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What the heck is this?

pbromaghin

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Sep 30, 2010
Messages
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Location
Castle Rock, CO
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I know it's some kind of processing tank, but how does it work?



 
Beautiful! Seems you are missing the apron loader though.
Why can’t we have this today?
The apron idea is good. Would ease loading for a lot of beginners and be quite indifferent to moisture and never bind or kink regardless of format.
 
I came across this at Englewood Camera in Littleton, CO. Nobody at the store knows how it works. Thanks so much.

Helge, might there be a problem with the emulsion side contacting the apron?
 
pbromaghin said:
I came across this at Englewood Camera in Littleton, CO. Nobody at the store knows how it works. Thanks so much.

Helge, might there be a problem with the emulsion side contacting the apron?
Click to expand...

With inversion I doubt that is a problem. Also we don’t know how the apron worked. It might have edge spacers that keeps the film pressed against one wall at the edges.
 
It looks like the apron system was recently available, but no longer manufactured. Arista 120 tanks with aprons from Freestyle. Who knew?

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/50120-Arista-E-Z-(120-Single-Reel)-Film-Developing-Tank

I used to have one of the old plastic Kodak tanks with apron, but couldn't find it to take a picture. The apron looks like a lasagna noodle, so it would only contact the edges of the film. That Arista apron looks similar to what I remember about the Kodak. I never actually used mine (that I remember), since the Paterson style reels became the norm.
 
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That apron reminds me of a lasagne noodle. Hmmm, maybe a pasta maker could…..
 

Developing tanks with aprons

Accidentally, at a local flea market, I came across a tinny "ARS Roll Film Developing Tank 35". It looked like new and bought it for 5 euros. Inside it had an apron and not the usual reels. The very next night I tried it with a roll of 135 film. I was surprised by the ease of loading film to...
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The Ars-Imago guys must be kicking themselves. This is such a good idea that even if it has a few kinks they could probably be further ironed out or lived with.
 
Reels/spirals don't cooperate with film wider than 120. One can see why the "see-saw" method with a couple of film clips was so popular.
 
I like page 14 where they show using a flat iron to dry mount the photo, and I just threw mine out last week.
 
Here's a look at the back side of that apron. You can clearly see that thick ribber piece sewn to the apron itself. Apparently it created enough space to allow the developer to flow freely and in even contact with the emulsion. I used to think those little dimples were pinholes to circulate the dev, but they aren't. I guess they just discourage the film from sticking to the apron. My apron is very old and brittle--it's got several cracks in it, so I've never used the tanks except as decoration. One tank, though, is labelled for pack film and has a rack that puts the film sheets in a taco-style configuration. That one might be useable.
 

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