Want to Buy WTB: 828 Spools/Film

Hey all. I'm guessing this is going to be a looong shot, but would anyone have a roll or two of 828 film (or the spools) sitting around somewhere?

I really only need the actual spools, but a film or two would help for the backing paper as well - I'm looking to re-spool 35mm and use in a Kodak Bantam Special I just picked up.

I have several rolls of 1960s vintage Kodachrome still in the boxes (and metal cans, I think), but I can't put my hand on them instantly (still in boxes from a move five years ago). The auction site seems to have lots of 828, though the sellers are pretty proud of a lot of it and their quoted shipping may not be the same to Australia.

FWIW, you can make 828 film from 120 (more easily, in my experience, than rerolling 35mm, especially if your camera has the feeler finger at the corner of the film gate). Just cut the roll 35mm wide on the 6x4.5 framing track edge, keep the backing (trim the leader for length and shape) and respool to 828 spools (which you still need). You'll get 16 frames (instead of the original 8 or 12) with a fairly wide space between if you use the red/green window, or if you have a camera that stops advance with a friction wheel like my Bantam RF, you'll get 18 frames with normal spacing. And yes, the film and backing will (barely) fit on the spool, partly due to modern film being thinner than what they had in the 1950s when 828 came out. The off cut can be cut again to make a roll of 16 mm non-perfed (for Minolta 16 and similar, long enough for two cartridge reloads) with no edge markings to intrude in your images.



Bantam RF, .EDU Ultra 100 (cut from 120), Parodinal 1:50

If no one pops up with spools on your side of the planet, send me a PM and I'll see if I can't dig up a couple rolls and find out what they cost to ship from here to there.

Your Bantam Special, if everything is working correctly, should do at least this well. Good luck!

Hopefully, I'll have some luck here in Australia, but if I do draw a blank, I'll definitely touch base, Donald - thanks for your kind offer.

Sadly, while the item cost for an 828 film on eBay from many sellers is indeed very reasonable, the actual postage is approximately $AUD45 for one roll, as they all seem to use the eBay Global Shipping method - maybe just a little too steep.

Donald Qualls said:

Just cut the roll 35mm wide on the 6x4.5 framing track edge

Click to expand...

I'm thinking of something like a steel stud, which is much to wide so could you give some clarity, perhaps an image example of what a 6x4.5 framing track edge is, that your referring to.
Thanks p.

Re: cutting 120 to 828. I bought a slitter from someone on eBay and it works great. I don’t use the backing paper in my Kodak Flash Bantam. I had to spend the money to get another spool.

wjlapier said:

Re: cutting 120 to 828. I bought a slitter from someone on eBay and it works great. I don’t use the backing paper in my Kodak Flash Bantam. I had to spend the money to get another spool.

Click to expand...

I have no issue paying for a spool, the problem is 9/10 the shipping is ridiculous for such a small item. We're ridiculously expensive for postal services here in Australia, but I could send a box weighing 1kg/2lb box to the USA for $AUD45!!

Additionally, if I wanted more than one, they add additional costs to it; currently, 1 seller is charging $AUD40 postage for one roll, and then another $AUD11.00 (plus import duties) extra per additional roll. If I decided to buy the remaining 5 rolls it will cost me $AUD80.00 for postage; IMHO that's a price gouge, of course, others may feel it's fair.

All up: those 5 rolls will cost me $AUD210 or $AUD42/roll. While I really want some 828 spools and paper, that's probably stretching it just a tad.

Do you know anyone with a 3D printer? Here's a design for an 828 spool: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3642852
There are similar ones for 620 spools.

reddesert said:

Do you know anyone with a 3D printer? Here's a design for an 828 spool: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3642852
There are similar ones for 620 spools.

Click to expand...

Oh, now that *is* handy!!

Unfortunately, I don't, but I could always put feelers out to see if anyone I know does - thank you!

peter k. said:

I'm thinking of something like a steel stud, which is much to wide so could you give some clarity, perhaps an image example of what a 6x4.5 framing track edge is, that your referring to.
Thanks p.

Click to expand...

The 120 film has three "framing tracks" -- the rows of numbers and warning marks for advancing film in a ruby window camera. One of these, near one edge, is for 6x9; the second, in the middle of the backing strip, is for 6x6, and the third, near the other edge, is for 6x4.5. Examining a backing paper left from processing 120 film will show you which edge of the roll you need to make 35mm wide in order to have that 6x4.5 framing track on the resulting 35mm wide 828 roll. In the past, I've used a utility knife while spinning the roll on my small lathe, but there are sellers on eBay who 3D print film cutters for 127, and I presume the same basic design would work for 828. An alternative I've seen on YouTube is a "guillotine" type cigar cutter -- the roll goes in the hole where the cigar is meant to, the blade goes on a mark around the roll, squeeze the cutter gently while twisting the roll, and in a couple minutes you can feel the blade start to cut into the roll core.

From there, it's just a matter of respooling.

ozphoto said:

Oh, now that *is* handy!!

Unfortunately, I don't, but I could always put feelers out to see if anyone I know does - thank you!

Click to expand...

We're starting to reach the tipping point where a 3D printer will become a near-mandatory accessory for the use of obsolete-format cameras. Making spools, making adapters, making pinhole mounts, making Graflok back adapters -- the list goes on, and on, and on.

You can try to find a "maker space" or similar near you - these frequently have 3D printers you can rent time on (and probably some enthusiast who will help you use it). I haven't done this (and the space local to me is currently closed for COVID), but it's pretty common. I've even heard of public libraries having 3D printers. There are also services where you send some place the file and they print it for you. This may be a little expensive compared to DIY, but worth it if you really need the part.

Yes, 3D printing opens up a world of fabricating those little proprietary pieces or adapters that nobody makes anymore. It isn't a substitute for everything, but it enables clever solutions. I used to wonder what would happen when the last Brownie with its 620 spool inside was thrown out, now I'm less concerned.

reddesert said:

I used to wonder what would happen when the last Brownie with its 620 spool inside was thrown out, now I'm less concerned.

Click to expand...

If the Brownie is gone, why would you need the 620 spool? Honestly, 620 are pretty easy; I could make them from brass sheet and tubing, if they weren't still available. Same for 116 and 616. For 120, it's a little harder, with the thicker flange, and 127 and 828 have the protrusion (canonically with a ratcheting end, though slots seem to work fine).

Bump.