LPs, VHS & 35mm Film

[Pomai]

Advances in digital technology has taken audio/video media and photography to levels never seen before. iTunes. DVD. Photoshop. Just 20 years ago these were concepts we could only read and dream about in the pages of Popular Science magazine. Today they're a part of daily life.

Yet there's some old school folks out there who still listen to their LP records, insisting they sound better than CDs or MP3s.

Or those who have too much time and money invested in their VHS video tape collection to give that up for DVD.

Digital Camera? Nah. Film is the way to go.

So tell us....

Which conventional "old school" media and equipment do you still use?

LP or 45rpm Vinyl Record
Audio Cassette
8-Track Tape (wow!)
Reel-to-Reel Audio
VHS/Beta Max Video Cassette
Standard8/Super8 Film (motion) movie camera
35mm Film (still) Camera
That old stuff? Forget-about-it!
Other?


Tell us in the poll, then elaborate in a post on which ones and why!

[Surfingfarmboy]

I have an old Kodak box camera (the kind the photographer looks down through a shaded window that gives an inverted image of what's being photographed) which uses 620 film. I know the question you've asked, Pomai, is what "old school" devices I still use. Even though I haven't actually used the camera in quite sometime as I can't find 620 film (and I'm not going to rewind 120 film or whatever variety film that can be used in lieu of 620 film), I think I just might use it again, for old times sake, when/if I could find 620 film. The camera was one my grandfather and then father used..lot of good memories rekindled with that old camera!

[acousticlady]

ok.........ok..........don't know where to start. I love this stuff. This is one of my favorite topics! I am SO into analog it's not even funny. I voted for "other" 'cause I'm also into the old school synths too! As some of you may have guessed from my name and some of my posts that this is a thread right up my alley. That being said however, when I listen to music for fun, it is generally in CD form. And when I work on projects, it is generally digital recording. Though now and again, I'll still record to tape - but that is much more rare these days.

I also voted for 35mm film 'cause I'm an amateur photographer and there is something satisfying about taking pictures with film.

[tikiyaki]

These is STILL nothing that comes close to the sound from a 2' analog tape machine. In a best case scenario, recording to 2' analog, then dumping to digital format, edit and mix is a great way to still get the sound of analog and the flexibility of digital.

However, after recording the "new" way, I'd be stumbling around in a 2" / mixing board setup....

"oh, just copy and paste that....oh, nevermind....."

[blueyecicle]

MY camcorder has tape in it still I think super 8...the reason?? Cause I can't afford a new one yet!!! :p My minivan had a cassette player in it as well, cause I can't afford a CD player yet!!:p

THAT is the only old technology I use!

VCR's are GONE! just sold 500 cassette tapes of hubby's for 25.00. *gasp* he nearly died.
Just threw away his 8 track player.
~why do I have the feeling I may be stoned in this thread~ :D

[Babooze]

Although I have become a bit spoiled by the advances in digital technology, I still shoot and develop B/W film. There is something about it that digital cant touch.

[mel]

While I love digital technology a lot (digital cameras, iPods, iTunes, CDs, DVDs, etc.) I still have in my home practically all of my old media, though over time I have had to reduce some of it by either selling or giving it away. That said old school media that I own and still use (though not as much as new media):

1. Vinyl Records - Fact is today I am transferring an old Kitty Wells LP as well as a Nelson Waikiki LP from vinyl to digital format to my Power Mac G4 with Final Vinyl. Thanks to the Griffin iMic (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/) device for letting me do this on the cheap. I know there are probably better audio capture cards out there these days. I even saw a turntable on sale at BestBuy that have USB outputs so that you can go directly from it to your computer. My vinyl collection is still rather large even though I have had to divest myself of some of it just to make room in my place. LPs (http://macpro-things.buzznet.com/user/photos/?id=4439755&p=2), 45s, (http://macpro-things.buzznet.com/user/photos/?id=4456844&p=1) I have plenty.

