ILFORD (KI) FilmStrip Printer

Thanks to Paul Godfrey for sending me the above picture of an Ilford Filmstrip printer and a copy of the instruction booklet.

Paul says "This was definitely made by Kennedy Instruments; it even has Ilford Advocate aluminium knobs on it. According to Andy’s (Andy Holliman) book, this is a simplified version of an earlier printer that was stove enamelled like the Advocate and introduced in 1955. The one I have is in a hammered paint finish, not the ivory stove enamel finish, and was introduced in 1960. The negatives are held in contact with sensitised material by glass; for paper contact strip prints this would have been fine but for making projection quality monochrome slides, dust spots would have been a problem.

There are no Ilford badges on this printer but luckily my one came with the original instruction booklet, so a non-enthusiast could identify what it is. I think it is probable that these printers are found and thrown away because the finder does not know what the item is."

To download the instruction booklet as a pdf file, click here or on the image alongside.

In Ilford's 1952 (and 1955) General Catalogue, Section 8-B: Accessories for Professional Photography, the Filmstrip Printer (the earlier version than the one above) appears as alongside and the description reads:

ILFORD 35 mm. FILM STRIP PRINTER; Price: £12 10s. 0d (£12.50p)
A printer for the preparation of film strips, either by contact or by projection.
The printer holds up to 10feet of film on the feed spool, the film passing beneath a pressure platen on to the take-up spool. Correct spacing between frames is assured and to prevent damage to the negative record the film cannot be wound while in the operative position.
The design enables the sequence of frames on the negative to be altered and also sections from different negatives to be printed on the same strip.
Two masks are provided-full frame (24 x 36mm) and half-frame (18 x 24mm) - and it is possible to print two half-frames side by side in a strip which otherwise consists of full frames.
The case is of cast metal, finished in stoved ivory enamel. The dimensions are 7x3½x2in (18x9x5cm), and the weight 1¾ lbs (0.8kg)
A leather storage case is available. Price: £2 17s. 6d. (£2.88p)

   

 

Paul Godfrey bought this Ilford metal contact-printing frame from an Ebay trader. He says:

"Andy Holliman mentions in his book that Kennedy Instruments made various accessories (including a printing frame) for Ilford, before embarking on the Advocate project just after the end of WW2. I therefore think it is possible that Kennedy made this item, but of course I cannot be sure."

The original (?) price, as can be seen on the label attached to the box lid, was 3s/8d (18p).


This page last modified: 19th November 2008