"Daylight" Tanks?

[Kai Griffin]

I've ended up with two so-called "daylight" bakelite developing tanks made by Agfa (though I've seen the exact same tanks marketted under various brand names, including Leica) - one for 35mm, the other for 120.  I've never used them, and not sure that I will - are they worth the effort?  I say "effort", because I would need to do a bit of work to both of them to get them fully functional.  I don't really want to bend an effort if they're not worth it...

I've only used regular cyllindrical (Patterson) tanks in the past - but even that was a long time ago.  I want to start B&W processing again.

[nelsonfoto]

I use bakelite tanks with no problem, can even use a two-roll tank for dev'ing  LF film if you taco the negative with emulsion side on the inside.

[Kai Griffin]

Thanks Craig.  Actually, it's not the bakelite that I'm worried about - it's the style of tank itself.  I should have used the correct name - they're called the "Agfa Rondinax" 60 and 35u (for 120 and 35mm respectively).  They were made before & after the war, I suppose into the 60's (maybe even later?).  The 120 film version looks like this:  http://www.urmonas.net/manuals/rondinax/rondinax-1.jpg and the 35mm version looks like this: http://www.urmonas.net/manuals/rondinax35u/rondinax35u-3.jpg.  Mine would work OK, but one needs a new clip to attach the film, and the other one needs a whole new belt....  I have a feeling I should stick with what I know and get a traditional tank!

[P C Headland]

I've got one of the 120 ones - a Loadamat.

It seems easy enough to load, in fact with test films I've had no problems at all.  The first one I tried to dev, it kinked while separating the backing paper  

The fact that you've got to constantly turn the knob, and the fact that my other tank (Gepe) has an easyloader means I haven't tried it again.  I keep meaning to though.

I have read that some people take them with them when the wish to develop "on the road", as no darkroom or changing bag is required.  The Rondix (a variation of the 35mm one) looks like the best of the bunch, with a nice little winding crank.

[Kai Griffin]

Thanks for the info!  Hmmm.  Sounds like I should at least give it a shot, once I've rigged up a new clip for the 35mm one.  It's been quite a while since I've developed film, but we've recently moved into a place with a perfect darkroom area, and thought I'd see if the brain cells that once held that skill 20 years ago are still functional.  I bought these tanks about a year ago with the idea of taking it up again.  :wink:
Cheers,
Kai

[Gene M]

How do you get to Carnegie Hall ?

Practice, practice, practice.

[Andrea]

I have a couple of these tanks but use them no longer. The problem was that I found they scratched the negs with all that constant turning. Great idea though and of course it may well have been me that caused the problems not the 'machine'. :?