I decided to write this web page after receiving e-mails enquiring about predecessors of the current Paterson Super System 4 developing tanks. Was there ever a System 1, System 2 and System 3, to compliment the current System 4 ?

I thought it would also be interesting to look at the history of the spiral loading developing tank and verify the claim that Paterson was the company that invented the developing tank spiral as we know it today. This claim refers to Paterson's ball-bearing 'ratchet action', which simplifies loading a film into the spiral (in total darkness) when a user alternately contra-rotates the two ends of the spiral. The relating Patents are described here. The same web page gives a description of other forms of developing tank, especially those designed for Daylight Loading. Also, a novel multiple spiral tank and tanks by Ilford and Gnome.

I've owned a Paterson Major II tank since around 1960 and this set me wondering whether the II might be the 2nd tank series that ultimately lead to the System 4 (and then the Super System 4). Subsequently, I discovered there had been a Paterson Universal 3, a version I'd not previously heard about. Hence, with the original (c1950) Paterson tank, this showed a progression leading to the System 4.

Developing tanks were the very first item of Paterson darkroom equipment. The first generation Paterson tank had no inversion agitation. It was filled through a central funnel and emptied through a peripheral spout. But it did have a 'self-loading' spiral, abeit initially using fixed 'fangs' on the spiral entry to provide a ratchet effect, rather than the subsequent captive 'ball-bearing' arrangement. I understand from Alan Meek, Technical Manager of Paterson Products until 1981, that Donald Paterson initially used the idea of fixed 'fangs (gained from one of his safari expeditions), because the 'fangs' could engage with the edge sprocket holes of 35mm film and so assist the film into the spiral. Since roll films have no sprocket holes, the use of a ball-bearing ratchet was soon introduced to provide similar loading assistance with roll film. The 1954 test review of the Paterson Universal tank (Miniature Camera Magazine, Nov.1954) illustrates a transparent film spiral with ball bearing ratchets and states that this is the same 'ingeneous self-loading spiral' as fitted to the previous two Paterson tanks. Since these tanks can only be the original '35' and 'Major', it follows that the ball bearing ratchet spiral was introduced quite early, maybe in 1951 with the introduction of the Major tank (though at that time the spiral was opaque black, not transparent).

Alan Meek has told me that the original 35mm spirals were moulded from phenolic (Bakelite) plastic which was a bit rough and hindered easy loading. The later ones were moulded from polystyrene, which was smoother and could also be clear so that transparency film could be processed without having to remove the film from its spiral to enable it receiving its second exposure.

The original design of Paterson developing tank is shown in the British Journal Photographic Almanac (BJPA) for 1950, where the distributors RF Hunter of "Celfix House", 51, Gray's Inn Rd, London, WC1, show 'The Paterson 35mm Ratchet Loading Developing Tank' at the base of p415. "This is the Miniature Man's "Must". A 35mm developing tank with a ratchet spiral which really loads itself."

The tank required 8.5fl.oz for a 36exp, 35mm film (240cc).

If the Paterson range began with just the 35mm version, it quickly grew to include 'The Paterson Major', as evidenced by the advertisement alongside, taken from Amateur Photographer (AP) magazine for March 7th 1951 (p8). The 'Major' could take roll films of sizes 127, 120/620 & 116/616. Both sizes of tank are priced the same, at 30/- (£1.50p) and NO TAX. Thermometers for the '35' (4" long) cost 3s.6d (17.5p) and for the 'Major' (6") cost 5s (25p).

By 1953, 'Photography' magazine included regular RF Hunter advertisements for these two tanks, backed by recommendations from eminent photographers of the day. In the April issue it is H.S.Newcombe, FRPS; in July it is Alec Pearlman, FIBP, FRPS; in September it is Lancelot Vining, FIBP, FRPS "I wish I could have had it in Fleet St in the early days of 35mm photography, when sticking film in the ordinary spiral tank was a daily nightmare" (repeated in the October issue); Alec Pearlman again in the December issue.

The two original Paterson tanks, in the BJPA for 1953 (see LHS).

The 'Major' & its box (right).

