I am wondering if anyone knows where to get or who makes stainless reels that have two prongs that hook the film perforations to begin loading film instead of that nasty v-clip that most stainless reels seem to have. I have seen no reference to these reels anywhere and wonder if they still exist. Our school darkroom has only one of them and I wish they had more.

Thanks, AFrancis

-- Andrew Francis (afrancis@student.umass.edu), April 12, 2002

Answers

Hewes makes these reels. They are expensive, but absolutely worth it.

-- Phil Glass (Phi_Glass@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

Hewes is indeed the manufacturer, but the identical reels (made by Hewes) are sold under the brand names of Omega, Jobo and a few others. They all say "Hewes" on the metal tab the film attaches to. You can order these reels from B&H for $20. They are unquestionably the best SS reels made.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), April 12, 2002.

The reels with the sprocket prongs seem to be the norm rather than the exception, at least here in the UK. I have a couple of Hewes reels, as well as half-a-dozen other anonymous ones, all with the prongs.
I've never had to go out of my way to find that type, but I must admit, I haven't been shopping for reels lately.
The one odd reel in my collection is a Kindermann, with an awful centre spike that I avoid using if possible.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), April 15, 2002.

I have the Kinderman reel with spike in the middle and find it very easy to use. The spike makes it easy to find my way around the reel inside of the changing bag.

-- Peter Schauss (schauss@worldnet.att.net), April 15, 2002.

Andrew, these are probably the Hewes reels...try Calumet, they tend to carry these cheaper than alot of other places....expect to pay between 10-15 bucks per reel.

-- dk thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), April 15, 2002.

oh yeah, one quick thought.....if you use a gang darkroom, you might want to just buy a set of reels for yourself...the worst thing that can happen to a reel is to be dropped....when I was in school, I just brought my own....

-- dk thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), April 15, 2002.

After trying all kinds of plastic and all kind of steel reels and everything, now I can say that for me the Hewes reels are the best.

-- Russell Brooks (russell@ebrooks.org), April 16, 2002.