Re: [Rollei] Agfa Rondinax 60 Developing Tank

["Bob Shell" <bob >]

Richard,

I don't know when the Rondinax for 120 was first made, but it was a
current product in the mid-70s and I sold them in my camera shop.  We
mostly sold the one for 35mm and only one or two of the ones for 120.
I never used one myself, so can't help you on agitation.

Bob

- ----------
>From: Richard Knoppow <dickburk  >
>To: rollei  us
>Subject: [Rollei] Agfa Rondinax 60 Developing Tank
>Date: Mon, Mar 20, 2000, 7:39 PM
>

>   On Sunday, having nothing better to do, I went to the Buena Park camera
> sale. Out of curiosity, I bought an Agfa Rondinax tank. This is an
> interesting gadget for developing  120 roll film without a darkroom or
> changing bag. A somewhat similar tank was also made for 35mm film and I
> believe marketed by Leitz as well as Agfa.
>   I got the thing with most of the original box but not the instructions. I
> think I have figured it out, perhaps someone on the list has actually used
> one of these things and can confirm my guess.
>   The tank has a film reel with a rubberized fabric belt with a clip on the
> end, obviously to pull the film onto the reel. The reel can be turned by a
> knob on the outside.
>   The tank also has a clip at the top for holding a 120 spool. Under the
> spool is a light-tight compartment with a shutter operated by a lever on
> the outside of the tank. The lever has two positions marked 1, and 2.  When
> in 2, the shutter is opened and the tank lid locked in place.
>   It would appear that the thing is used as follows:
> 1, the spool of film in inserted in the clips at the top. The end of the
> paper leader is brought out the back of the top. The top is put on and the
> lever moved to 2. The paper is then pulled out the slot in the back of the
> tank. As it is pulled the end of the film (it will be the end without the
> tape) is captured by the lip of the internal shutter and rolled up in the
> light-tight compartment. When the end of the leader is reached, i.e. when
> the tape holding the film is reached, the lever is moved back to 1, freeing
> the top and closing the shutter. The paper backing is then torn off the tab
> of film left sticking out of the shutter and the spool and paper removed.
> The clip on the end of the loading belt is then attached to the film tab,
> the tank top replaced, and the lever moved back to 2. The film is then
> wound onto the developing reel by means of the knob.
>   I wonder how this thing is supposed to be agitated. The knob for the film
> reel has a locking knob which clamps the reel to the side of the tank. It
> also compresses rubber washers on both inside and outside to make the think
> water tight. Can it be loosened enough to allow rotating the reel or is one
> supposed to simply slosh the tank around?
>   I don't intend to use this thing practically but would like to know how
> it is supposed to be used.
>   I paid $10 US for a curiosity, not bad considering it came with the box
> and everything is perfect and it appears never to have been used.  In any
> case there was $10 worth of fun puzzling it out.
>   Not sure how old it is. The Agfa trade-mark has the old long down strokes
> on the g and f so it might even be pre-war but from the condition I suspect
> it dates from perhaps the 1960's.
> ----
> Richard Knoppow
> Los Angeles,Ca.
> dickburk  

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