I have been cutting, spooling and processing
aerofilm 91/2 by 250 ft rolls colour transparency and B/W for 30 years for
my 5,6,8 and 10 inch Cirkuts. When I
started there was no other option except to buy large quantities of readymade
Cirkut spooled B/W film at horrendous prices which I couldnt afford and no
useable colour film at all. Glad to hear there are still so many new
people taking an interest in using these amazing old contrivances so am happy to
answer any queries re techniques. I dont look at my emails everyday so phoning
might sometimes be better (UK-116-2705828; but please remember the time
difference for Europe!). here are a few notes for newcomers:
In brief, I have my own one-piece spools made from
hardwood dowel, turned down to give a centre spindle and end flanges;
these ends are then drilled and grooved to fit the camera rewind. I allow 1/16
inch end play on the film when making spools (essential to avoid banding).
Lengthwise cutting done on an old wallpaper cutting machine which I bought at
scrap price; a simple homemade alternative using a razor blade is
described by Will Landon in a backnumber of IAPP journal. Believe it or not Bob
Erickson cuts colour film rolls in two with a woodsaw in the light; providing
the film is tightly wound on a lightproof spindle: he reckons it only fogs
a couple of turns plus the very edge of the film (this wont work with black and
white though ). I was lucky to acquire some proper yellow/black leader paper
rolls from a film manufacturer many years ago so cant advise an alternative but
there must be something (sugar paper perhaps?). A rotary trimmer is
essential to cut right-angles on both film and paper, and a simple jig to hold
them in alignment for joining with paper tape. All processing done in 5 ft
troughs, rolling the film continuously. Cant help with the colour film,
mine is the entire world stock of an obsolete Agfachrome 29 years out of date
and kept mint fresh in a very deep freeze all that time. I make up my own
chemistry. . The B/W I use is Ilford FP3 Aero. . My favourite option is to
cut it exactly in half to 4 & 3/4 inch, no waste at all. I also
sometimes use 220 and 70mm film. I make Cibachrome and B/W contact
prints with a travelling colourhead light source and can supply details of this
mechanism on request. (Most oldtime Cirkut users designed their own individual
solution to the contact printing problem ). . Prints are processed on an
Ilford ICP 42 machine which can also handle colour neg paper. Favourite cameras
are the portable 6-inch model Cirkuts (not outfits) which I have adapted to use
many lenses from 65mm Super Angulon to 24-inch Turner Reich
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