Around 1950/51 Johnsons of Hendon were phasing in a range of tanks with their new 'Roto-Feed' feature. This was described as follows. "The top section of the spiral is free to rotate about 3/4" (20mm) in either direction. By rotating the two halves (of the spiral) in relation to each other whilst applying alternating light pressure with the thumbs on the edge of the film, it can be fed in almost automatically."

This feature first appeared in the redesigned Universal tank, which took all sizes of roll film (127, 120/620, 117, 116/616) as well as 5ft lengths of 35mm or 16mm. It cost £1.9s (£1.45p) in 1950 but a year or so later it increased to £1.12s.6d (£1.63p). This occurred around the time that 'Roto-Feed' was added to the Johnson 35mm tank; its price increased from £1.6s.6d to £1.12s.6d.

The J-20 tank, for 120 films only, seems never to have received the 'Roto Feed' feature, and was replaced around 1955 by the 'Polly-Min' tank with its 'Roto-Feed' transparent spiral. The Universal was then replaced by the 'Polly-Max' (see below).

"Now - the Paterson Major II incorporates two entirely new features introduced for the first time - Inversion Agitation and Central Ultra-Rapid Pouring." So proclaimed the RF Hunter advertisement in 'Modern Camera Magazine' (MCM) for June 1955 (p224). It also incorporates a transparent spiral, enabling the film's second exposure to light, as required during processing colour slides, to be performed without removing the partially processed film from the spiral. The transparent spireal had been introduced perhaps 6 months earler with the Universal tank.

Suitable for film sizes 120/620 roll films (300cc of solutions required), 127 roll film (230cc) and 20exp. lengths of 35mm (including Bantam) film (185cc). It cost 30/- (£1.50p).

Notice that the earlier 'Major' tank has been replaced by the 'Universal' which was reviewed in 'Modern Camera Magazine' for November 1954. This was a truly universal tank, taking all roll film sizes to 116, requiring 19½fluid ounces of solution, plus full length 35mm, requiring 11oz of solution. A 120 film required 17½oz of solution and a 127 film required 14ozs. [20fluid ounces = 1pint = 568cc]. It had transparent spirals (as the Major II) and cost 32/6d (£1.63p). It is not stated whether the '35' had also graduated to having transparent spirals by 1955, but this seems highly likely.

Alongside is my Major II tank, which I've owned and used MANY times since the early 1960s. Its easy to load and economical on developer. I also like the small removeable top to the inversion agitation cap, which allows a thermometer to be inserted during development without the need to pull the entire sealing cap off.

Lower spiral; the ball bearing trapped within its incline, (same on the upper spiral), provides a ratchet effect to assist film loading.

The Polly-Min tank was first introduced towards the end of 1954. The same 'MCM' July 1955 edition that introduced the Paterson Major II contained a Neville Brown advertisement for the Polly-min tank, "by the designer of Nebro and Johnsons tanks". In the 1954 'MCM' magazine its design is atrributed to Willi Soukop 'the well known sculptor'. It had 'Roto-feed' for easy loading and also transparent spiral flanges, but no inversion agitation or easy central pouring. ['The Nebro story', from the late 1930s through to 1963, was told by Eric Lock in Photographica World magazine, 2006/1]

It could process the same range of films as the Major II and took the same quantity of solution (185cc to 300cc). At 25/- (£1.25p) it "cost less than any other clear spiral tank on the market". There was also a Polly-Max enabling the simultaneous developing of 2 roll films (end to end, see below) priced at 32s/6d (£1.63p). Another refinement was the availability of a special intermediate spiral, enabling 4 x 20exp or 2 full length 35mm films to be developed together.

Made of Polystyrene, "more suitable than the older phenolics".

Making full use of the 'Polly' name by illustrating the box front with a cartoon parrot, the Polly tanks were displayed in a bright, eye-catching, carton. The inside box flap states that "Polly tanks & accessories are distributed to the trade jointly by Johnsons of Hendon Ltd & Neville Brown & Co. Ltd" (Nebro).

This diagram from the instruction booklet shows how the Polly-Max tank could take two 20exp.35mm or two 127 or two 120 roll films. With both 'Stops' pulled UP, the spiral groove (top & bottom) is unobscured and the first film is loaded & pushed right to the centre of the spiral. Then (still in darkness) the two nylon 'Stops' are pushed DOWN and the second film loaded without danger of it overlapping the first.