2. Cassette Tapes - I used to make tons of mixed audio tapes and still have many of them. Over the years I have given many away or traded. I guess my most valuable tapes these days are those that I have of a friend's live concert performance (who passed away a few years back), old family interviews, audio of old family gatherings, and many radio broadcasts from Hawaii radio stations and a few from California. I have every intention of transferring some if not all of the radio and personal tapes to digital.

If anyone has a good Sony Tape Deck they'd like to get rid of, let me know. I'm looking for a good deck to use to transfer my audio tapes to digital. The good one I have recently broke. :( I have a cheaper boombox thing but it has no Dolby and doesn't play high end Type II or Type IV tapes.

3. VHS Tape - I was a reluctant adoptee of VHS tape after my Betamax machine died in 1991. What prompted me to buy a VHS machine after going about 4 years without a VCR was the fact that I wanted to tape all of the episodes of Babylon 5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5) as they aired on KFVE and later TNT. And I did. I also started collecting tape again. Luckily DVD came along and I bought that a few years later. That stopped me from buying movies on VHS. :)

One thing I noticed is that VHS Recorders are crappily built today vs. the ones they used to sell in the 1980s and early to mid 1990s. I guess that is the sign of a waning technology.

4. Betamax: Back in the 1980s I have to say BETA was BETTER than VHS! I had up to 350+ Beta tapes at one time, but since I have no machine I'm on the verge of giving all of these away (spoken for already, don't ask).

5. 35 mm & other film cameras: While the benefits of digital are great, I still cling on and use once in a while, my motley collection of 35mm and other types of film cameras. I recently even bought a used 35mm Yashica Electro 35 rangefinder camera because I always liked them and the one I used to have crapped out on me because the battery was forgotten in it and of course it leaked! :( Some of the cameras I own include the following:


Minolta X-700 (http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltax700/) 35mm SLR
Minolta XD-5 35mm SLR
Minolta SRT 101 35mm SLR
Yashica MG1 35mm Rangefinder (broken)
Yashica Electro 35 Rangefinder (http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/chrono.html)
Ricoh Auto Half 35mm half frame camera
Kodak Instamatic 104
2 Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Box Cameras (620 film)
Minolta Autocord TLR (http://macpro-things.buzznet.com/user/photos/?id=738161&p=23) - uses 120 film
Some kind of old Contax 120 film camera with a bellows lens
Kodak Handle Instant Camera


The only cameras of the bunch that I bought brand new are the Minolta XD 5 and X700. The rest were either given to me or bought used for very cheap.

If you like film, now is a good time to stock up on used old cameras. I see a lot of them on sale at Craigslist and on eBay. We're at the point in time when a lot of people are getting rid of film cameras like how they got rid of vinyl records back in the day.

While I haven't tried buying yet, there are a few places on the web that sell pre-rolled 620 film. Here's one: http://www.620film.com/index.htm.

6. Other old school items that I still use:


Analog Television (NTSC kind, CRT tube)
AM / FM Radio
Sony Walkman Cassette Player


7. I used to have a big ol' Akai Reel to Reel tape deck. Broken and gone, but I still have some tapes! Also used to have a home stereo that had an 8-track player built in. Gone, but I still have 2 tapes. Also have stashed away an old Atari Pong game and a 2 track "Playtape (http://www.8trackheaven.com/playtape.html)" machine called "The Hipster".

[Pomai]

Wow Mel! I knew you'd really have something to say on this subject. That's an incredible collection you have/had.

That Minolta X-700 is a beauty. Looks like a keeper. You're right about today's transition mode of professional photographers going digital. Great time to find 35 mm SLRs on the cheap. In fact, right now there's an X-700 with a few accessories bid currently at just $32.

