got some free kit

[ferny]

I was given some free stuff in a few dev. trays. Almost all of it will be handy but I need help indentifying one or two bits.

Tray One;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg.jpg
Mostly measuring stuff, some tongs and a focus finder. The glass jug is cool. It's German and tells you weight for flour, sugar, etc.


Tray Two;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-1.jpg
Another safe-light for me (excellent!), what looks like an enlarger timer but it has two settings so I need to figure that out, a tool to hold negatives for contact sheets and two boxes of filters.

Tray Three;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-2.jpg
Some more bottles, bulbs and three more dev. drums. I think that takes my total to six now! And that large one contains four reels! By the way, do all drums leak or is it just mine?

And in the bag;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-3.jpg
Loads of filters.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-4.jpg
Some very old film and bulk loader. I'm looking into buying a roll of B&W film but it's around £40 for 30m. I may invest in it when I go on me four day trip around Europe in September. Although I won't have much time for photographs then. I've also got LOADS of empty canisters for the bulk film. Most are plastic but four or so old metals ones!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-5.jpg
And can anyone tell me what this may be?



Some of this kit I can give away but it'll have to be the drums for the most part so others can play with B&W developing. I may be getting some more stuff soon too which will probably include an enlarger.


And yes, the room needs a tidy!

[PhotoJet]

The very last photo (black thing-y with 4 openings) is an easel... or at least that's what it looks like to me! :)

If you could post a picture of just the timer, I can explain its use to you. I used to have one just like it (however it was not that cool orange). ;)

If there are individual things you have questions about, can you pick them out & post single pics?

This is quite the "stash" you've got there! NICE!! :)

[Aggie]

definately and easel. It will hold 4 of the same size sheets of paper at the same time. Since you don't have the ability to project four images at the same time, it can be used to hold covered paper until you move the easel. Problem is that you can't center each pick if you have to move it, so it loses the advantage.

[Terri]

Nice haul! You will find good use for this stuff, no doubt.


Some more bottles, bulbs and three more dev. drums. I think that takes my total to six now! And that large one contains four reels! By the way, do all drums leak or is it just mine?
I have 2 Paterson tanks (drums) that look like yours, just not as large - a single reel and a double reel. They both leak! :lol: No cracks or anything, just leaky around the lid. I always have a thick folded towel on the counter where I develop (for tapping after inversion) so nothing stains the surface.

[PhotoJet]

Yeah... they can get leaky if the seal goes bad on them. I've also found that if that blasted seal isn't positioned just right, the thing spews whatever's in it like crazy!:gah:

[Aggie]

Yeah... they can get leaky if the seal goes bad on them. I've also found that if that blasted seal isn't positioned just right, the thing spews whatever's in it like crazy!:gah:

Duct tape...... seriously I have wide masking tape here for those tanks 9I have metal ones) that leak

[mitica100]

Nice haul! You will find good use for this stuff, no doubt.

I have 2 Paterson tanks (drums) that look like yours, just not as large - a single reel and a double reel. They both leak! :lol: No cracks or anything, just leaky around the lid. I always have a thick folded towel on the counter where I develop (for tapping after inversion) so nothing stains the surface.

Or put the developing tank in a good plastic bag, the type that newspapers come in when it's overcast. Recycle, recycle... ;)

[ferny]

The holes in that easel aren't much bigger than a passport photo. I thought it was part of another something which wasn't there.

I've got a few of the Paterson System 4 tanks with the white/grey top and they all leak. What seal are you guys talking about? All mine have a hard plastic ring inside and that's all. I tend to develop above a sink and let whatever comes out fall into that. I've not really used the ones with the flat black and softer top, although I've got a couple of those too. Maybe they'll be better.

I'll get some more shots of that funky orange timer! :mrgreen:
It's only got one socket on it so I'm guessing you can set whatever you plug into it to come on more than once or something. To be honest, I've not really looked at anything. I was given it at that start of the month and all I've been able to do is move the lot around from room to room!

[ferny]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-8.jpg

Here you go. I tried to figure it out but couldn't. Obviously the middle one reads seconds but the other two make little sense. I'd have thought that the left adds a 0 onto the seconds set, but it doesn't. I tested it and unless it's got old and no longer keeps good time I need help to decipher it. I've also cleaned it since taking the snap!

It looks like it'll be more accurate than what I currently use so if I can get it working, or rather understand how to use it, then I'll swap it over.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-9.jpg

I also got the new safelight up. Rather handy as I have a red Paterson one and now an orange Ilford too. Double the light and I can also make sure I've got the correct one for the paper I'm using. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-7.jpg

[Terri]

My first thought, viewing the picture of that timer, is that "Ann will probably know." :lol: Beyond that, I am like you - never seen this particular timer and I would have to do some testing on it for accuracy and for understanding. The middle one is clear, but obviously you will need to go beyond 9 seconds. So, first question - for the dial on the right, what do you get when you set it to "1"? If 1= 10 seconds, then if you set that to 1 and the middle to 5, would you get 15 seconds? That's the way I'd read it unless it proved wrong with that first try.

I am guessing the "x 10" indicator means 10 second increments, with the middle in single seconds. Once you go past "1" on the left, and "9" in the middle, being 19 seconds, for 20 seconds you'd flip the left one to "2" and the middle to 0. Try it and see.

The one on the far right is probably one you'd only use occasionally, for split or half seconds.

As far as the toggle on the top, from "focus" to "time", the focus will probably mean your enlarger light will come on, and stay on, until you're satisfied with your print's focus. When you are ready to make a print and want the lighting timed, you'd flip to "time".

