A vintage developing kit

<p>I thought I'd share a couple snaps of a great old developing kit I found at a local camera store:</p>

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<p>And another shot.</p><div></div>

<p>Wow, that's in great shape. Reminds me of the first darkroom kit I received as a kid, which included a small contact printer for printing my 620 negatives. That'll make a nice collectible for display.</p>

<p>I use a couple of those film clips for drying.</p>

<p>Wow II.</p>

<p>My folks got me an Ansco kit, also with contact printer for 620, etc., "fillum" - orthochromatic of course. </p>

 

I had a Sears kit (made by Ansco) that had tank, 3 plastic trays, safelight, paper, chemicals, and a horizontal enlarger that

took 35mm, 126, and 127 negatives. It made 3X prints.

<p>A great find and no doubt something that may be of interest to a heritage museum exhibition or a photography museum. I remember those type of film clips for hanging 35 or 120 films to dry (so maybe I should also be in the museum).</p>

I like how the man in the booklet photo is tray developing 120 or 620 film. I bet at the time that 90% of amateurs used that size film cameras.

<p>Indeed nice and in great condition.</p>

<p>The camera store decided to keep this item. I don't blame them. It looked almost untouched. I thought it was interesting that the kit included that sample negative for the buyer to try printing. I didn't think of it at the time, but I should have asked to print it now that I almost have my darkroom set up!</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I had a Sears kit (made by Ansco) that had tank, 3 plastic trays, safelight, paper, chemicals, and a horizontal enlarger that took 35mm, 126, and 127 negatives. It made 3X prints.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I had something very similar in the 70s. Cherryvale! As I recall it was 35mm only, but it got me started. Now my Omega colorhead enlarger sits unused, but I haven't the heart to part with it.</p>

The closest thing I've seen to this (and it's a great find by the way) is when I bought a cibichrome color kit in my college

days. It's a great piece of photographic history.

<p>I recently bought two NOS Kodak Polycontrast Filter Kits (Model A). The packing Lists are both dated 8/12/68. Earlier this year I got a NOS Kodacraft tank. I need to open a museum. </p>

<p>Kodakraft! The plastic apron instead of a reel is still the easiest to load. Too bad about the spots along the edge though.</p>

<p>When my family owned a camera shop we stocked the Cibachrome Discovery Kit. It came with color filters, a 25 sheet pack of 4x5 Cibachrome paper, a 4x5 processing tube, and sufficient chemistry to process the provided paper. I remember trying a kit in the home darkroom and being favorably impressed.</p>

<p>The good ol' days!</p>

I got an Ansco kit not so long ago on eBay. I think contact printer and paper, but not tank.

The guy developing film does bring back memories - all the way back to Cub Scout days in the 50s

<p>When my family owned a camera shop we stocked the Cibachrome Discovery Kit. It came with color filters, a 25 sheet pack of 4x5 Cibachrome paper, a 4x5 processing tube, and sufficient chemistry to process the provided paper. I remember trying a kit in the home darkroom and being favorably impressed.</p>

That was GREAT stuff! The prints were super. I still have all of the "advanced" accessories, motor driven base, large processing tube and all. The only downside is the chemicals were a bit nasty. If it were still available, I'd probably use it. If I recall correctly the prints were supposed to be very long lasting because of the dye they used.

That was GREAT stuff! The prints were super.

 

I agree. The only reason I stopped using Cibachrome was because of the obnoxious chemicals.

i wonder what that kit sold for new in its day? btw: when were those kits made?.... 1950s?

That is a pretty cool kit... I need some plumbing done at my house to get my darkroom up and running again

Wow they look as if they were new. Right of the box