Shucks, wish I knew earlier that you were looking for a quality cassette tape player. Just a few months ago I had gotten rid of one by leaving it up for grabs (free) in our building lobby. I would've happily given it to you. Can't remember the exact model #, but it was a late 80's Yamaha home component single cassette unit in all-metal chassis. It had separate volume sliders for left and right channel, LED level meters, Dolby B & C, and type II and Type IV (metal) types. It worked perfectly (hardly used) at the time I got rid of it.

It's funny to hear people refer to CRT TVs as "old school". Hey, physical size and all, I love my flat screen (not panel) Philips CRT!

I have a bunch of stuff recorded from TV still on VHS that, while worth rewatching, aren't worth my time to transfer to DVD. With that I still use my VCR. Even for recording off TV today. When the VCR units die (I have 2), I'll probably just toss my tapes. Not even worth giving away.

[wildedrasco]

Sunday June 10 9 - 5pm don't forget
a $5 donation let's you in to the KHPR LPs, CDs, DVDs and tapes
sale. low prices and really great vintage stuff. a fund raiser
and they've been collecting records etc for months. call 955 8821 for
more info. It's a ward center upstairs.

[mel]

a late 80's Yamaha home component single cassette unit in all-metal chassis. It had separate volume sliders for left and right channel, LED level meters, Dolby B & C, and type II and Type IV (metal) types. It worked perfectly (hardly used) at the time I got rid of it.

Yep, they don't make decks like this anymore. I think only Denon, JVC and Sony have 1 or 2 models each for sale. And those aren't even half as good as decks from the past.

As for the Minolta X700 camera, yes, this was a much coveted SLR when it was first introduced in 1981. Was in production until 1999. Mine is a keeper, still like it.

Sunday June 10 9 - 5pm don't forget
a $5 donation let's you in to the KHPR LPs, CDs, DVDs and tapes
sale. low prices and really great vintage stuff. a fund raiser
and they've been collecting records etc for months. call 955 8821 for
more info. It's a ward center upstairs.

I remember going to these once. They wanted to collect admission up front before they let you in to browse. What if I did not want to buy anything? That left me bitter and I never returned to the KHPR sale since. And this was about 6 years ago.

Better yet is the annual FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY book sale (http://www.friendsofthelibraryofhawaii.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=67), which sadly I will miss most of since it happens the same time I go to the Big Island for a week this summer. Admission to the sale is FREE and it's open for a week at McKinley school cafeteria. Tons of books, plenty of records, CDs, tapes, etc. Enough to satisfy any bookworm and pack rat. No up front admission at the door!

Friends of the Library Book Sale: June 29 to July 8.

[na alii]

I have at least a 1000 LPs and also a Linn Sondek LP12 turntable w/Ittok tone arm. Also a Nakamichi CR-3A cassette deck that I haven't touched in years but still like the warm sounding LPs.

[GeckoGeek]

Which media do I *have*? Darn near all of them (except 8-track and beta). Now what do I still use? Hmmm. VHS. That's about it.

Now what to do with my enlargers. Especially since I retired my Minolta SRT-201 awhile back.

[kdramafan]

4. Betamax: Back in the 1980s I have to say BETA was BETTER than VHS! I had up to 350+ Beta tapes at one time, but since I have no machine I'm on the verge of giving all of these away (spoken for already, don't ask).


About 10-15 years ago I sold 2 of my Beta Vcrs and abou 400 beta tapes. I still have the Sony Super Beta Hifi SL-HF750 vcr tucked away in the closet. I've been meaning to sale this and my top of the line Ed-Beta Deck.

[acousticlady]

These is STILL nothing that comes close to the sound from a 2' analog tape machine. In a best case scenario, recording to 2' analog, then dumping to digital format, edit and mix is a great way to still get the sound of analog and the flexibility of digital.

However, after recording the "new" way, I'd be stumbling around in a 2" / mixing board setup....

"oh, just copy and paste that....oh, nevermind....."

yeah, yeah - I hear ya there!

you know guys.... I have to laugh. As much as I deal with this stuff - I don't know one make/model of anything. I go by specs and tend to disregard who made it. (my brain can't hold that much info - too much pakalolo?? (sp?):p) If I need details, I just go to sweetwater.com and type in "preamp" or whatever......

