything zone vi is, in most cases, significantly higher than the original catalogue price. And while I have a difficult time understanding the appeal of a technical-centric approach to making high modernist b/w pictures of rocks and streams a good 75 years after this kind of work was relevant, there evidently exists a legion of post f64er's who are willing to part with substantial sums of money to feel a little more the aura of Ansel. Hence the outlandish prices that people are paying for anything zone vi no matter how ridiculous it was (and they made a lot of crappy stuff). Even more absurd than a $200 print flattener is the zone vi drying racks, eight of which recently sold on ebay for over $200. The fact that the same screens are still available from Calumet for less than half that suggests that this mania is still very much alive. As with anything on the secondary market, "current street price" is determined at auction, in this case ebay. Had you put it up for auction you probably would have cleared at least two times the amount you sold it here for.

 

[frobozz]

If I was trying to get the most money possible for it, ebay is indeed where I would have listed it! The two of these that are still findable in ebay completed auctions sold for $46 (one just like mine) and $104 (the clear plastic kind)...so clearly maximizing money wasn't my goal. I priced it lower, and took an offer even lower than that.

Seems nobody is interested in the well-outfitted Durst DA-900 enlarger I posted here, so that one will be going to ebay.

Duncan

 

[frotog]

clearly maximizing money wasn't my goal. I priced it lower, and took an offer even lower than that.

Yes, clearly. My point is simply that the amount you sold it for here cannot be construed as an indication of (sic) "the current street price" or rather the actual market value.

 

[frobozz]

I said the "current street price (at least amongst the APUG crowd)" - they seem to be a sharper bunch than the ebay crowd - or maybe just cheaper

Duncan