Which way up for the reel?

[winger]

Obviously I haven't been shooting enough 35mm recently. The last time I developed two rolls of 35mm, one roll (I suspect the one on the lower reel) had surge marks on one side. My guess is that I put the reel in the wrong way. But by the time I looked at the negatives, of course I had no way to know which way it had been in the tank. It's a Yankee tank that holds two rolls of 35mm or you can adjust the reel and do one roll of 120. So here are pictures of each end of the reel and the bottom of the tank. Should the slightly bumpier end be up? I think (but totally not positive) that I put the more bumped end down last time, but ?? Amazingly for me, I do not seem to have the instruction booklet for the tank. Any educated guesses? I have two rolls I need to develop today if possible (no, I'm completely not leaving something until right before the deadline - HA).

 

[Pieter12]

I don't think it would make much difference. one way or another unless it engages an agitation device like the Patterson tanks. Overall, the impression I got from watching some youtube videos is the Yankee roll film tank is not that good, maybe you should try something else.

 

[winger]

I don't think it would make much difference. one way or another unless it engages an agitation device like the Patterson tanks. Overall, the impression I got from watching some youtube videos is the Yankee roll film tank is not that good, maybe you should try something else.

I've been using it since 1991. It may not be perfect, but this is the first time I'd had this issue.

 

[MattKing]

It actually might matter - but I would expect the reel would sit better if it was in the right way.
The thing that confuses me is that I don't think I've ever seen a two reel Yankee tank!

 

[winger]

It actually might matter - but I would expect the reel would sit better if it was in the right way.
The thing that confuses me is that I don't think I've ever seen a two reel Yankee tank!

I bought this at a Jet Photo in the late 80s. I think I ordered it through them? It's two reels that are connected and have the full light-blocking center tube as part of the reels. It can be adjusted to hold a roll of 120 as well (though I use stainless for that). It kinda sits better with the larger bump up and my gut says it goes that way. I did think when I closed it up last time that maybe it was in the other way, but once the film was off the reels, there was no way to know.
And my distilled water is not warm enough right now, so it's probably not getting developed today anyway.

 

[winger]

It's a Yankee Master tank - once I used that in google, at least I got pictures of two reel ones. But still no instructions. Once the water is warm enough, I think I'll do it with the bigger bump up and cross my fingers.

 

[gone]

On my tank (a non Y...ee tank, I don't like that word) the C-clip goes on the top, and the reels are lowered into the tank clip-side up. It's the same w/ both my Beseler and Paterson tanks, but really can't see how it would matter either way. You still have to use both reels even when developing one roll of film. Overly aggressive agitation can cause surge marks too, along w/ too much or too little fluid levels.

 

[cramej]

Once I got rid of my Yankee tank and started using a Paterson, the heavens opened and sun shone bright. I got a bunch of the Yankee tanks for free (never opened!) and wouldn't even give them to anyone to use. Moving to a Paterson system was the best thing for my film in a while!

 

[shutterfinger]

Not seeing the lid its hard to say. Whichever way allows chemicals to flow over the top and bottom of the reels.

 

[MattKing]

Some of the older Yankee tanks have the capacity to develop 116/616 and 70mm film, so if you need that capacity...

 

[Rick A]

Bethe, I've sent you a PM if you need to borrow one of my tank and reel sets.

 

[winger]

Thanks all!