[acousticlady]

you know guys.... I have to laugh. As much as I deal with this stuff - I don't know one make/model of anything. I go by specs and tend to disregard who made it.

Just for the "record", this isn't bragging - more of a confession...... I get teased about it all the time! :D

[Leo Lakio]

1. Vinyl Records
2. Cassette Tapes
3. VHS TapeI share some of this ground with Mel. I still have about 2000 LPs (as opposed to around 4000 CDs) and have never been without a turntable as part of of my home stereo. I've also got around 2800 cassette tapes that I've made, many of them containing radio programs from the late '70s through mid '90s. And I still use VHS tapes on a daily basis, and have several hundred around the house.

Last fall, I bought a new computer into which I could hook up the stereo and the VCR, to burn CDs/DVDs, but I still haven't made the effort to do so. I'm not particularly inspired to duplicate much of my audio-visual materials into yet another format, since I can still get decent quality out of the turntable, the cassette deck, and the VCRs; copying them onto digital discs would provide little benefit to me (more to the AF, however, who would like to put some of my vinyl onto her mp3 player.)

[mel]

I once had a couple thousand LPs and 45s but sadly had to reduce their numbers to make space in my home. Cheers to everyone who keeps the older formats going!

This past week I've been running my old 35mm Yashica camera through its paces. Just got a new battery thing for it (original batteries for this model is very difficult to come by)....

[oceanpacific]

VINYL: have several thousand LPs, plus 45s; these are played on a manual SONY turntable for conversion to CDs; some of my more desirable platters will be framed as wall "art" - these are autographed by the artists;

8-TRACK: have a SONY 8-track recording deck in storage which may or may not be in operating condition, plus a bunch of cartridges;

CASSETTES: have two SONY dual-cassette auto-reverse decks (one has dual recording wells), JVC dual cassette auto-reverse deck, PHASE LINEAR single deck, PIONEER single auto-reverse deck;

INTEGRATED AMPS: KENWOOD (90 watts RMS, still working); SAE (may not be working);

RECEIVERS: two SONY A/V "surround-sound;" McIntosh (not working);

VCRs: PANASONIC; SHARP; JVC; GO-VIDEO dual-deck (not working properly);

DVD: SONY player; HITACHI dual-deck (DVD player + VCR); GO-VIDEO dual-deck (DVD recorder + VCR); SANSUI dual-deck (DVD recorder + VCR);

KARAOKE: PIONEER multi-format (DVD, CD-graphics, CDR-RW, Laser Disc); LEAD-SINGER microphone system w/song chips.

As you can tell, I'm an electronics "junkie" of sorts and a "pack-rat." As far as cameras go, we have a number of digital range-finder types (CANON SURE SHOT) and I have a non-working Minolta XD-11 35mm SLR. Two working cam-corders (CANON Mini-DV and HITACHI Hi-8). There is also a PANASONIC video camera from 1981 which still works.

[craigwatanabe]

I have an old Sony belt drive turntable I use for archiving lost 45's. I also keep an old Nakamichi BX-1 cassette deck when I need to archive lost cassettes.

Alas I don't have a 10-1/2" NAB style reel to reel deck to transfer my old 1/2 track Otari air checks from the early 80's. I wonder if those tapes are any good? I had some old Maxell Gold back coated reel to reel tapes that with the Manoa weather became stuck together as the oxide on the tape rusted the layers together.

[helen]

Still using a VHS VCR, mostly to record TV programs that I can watch later and after I am done watching reuse the tape for another time.

I haven't used audio cassette for a few years but I know I still have blank tapes and at least one of the portable players has a cassette unit.

The other I selected was for the APS camera that I have. Slightly newer than 35mm film.

[mel]

Those with good cassette tape decks ought to hold on to em because it seems hardly any company is making them these days.

My turntable is a Panasonic Technics semi-automatic single play model. It urks me sometimes when the tone arm wants to play the same record again and again... but then this thing is probably about 15 to 20 years old. Use it to play my vinyl and of course to rip titles from analog to digital on my Mac.

[Honoruru]

I still use a VCR to record programs on television. And I still have a Canon AE-1 with a bunch of lenses, though I haven't used it since 2000, when I bought a digital camera (Nikon Coolpix 990). The AE-1 still has some undeveloped film in it.

[GeckoGeek]

And I still have a Canon AE-1 ... , though I haven't used it since 2000, .... The AE-1 still has some undeveloped film in it.

I'd get it developed. Film doesn't keep forever. It might already be gone.

[sophielynette]

Drat, I voted wrong, but oh well.

I'll admit to being mostly technological, but I still use old camera equipment. I've got a Canon AE-1 as well which I use fairly frequently, and at school we have medium and large format cameras that I'll use from time to time. I've been meaning to get a Holga of my own.

I still have a bunch of VHS tapes but my VCR is broken and I just can't justify buying/fixing it. And of course, my tv is ancient. I don't know models, but it's got the separate UHF knob, if that's any indicator.

[mel]

TV's with tuning knobs are old, especially separate ones with 2 - 13 for VHF and 14 - 83 for UHF.... the latter being really old if it goes up to 83 as 70 to 83 was taken away from TV years ago. Newer sets had UHF channels 14 to 69.

I've been wanting to get a Holga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holga) for quite a while. They have them on sale at Amazon and other places. I have a cheap old Diana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_camera) in a box in a closet somewhere at my parents' place.

[acousticlady]

And I still have a Canon AE-1 with a bunch of lenses, though I haven't used it since 2000, when I bought a digital camera (Nikon Coolpix 990). The AE-1 still has some undeveloped film in it.

I found a roll of undeveloped film a couple of years back that had to be 10 years old. The pictures came out but they all had a red tint to them - actually, they looked pretty cool.

[Honoruru]

I'd get it developed. Film doesn't keep forever. It might already be gone.

That's why I won't develop it. It's probably gone (and there wasn't anything important on it). To make matters worse, it was slide film, Kodachrome.

Since this thread is about digital/"now-presumed-obsolete" mediums, what about slide films? What about Kodachrome? I've tried scanning old Kodachrome slides, but get terrible results. Other types of slides come out okay, but Kodachrome is a nightmare.

[sophielynette]

TV's with tuning knobs are old, especially separate ones with 2 - 13 for VHF and 14 - 83 for UHF.... the latter being really old if it goes up to 83 as 70 to 83 was taken away from TV years ago. Newer sets had UHF channels 14 to 69.



Yep, just checked mine. Second knob goes up to 83! No wonder I never get anything but static. Good enough for me though, I don't watch much tv anyway.

I loved using the Holgas, and they're really cheap, I don't know why I don't just buy one. And a roll of electrical tape, can't forget that.

Walking home from work today I saw a guy with an old 4x5 camera set up on the sidewalk. 4x5s are fun but they take so much work. Loading each sheet individually, focusing and hoping your image stays in focus while you add the film, then developing each individually.. what a pain. But nice results.

On the subject of slide film, we had to shoot with slide film for my color photography class last semester. I botched the first roll so had to do it twice, but they turned out pretty cool. I need to scan them when I get back to school. I've never used kodachrome, so I can't help you there.

And speaking of cameras, what about Polaroids? We used to have one a few years ago but I think it got lost somewhere in storage. At school we did a project with polaroid transfers that I would love to try again.

I really can ramble about cameras, sorry..

[mel]

Yep, 14 - 83 is old school UHF. Back in the mid and late 1980s, when cell phones were mostly analog, you could pick up random cell phone conversations by tuning into some of the higher channels on the UHF dial of your TV. That was kind of strange fun back in the day.