PS I just noted that PhotoJet said she used to have this timer. So, how did I do? :)

[ann]

you did very well terri.


if you put the middle dial on 2 and and x10 you should get 20 seconds. or place the X10 hand on 2 and engage that switch and you should get 20 seconds.
the xo.1 is probably pre digital timers and an attempt at breaking down seconds into tenths.

try putting the base time on 9 secs and engage x0.1 and see what happens.

the timer/focus toggle is just as terri has indicated.

just as an fyi, don't be surprised if the time isn't exact. this is an older timer and sometimes they drift i.e. 3 secs may be 4 secs. may be 2.5. That is why consistence work process is valueable.'

[Terri]

you did very well terri.
:cheer: That's what I like to hear. All that time in the darkroom might actually be helping! :lol:

I was wondering if you'd comment about the possibility of the timer having a "drift". Which won't matter, I suppose, as long as he sticks with what it tells him 20 seconds is, and doesn't switch out timers without re-testing print results.

[ann]

we have had several timers at the school which aren't correct. they have changed over the years. usually on a sec or so.

however, since my students don't bounce around from workstations it doesn't matter . If they change from station to station then their times will no longer be correct. That can be a combination of timer, etc.


Looks of things shift with time, filters, light intensity, and we tend to make minor adjustments without giving it much thought.

i took a negative and made a print on 12 different enlargers. all pro type enlargers, all with above average timers and excellent lens.

the print was made on the same paper, same expxxosure , same fstop, same everything and no two where alilke. some close , some way out in left field.

this was not a surprised and is something predictable , but i did it as a visual example as to why maintaing a consistence method of work, including using the same work station is important. makes life much easier and fun in the long run.

I always find it a bit amusing when someone ask what times did you use, etc.
the numbers are basically meaningless. More important IHMO would be a sharing about the thought process. I.E. Why a warm tone paper vs cold, that type of thing rather than fstop and time.

does that address your request :)

[PhotoJet]

Well, y'all beat me to the punch! :-) I actually had a similar timer. Here's the 'deal'....

Let's say you want to set the timer to 9.5 seconds. You set the middle dial to 9 and the x0,1 dial to 5. (that comma actually does indicate a decimal point).

Now, lets say you want to set the timer to 8 seconds. You FIRST make sure the left knob & right knob are set to 0, then set the middle knob to 8.

The way the dial appears right now in the picture indicates the timer is set to 12 seconds.

The way I tested my timer was to plug in an ordinary lamp to the timer, set it to "FOCUS" and turn on the lamp. This is just to make sure the lamp and the timer are "talking". It's pretty helpful to have a stopwatch or some other digital timer to use to check it against. Flip the switch to "TIME", & set the dials to run tests (you will hit the START button to begin the timer). Start with the maximum on the center dial (9 seconds) then set the timer to .9 second (left & center at 0 and rightmost at 9). Then set the leftmost dial to 1 (this would be 10 seconds). Try it with a couple different combinations... like 12.5 seconds, and 16.8 seconds. If the timer works with a lamp, be sure to test it with the enlarger!

I'll tell you right now that even if the timer is 'off' (doesn't keep perfect time), if it is off consistently, you can still use it quite nicely! I ran into this with my former timer. I would press the 'start' button and the blasted thing would not engage for a second or two. I just started compensating for that by adding on the 'lag time' to my total. hahaha :lol:

[ferny]

I've yet to test the timer properly still. But the way you've described is the way I was testing it before. I've been too busy to check it fully and I've just got some more stuff given to me. A few more bottles, measuring things, another bulk loader, film clips and weights, lots of developing trays and one or two developing tanks. Some are old!

These are the interesting bits.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-15.jpg
Little box of goodies with phallic shaped safe light. I'm not sure what that Paterson disc shaped thing in the middle is, does anyone know? I forget to get a picture.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-16.jpg
"Enlarging Meter"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-17.jpg
Glass contact sheet printer - I need to replace the foam.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-19.jpg
What is this? I was told it was a paper drier but I can't picture it. I was thinking a glazer but as I've never seen one it's a wild guess.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-20.jpg
Paterson Thermodrum. It's used when developing colour paper. It also has a small heater by another company in the box which could prove handy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/jpeg-21.jpg
Opemus 6A BW enlarger with two lenses (one for 35mm and one for 120), timer, etc. You can also see some of the rather large dev. trays too.

[ann]

that is a paper drier, altho, the apron needs to be replaced as it will bleed all those chemical stains to your print.

it is easy to work. just lay the photo face up on the metal and clamp the apron down.

they used to make ferrotype plates that one could place a glossy print face down on the plate and put the plate in the drier and when it was dry it would pop off the plate with a very shinny surface. if you use one of these you have to take a bayer and roll the print down very firmly to get rid of as moisture as possible.

[K_Pugh]

I love seeing all of the old equipment, it just makes sense. Can't help you out with much but look forward to seeing some results. Working with film & paper is so much more interesting & rewarding than working with digital.

[ferny]

What the funk is this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/0d35ab37.jpg

[vicky]

Well it's clearly a Paterson Paper Speed dial.

Duh!!


;-)

[ferny]

It's an exposure meter , but how it's used I'm not sure. I'd assume you dial in the data and whack it under the enlarger and the light will come on when it's correct?

[ann]

it is , but frankly i would use it as a door stop and learn to print the old fashion way, lots of practice. If your negatives are consisitence your printing times will be the same (and that is what you want). Changing times for paper speeds is not difficult to figure

just my 2 cents

[ferny]

I found the intrustions in the end. :blush:

I'll give it a go anyway. Didn't cost me anything and it's a gadget...

[ann]

usually with those gadget you have to make a perfect print to set it up which can be a pain for a beginner, but have fun

[Terri]

Make great scans of your results with this thingy and post 'em, why dontcha? :popcorn: