Watson Film Loader Age Well?

Hi everyone,

I know bulk loader question's have been addressed many times, please bare with...

But haven't found my main concern. I have a Watson 100 Bulk Film Loader, I can't remember when/where I acquired it.

My main question is how reliable are these loader's as they age? Being fairly old, would it still be viable to load film without ruining 30m of of film via light leaks. It appears in good shape, with the access door appearing to shut tight. Looking at a PDF instruction sheet, it all looks good. I guess the design doesn't have any type of foam seals around the access door.

I plan on reusing film carts I've been saving by leaving the tongue out & taping the film to it, but also using Ultrafine (or older Kodak) Metal Snap Cap's Carts as well. So when loading those snap cap carts, how difficult is it to pop it back together when loading? I remember unloading those in the past by slamming it on a table to pop the top, is it like that loading them as well? Of course the plastic twist tops seem fairly self explanatory. Thanks!

You could test the loader, by putting a short length of unexposed film in it, leaving the loader exposed to light for a time, then developing the film.

That's a good idea John. Any thoughts about the snap cap carts? Are assembling them easier? No slamming, just sliding the sprocket assembly into the cart once the film is taped in place & popping the top back on with my fingers?

I use reloadable cassettes, that I bought from B&H

 

Kalt 35mm Cassette For Bulk Film (Plastic, 1 Cassette) NP11137-1

 

I, too have bulk loader, a Computrol, that I need to check.

I use my bulk loaders in a changing bag. I don't like to expose the far end of the roll I am loading.

 

The plastic used for many is brittle, and there could be cracks.

 

There is supposed to be an interlock that stops you from opening the door when the light trap is also open.

One that I have has that part broken off.

 

Even so, if you do open at the same time, the film stops enough light that it will only get two or so layers in.

Maybe 2 or 3 feet of film. (Well, maybe more in direct sun, so don't do that.)

There are no felt or foam traps in a Watson loader. It's all done with overlapping labyrinths. As long as the plastic hasn't warped it'll be useable.

 

I have Watsons and similar design loaders that were second-hand when I bought them about 40 years ago, and they're still working fine.

 

The only loader I have with a felt trap is a 'Fulfix' make. It actually wastes less film per load than a Watson, and the felt trap is extremely hard-wearing. Just FWIW.

 

"I plan on reusing film carts I've been saving by leaving the tongue out & taping the film to it..."

 

- Messy, and a bad idea. If the tape sticks in the felt and comes undone you'll have to take the entire camera into a changing bag to rescue the film. Buy some proper reloadable cassettes.

Edited August 11, 2018 by rodeo_joe|1

My experience with film loaders was not that there was a problem with ageing, but rather that there was a wear-out issue. The problem I encountered was that the ratchet mechanism involves a short bit of metal spring and a plastic cog, and after years of use (30+ years), one or the other gives out. No complaints - I'm getting old and wearing out also!

 

As to cartridges, I used a collection of old metal film cartridges that I acquired in the days when the end cap wasn't tightly crimped on and would simply snap off - Ilford, Agfa, etc. I never found a Kodak cartridge with a removal cap. I cleaned them before loading (and that included wiping a plastic picnic knife across the felt to knock off any sand or grit that might have collected there). I reused those cartridges dozens of time for more than 30 years with no problems at all.

 

That said, your plan to leave a pigtail that you simply splice film onto would eliminate the need to remove the cap, but you still need to worry about grit and other trash contaminating the light seal.

 

Incidentally, my rationale for bulk loading was to have a consistent emulsion vintage over a range of loads, and also to be able to tailor the load to match my eventual negative storage solution. Negative sleeves that are designed to contact print on 8x10 paper only hold 30 exposures - and standard 24 and 36 commercial loads don't match well. By bulk loading, I could make each roll exactly 30 exposures to conveniently match my negative storage scheme.

• these old loaders hold up very well to age. mine were from the late 60s. i gave them all away years ago and are still in use today.
  

- Messy, and a bad idea. If the tape sticks in the felt and comes undone you'll have to take the entire camera into a changing bag to rescue the film. Buy some proper reloadable cassettes.

Good to know! Sounds like too much trouble & would probably be my luck.

I almost bought some of those Kalt carts from B&H, but read from one reviewer they didn't fit in their Nikon F5. I have an F4 & didn't want to order some if they didn't fit.

Kodak cartridges older than me have removable ends, my dad still had some when I was young.

 

But there have been Kodak Snap-Cap cartridges for years, which have only one end removable.

 

My first 35mm cartridge I got when I was nine, on a trip through Seattle, reloaded by a Seattle dealer.

I now live a few blocks from the address on the cartridge, but the store has moved on.

When our local camera store folded, I bought a bunch of re-usable film cartridges. My Watson loader is still in good shape, but it's very hard to find 50 foot rolls of film that I want to shoot. 100' is just too much for my shooting habits.

 

One of the nicest re-usable film cassettes was from a late Soviet film: