The Ever-Eager Runway Model
The subject of today's video, a roller base for 35mm development tanks
Post-Script: Though I've kept the Corona 4 on display for some years, I haven't paid it as much attention as it deserves, hence why I only found out last week the problem with its feet. If after I replace the feet I decide to continue using it inside its base, I might add a thin sheet of craft foam underneath, to dampen the sound; it's noticeably louder now, absent the thick felt pad.
Should you be interested, here's an embedded link to the You Tube video I was working on, about a project for making a roller base for 35mm film development tanks, for use with rotary processing small direct positive paper prints.
Photo via Lumix G5.
Labels: camera making, Corona 4, Harman DPP, Lumix G5
posted by Joe V at 5:36 PM
5 Comments:
I am tempted to get some of the Typewriter Man's feet for my Corona Four. I am currently using rubber grommets that I got at the hardware store, but the chassis still hangs a bit too low (I think someone might have sat on it - and it's a low slung machine to begin with). Like yours, my Corona Four is always on display. It's the perfect "grab-it" size machine because it's so petite. It just needs to type better.
Beautiful typewriter.
I like the motorbase. I did something similar (mine had a belt around the tank to rotate it) when I was taking photography in college since I did not have the money for a commercial one.
I need to watch the video after work, oops, tomorrow. Wife has anniversary plans for after work.
You just gave me an idea: I have an almost new 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Speed Graphic that I bought at a pawn shop when I moved to Phoenix 57 years ago. It came with 2 automatic sheet film holders, each held 6 cut films. I should buy some positive paper, and put those clever things to good use. Now, how can I process 6 sheets at a time?
Phil, you can tray process these sheets in a darkroom, using the shuffle technique. Absent a darkroom, a 4x5 film tank would work. The Yankee tanks are inexpensive, but because they require a large volume of liquid are not thrifty on chemicals. They're also slow to pour liquid in or out, which is not so much an issue with paper but can be for sheet film.
There are newer tank designs that hold sheet film in a curved configuration, but these don't work for paper, since once it gets wet it becomes soggy and loses its stiffness.
A 4x5 Jobo tank, like what I have, works well, but you can only process two sheets at a time. So I process one double-sided film holder at a time, two sheets at once, in a batch configuration.
Your Speed Graphic camera sounds like an ideal candidate, I've enjoyed my 4x5 version. If the curtain shutter still works, you can adapt other kinds of lenses, that normally don't have integral shutters, like binocular lenses and magnifying glasses.
You won't be able to find Harman paper cut to the exact size, so you'll need a darkroom space with paper trimmer to cut the sheets down. Buy the 8x10 sized sheets, it's more economical. And since you'll be needing a darkroom space anyway, you could then tray develop the prints. You don't need running water, just a holding bath post fixer. And you don't need expensive darkroom trays, just tupperware dishes.
Good luck, keep me posted on your progress.
Thanks for the encouragement. Oops, it is a Century Graphic, not a Speed Graphic, so it does not have a focal plane shutter. I have some deep Nikkor tanks,I think double 120 size. I think I also have a Kodak 120 tank, which I think used a celluloid ribbon with dimpled edges to keep the layers apart. I don't have a darkroom, so everything will have to be done with a changing bag. Wait, since the paper is so slow, maybe I could black out my bathroom enough to process the paper.
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