Hi,

I've got some 50-60 year old negatives my father shot that are odd sizes, but I'd love to print them. Based on some "Net" research it looks like I'm dealing with 127 (~1 5/8 x 2 1/2) and 616 (~2 1/2 x 4 1/4) film sizes.

I've got a Beseler 23C and thought I'd at least try printing the 127 size (and maybe the larger cropped).

Any thoughts on negative carriers for these negatives? Anybody ever tried making one out of say mat board? I've got lots of tools (and a mat cutter) but not a metal shop to build a proper carrier.

Any thoughts before I attack this would be appreciated.

-pete

-- Pete Percival (percival@indiana.edu), March 31, 2001

Answers

Pete, This sort of "high-tech" solution, like using mat board or alike, can work fine if you keep film nearly flat. Just be careful about borders, as white borders can bounce light back to printing area, causing some veiling on high-light areas. For curled old films, a mix of glass and mat board can help to keep them flat. Go ahead and good luck. Cesar B.

-- Cesar Barreto (cesarb@infolink.com.br), March 31, 2001.

I have made negative carriers for my Beseler 67 out of mat board cut- outs (what's left over after I cut mats). They work fine. I have one for 127, Minox, and 24x65mm. I tend to think the bottom should be black so as not to cause unwanted light scatter--I usually use photographic tape for this purpose. If they were available in odd sizes from Beseler, they'd cost $45, and I can't see paying that much for something I'm only going to use a few times a decade.

I don't think your 23C will handle the 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 though.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), April 01, 2001.

Pete, I have been using only home made negative carriers with my 23C for year. I use a 35mm and a 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 one.

What I did was stick a piece of 4 ply mat board into the carrier slot traced the outline, take it out, draw diagonals through the corners [to get the center]. Then I centered the appropriate negative, traced its outline, and cut the opening on my mat cutter. Then I did another piece of mat board like that hinged one edge, and presto!

I also glued the edges of narrow strips of paper, inside, on one of the mats through which I slot the negatives.

Also glued strips of mat board to the underside of the bottom of the carrier so that the enlarger would put some pressure on the carrier.

If you are having trouble following this explanation, drop me a line and I will clarify.

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), April 01, 2001.

My father made one of thin metal for 6x6, and I made one of hard paper for 4x4. Must ask my dad to make one of metal for that size too.

My enlarger can take negs up to 6x7, but I see that instead of only 7 cm I can get 7,2 cm. Good to use most of the 6x9 negs I sometimes get in my hands.

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), April 01, 2001.

A universal glass carrier will save you a lot of time and possible problems.

-- Chris Ellinger (chris@ellingerphoto.com), April 02, 2001.

Chris, every time I have worked with a glass carrier I have had Newton ring problems.

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), April 03, 2001.