I ditto your opinion on Holga. I should just simply buy one. The non-flash model is $20. Depending on what you want to do with the camera, not using black tape around it may "add" to the photos with the light streaks intact.

A friend of mine had 2 view cameras. I don't ever recall him using it. Second to that is the Mamiya RB67 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamiya), which is a giant size 120 roll film camera. I used that a few times to take group shots of people at our school. The big negative cameras allow you to make collosal size photos if you have the paper and room to do it!

I used to do a lot of black and white film and print processing more than 20 years ago. Kind of miss it sometimes. Was fun, but very time consuming.

Dabbled a little in processing Ektachrome slide film years ago. The temp controls had to be very accurate or your film would be ruined.

[craigwatanabe]

Oh yes C-6 processing for Kodak slide film and I do believe C-6 will develop Kodachrome 64.

Back then for the best slide film you had to use Kodachrome. Wedding photographers loved the stuff because you could set up a changing bag to transfer the roll of film into a film cannister and process right on the spot. The whole process took less than 20-minutes.

Then you cut the finished film into individual slides and put em in the bank of projectors just in time for the wedding reception.

[craigwatanabe]

Dabbled a little in processing Ektachrome slide film years ago. The temp controls had to be very accurate or your film would be ruined.

Processing temperature had to be +/- 1-degree F. or else you would have color shift so a bucket of ice and a tray of warm water was always necessary in C-6 processing.

[sophielynette]

Yep, 14 - 83 is old school UHF. Back in the mid and late 1980s, when cell phones were mostly analog, you could pick up random cell phone conversations by tuning into some of the higher channels on the UHF dial of your TV. That was kind of strange fun back in the day.

I can remember when I was younger, we used to be able to get people's phone conversations through the speakers of our computer. That was always bizarre, especially when you're sitting at the computer and you start to hear voices..


I ditto your opinion on Holga. I should just simply buy one. The non-flash model is $20. Depending on what you want to do with the camera, not using black tape around it may "add" to the photos with the light streaks intact. No matter how much tape I wrapped around my holga, I always had light leaks. It did 'add' to the photo though, you're right. Ah, I've been meaning to add some of my holga photos up in my online store, maybe I'll do that this evening.



A friend of mine had 2 view cameras. I don't ever recall him using it. Second to that is the Mamiya RB67 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamiya), which is a giant size 120 roll film camera. I used that a few times to take group shots of people at our school. The big negative cameras allow you to make collosal size photos if you have the paper and room to do it! Oh we have two Mamiyas at school -- one is the twin lens reflex and one an SLR. We had six of the medium format cameras altogether, which was wonderful because there were only four students in the photo class! The medium format cameras are trippy though, because you're looking through the viewfinder and everything is reversed. It can take a minute to orient yourself. Especially when you're looking through the view while walking!

And yes, with the large format cameras we ended up printing on 16x20 paper, but one student in my class chose to print 20x24. Really nice looking.

Printing black and white may be time consuming (and can be expensive) but I've always enjoyed it. It's relaxing, when I don't have five prints due by the following morning.

[craigwatanabe]

Printing black and white may be time consuming (and can be expensive) but I've always enjoyed it. It's relaxing, when I don't have five prints due by the following morning.

Printing black and white was a passion of mine decades ago. I would come out of the darkroom smelling like Dektol. Everytime I have to go get an X-ray done the familiar smell of that developer wafts thru the air and brings back memories of dodging and burning:D

[mel]

Yep, long ago I did the whole black and white film developing & print processing. If I remember correctly film developing was with D76 and the print developing was with Dektol, and then fixer, and then stop bath and a wash. I still have several of the photos I made in a box or on albums. Even scanned a few of them so that I have .jpgs to display on my computer and in my iPod.

One thing about doing stuff in the darkroom was that I seemed to loose track of time. I'd go in the afternoon and when I came out it was like 9 or 10 at night!

