snpysnps Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Here's a blast from the past that some may recognise. Do you remember.... When photo shops sold packets of flash cubes - or the flashbar? When 110 and 126 were almost as popular as 135? When disc first came out and we wondered whether it would ever take off? When a 'mini lab' was actually a separate printer, paper processor, dip and dunk film processor and paper cutter? When we proudly had the machines in the window (and had to cover up the odd roll coming off the other end!) When you'd work all night in the days after the August bank holiday weekend? OK, that's a few memories from us - now it's your turn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 ha ha.. Fantastic topic When E4 changed to E6 When EP2 chemicals went and we had RA4 (no longer able to skive at the lab) When we used to have queues of customers on a Monday morning Those montly <incentives> for selling 1,500 + 35mm films a month from Kodak The days of reps visiting and doing deal Long nights and happy times at Photokina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 When we had to dead heat our Copal every day When we crimped film to the hope processor leader cards When all customers got a free film with their D&P When 26 rolls of paper were delivered every two weeks When customers came in asking if we could remove the film from their cameras When we processed a control strip every morning and plotted the results on graphs When everyone wanted the film processed in an hour The old saying a clean lab is a happy lab !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damooose Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 When you could keep the minilabs running with paper clips, elastic bands and elecrtical tape When a computer was something you had at home just to PLAY with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noritsuvet Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Ahhh, memories. When we only opened six days a week - but Sunday we spent preparing for Mondays Calibrating the unders and overs on each channel Mixing 100 litres of chemistry at a time Over promising and under delivering on service time 12 minutes dry to dry on the paper processor 21 minutes through the film processor Photokina at the Agfa Casino (remember the fireworks) Reps with gifts ........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard SPC Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 All of the above, but the main one was that WE ALL MADE SOME MONEY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Amies Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Obviously nice to recollect the old days, but what about the future?. The past is simply that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotsoSnappy Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Quit the nostalgia rubbish! Just sold a bag (yes 1) with a picture on it. Might even do a Jigsaw (yes 1) this afternoon Might have to lie down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Amies Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 GO FOR IT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernlab Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 1978 developing and printing 20 exp 5.20 36 exp 7.35 1984 developing and printing 1 -40 2.99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloursphotographic Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 The very nice 'John clyde' from gretag paying you a visit and trying to get you to upgrade your machines to the next fabulous creation from gretag / san marco.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 wearing a white lab coat and goves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Well white lab coats are out, but white gloves are still in. The customers love seeing you handle their precious jobs with white gloves on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Useing the latest equipment Spot the curtains you had to pull round to change rolls of paper!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snpysnps Posted September 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia Mark. We all realise those days won't come again - but they were good while they lasted. I'm sure there are quite a few of the early minilab owners now living the good life somewhere permanently warm (those that sold at the right time that is!) They were good days - but you certainly put the hours in. The rewards were amazing but I don't think I've ever worked as hard in my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Amies Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 I understand, yes I have sat through many a nostalgic, beer sodden conversations about the days of Labs, etc at photo agencies. Long since gone now. All the japes, and toil. I admit some of the magic and esprit de corps has evaporated. One of the saddest days I had at an agency was seeing the entire contents of a C41 processor sitting in a skip as scrap. A twisted mass of Dexion racking, cogs and chains. :'( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magenta Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 Dip and dunking 8 hours a day Polishing the glazing drum, Carborundum paste on a Monday then every day with silvo C22 chemicals that took your breath away, and took hours to dissolve An Ilford B&W Dip and Dunk machine that daily tried to kill me in the dark Diving into the backing papers just before it threw rods of soggy film at me Finding that you had processed the backing paper and not the old fashioned paper neg When every batch change on Kodak took all day When Konica paper was called Secura? and every batch was the same D&P £3 for B&W £5 for colour £5 a week wages £5 for every wedding I shot on a Saturday (3 of us did 13 one day, I was going to retire) 3 rolls of tri-x 30 good ones for the album or else Then there was light Been down hill ever since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 ha ha Magenta.. You will remember the <Mr B> Mr Birtwistle Days I started on £15.00 a week Doing Slope control Dead heating a machine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noritsuvet Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 The Durst printers A test strip for each image then a calculated guess Printing a roll of 24 then cutting and putting through the paper processor (or 2 hour service!) Enlargements on Thursdays only - and then those fancy 1 hour machines appeared but... The first Noritsu's had round corner cutters A dial to change the paper advance sizes The pricing unit next to the printer Those confounded fifo racks to hold your hundreds of films waiting to be printed ... and the constant worry another would open nearby.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Amies Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 That Konica paper, was it not Sakura? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magenta Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 Sakura Yes that was it, age you know.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premco Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 I remember when Phil Gresham http://www.fotofast.com.au/ Was my AGFA Rep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotofast Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 I remember when Phil Gresham http://www.fotofast.com.au/ Was my AGFA Rep! I am trying to forget that I was an Agfa rep, who was Agfa... Mixing D72, D76 from raw chemicals, dissolving hypo or trying to on cold winter days. Loading C22 dip & dunks, joining leader belts on paper processors. When 3 days was a really fast d&p service, now they complain when your instant prints are not instant, like when was an instant pudding really instant!? I remember that I still need to go into work today and open the store at 7.30am! I remember when I was a semi-regular contributor on this forum but gave up when all I got was doom and gloom from the UK. Visiting the UK last month it reminded me of the 90's and mid 2000's at best looking at some stores, the ones that were still open that was. Visiting the new Westfield at Stratford, Jessops stiil don't wont to talk to you if you are in the lab services area, no one at Boot's in the photo area, all instant HP kiosks. I know there are standouts in the UK just never seen one. Asked the marketing director of a large chain of photo stores before visiting the UK, what stores should I look at and was told none that I would learn from!! Go to Google maps put in Fotofast 101 Adelaide Street Brisbane you will see photos of what we are doing so you wont think that I am totally full of crap :-) Remember Paul? from Cirencester visting him in the late 90's he was really switched on, so switched on he got out of the business in the early 2000's!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 That post is priceless nice one Phil.. excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snpysnps Posted October 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Ouuuuch! That hurt! Sorry that you didn't find any good photo shops here Phil. If you had let us know we could definitely have pointed you in the right direction as the best ones are not in the tourist spots. The regions have lots of nicely presented shops - you just need to know where to look What about the chains like Snappy Snaps and Max? Boots are not really that interested in photo any more - which is OK by us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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