Please help me with these old developing tanks

[Julio1fer]

I am sorting out some darkroom leftovers from my late father. There are these two tanks. I would be grateful if you happen to know them, and notice if there are missing parts.

The first one is a Jobo 110.





Looking at the Internet it seems that a part is missing, a central long screw that holds the top element and the reel to the tank

The second one is a Patterson; I believe that a cap (for the gray plastic top) is missing. When the long screw is attached, turning it makes the whole reel turn.





I do not remember using these tanks at the time I developed with my father (about 1962 to 1972).

Probably these tanks could still be used if one is careful. They cannot be inverted, because there are no caps. The widest aperture of the reels is something like 71 mm; there are notchs for 120, 35mm and 127 as far as I can see.

Any info would be most welcome!

[jamesmck]

On the Paterson Universal II, there is a manual here http://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/Pater ... rsalII.pdf. A cap for inversion is mentioned on page 8. Maybe you could hold a fingertip over the hole during inversion.

[Julio1fer]

Thanks James for the link to the Paterson manual. There is a missing little cap, but a finger can do the work of the original cap while I find a replacement.

[GrahamS]

The JOBO tank needs an agitator rod but you could make one yourself. I don't think that it can be inverted as the lid is not watertight. The Patterson tank looks to be complete. You need to practice loading the reel with an old film as it can be fiddly and difficult. The reel must be totally dry or the film won't load.

[OpenWater]

Is there a ball bearing (one on each side) in the Patterson reel? If so, the reel ratchets and sucks up the film to be loaded very easily. But Graham is right, practice first.

[Julio1fer]

I'll check for the little metal balls in the Paterson reel, OpenWater, thanks. I also need to tighten the steel spring that homes in the reel axis notches, it is too soft. This tank must have seen a lot of film go through it!

It should be easy to make an agitator rod for the Jobo with a discarded pen. Thanks Graham for the tip. I will also look for a Jobo tank manual. The Jobo is not as well used as the Paterson.

I am intrigued as to how is light blocked or absorbed in the central opening of the Jobo; I'd have thought that a central hole would let enough light into the tank to fog the film, even though everything is black inside.

[GrahamS]

I am intrigued as to how is light blocked or absorbed in the central opening of the Jobo; I'd have thought that a central hole would let enough light into the tank to fog the film, even though everything is black inside.

The inside of the centre of the lid should form a light trap with the centre of the reel core, if that makes sense. It's a long time since I had one in my hands....

[titrisol]

Patterson II!!! Awesome!!!