[Leo Lakio]

If I remember correctly film developing was with D76 and the print developing was with Dektol, and then fixer, and then stop bath and a wash.I think you need to flip the stop bath and fixer steps. Then be sure to add one of those lovely heated print dryers at the end.

I will never forget the scent of stop bath, permanently burned into my sinuses. I spent far too many years in the darkroom in high-school and college (I designed and supplied the first darkroom at the community college I attended.)

I also put a sign on the door that said: "Do not open the door, or you will let out all the dark."

[sophielynette]

I also put a sign on the door that said: "Do not open the door, or you will let out all the dark."


I love it! The darkrooms at my school don't have doors, but rather something of a labyrinth of walls that zigzag back and forth, and black curtains right at the entrance to the darkroom. Of course, it was always a bit jarring when you go to walk through the curtain and you slam into someone coming through the other side.

Darkroom and glass blowing are the main reason I've never owned nice clothing until just recently. What was the point when everything was going to get sweaty and stained? When I started out I used to wear an apron and rubber gloves but it just got to be such a pain. My teacher still yells at us for grabbing prints out of the chemicals with our fingers instead of tongs.. but those dumb tongs are so frustrating..

I actually lost a set of those earbud headphones to darkroom chemicals. The bud fell out of my ear and into the stop bath tray. Of course, I hadn't realized it until after I'd replaced the earbud in my ear. Yuck! Chemicals in the ear, not pleasant. The earbud itself actually fell to pieces, which is a bit disturbing.

[GeckoGeek]

You guys ever put pennies in the fixer to silver plate them?

The dark room was kinda fun, but major time consumer.

[craigwatanabe]

No but I wish I knew about that back then, that would have been cool.

[Leo Lakio]

You guys ever put pennies in the fixer to silver plate them?
No but I wish I knew about that back then, that would have been cool.
That only worked if you had fixer that had been used so much that it had built up enough silver in the effluent; by that point, the fixer was no longer any good for photographic use as it was too saturated, so we had usually dumped it by that point. I never got to try it.

[GeckoGeek]

That only worked if you had fixer that had been used so much that it had built up enough silver in the effluent;

True. Can't do that with fresh fixer.


[/QUOTE]by that point, the fixer was no longer any good for photographic use as it was too saturated, so we had usually dumped it by that point. I never got to try it.[/QUOTE]

So, how do you tell when the fixer is shot? I can't remember. I went to public high school. The fixer probably was a bit "used". :D Still, I think it may be a bit of exaggeration to say it's no good if it can silver a penny.

[sophielynette]

We always had a little bottle of something or other that you dropped into the fixer -- if it turned milky white, it was no good.

I always just got into the habit of mixing a new batch of chemicals anytime I went in to print. Who knew how long that stuff had been left there?

[mel]

I think if the stuff turned like really black, it meant that it was old and had to be replaced.

[Leo Lakio]

So, how do you tell when the fixer is shot? I can't remember. I went to public high school. The fixer probably was a bit "used". :D Still, I think it may be a bit of exaggeration to say it's no good if it can silver a penny.
We always had a little bottle of something or other that you dropped into the fixer -- if it turned milky white, it was no good.That's what we used, too (Hypo-Check, if I remember right.) A good rule of thumb in those days was that you could expect a batch of fixer to be good for about 40 prints.

[GeckoGeek]

That's what we used, too (Hypo-Check, if I remember right.) A good rule of thumb in those days was that you could expect a batch of fixer to be good for about 40 prints.

I suspect they just made a batch every so often - once a day or twice a day or something like that.

[Kalihiboy]

A few hundred 3/4 inch tapes plus 2 or 3 u-matic decks

A few thousand Beta tapes and 4 decks

Several thousand VHS tapes and maybe 3 machines

Still have tons of audio cassettes, 45's, LP's, etc.

If anyone wants to dump their old 3/4 inch tapes, beta or VHS from the 70's or 1980's with off-air tapings let me know.

Aj