The next stage in marketing the second generation Paterson tanks is illustrated in the BJPA for 1956. There are now 3 Major II tanks, the original, a Double and a Triple.

The original '35' has disappeared and been replaced with the '35' II and a Triple '35' II has been introduced, enabling developing either a single 35mm film or, in the Triple, up to 3 full length 35mm films to be developed together.

The Paterson Universal remains as in 1955. A special feature is described whereby 'Solution Economisers' "enable the utmost economy of solutions for whatever size of film is used."

All tanks have transparent 'self-loading' spirals, seen here with a '35' II tank.

Alongside is shown a Paterson 'Universal Tank Solution Economiser' for use within the Universal tank when processing 120 or 620 roll film. Just a hollow, internally weighted, black polystyrene cylinder manufactured in England by RF Hunter Ltd.

It fitted on the central shaft of the spiral, between the spiral ends, and reduced the amount of solution by 3.5fluid ounces = 100cc.

The one shown is inscribed for 120-620 size roll films. There was also an economiser for similarly reducing the solution volume required when developing 127 films. The economisers were sized to fit between the spiral ends when developing 120 & 127 roll films and cost 2s/6d (12.5p) each.

The RF Hunter advert in the BJPA for 1957 shows, for the first time, a complete line of inversion agitation Series II tanks. Even the Universal is now the Universal II (see lower LH corner of advert alongside).

There remain 3 tanks in the Major II range and 2 in the '35' II range, being a single '35' II and a Triple '35' II.

RF Hunter make various claims for this tank series:
~ Only one with inversion agitation and self-loading spirals.
~ First to adopt transparent spirals.
~ First to use polystyrene with superior resistance to chemicals.

Inversion agitation is claimed to be "the most certain way of overcoming uneven development marks and streaks, especially when using rapid-acting developers and the newset thin base high resolution films."

Nothing changes in the Series II tank range between the BJPA 1957 advert (above) and that shown in AP for 16th May 1962, alongside. This situation continued through to (at least) 13th August 1963 (Ref: AP magazine advert)

Prices quoted in spring 1962 are:
~ the '35' II, 30/- (same price for over 10 years)
~ the Major II, 30/- (same price for over 10 years)
~ the Universal II, 32/6d (same price since intro. in 1955)
~ the Triple '35' II, with 3 spirals, £3
~ the Double Major II, with 2 spirals, £2.7s.6d (£2.38p)
~ the Triple Major II, with 3 spirals, £3.

A Paterson force film washer "for efficient film washing", cost 4s.3d (21p).

"Made in England for World Distributors:- R F Hunter Ltd, Celfix House, 51-53 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1"

An advert in AP dated 5th October 1960 shows that Johnsons of Hendon had caught up with Patersons insomuch as they were then offering their Roto-One (30/-) and Roto-Two (32/6d) tanks with inversion agitation. These tanks must have replaced their previous non-inversion Polly-Min and Polly-Max tanks (see above). As with the Polly tanks, the Roto tanks included a form of assisted loading called "Roto-feed" and the spirals were transparent for easier transparency (colour and b&w) film processing.

The Roto-Two tank had three advantages over the equivalent Paterson Universal II.

• As with the Polly-Max, an accessory central spiral permitted processing 2 off 36 exp. 35mm films or 4 off 20exp. 35mm films (2 films end to end). The central spiral cost 12s.6d (63p).
• As with the Polly-Max, 'stops' in the spiral permitted 2 size 120/620, 2 size 127, 2 size 88 (Bantam) or 2 size 20 exp. 35mm films to be developed simultaneously, end to end.
• The spiral adjusted to accomodate the newly popular 16mm film used in ultra-miniature still cameras.

In 1962 also sold as Nebro 10 and Nebro 21 by Neville Brown. Priced 25s (£1.25p) & 27s (£1.35p), so undercutting the price of the Johnsons equivalents. The central spiral still cost 12s.6d.
The Nebro 10 used 300cc for 120 film while the '21' used 560cc.

It seems there was only one tank within the Series III. This was the Universal 3, advertised in AP for 9th September 1964 (p88). "This new model of the famous Paterson Universal Tank embodies years of unrivalled experience......"

It offered much the same as the Universal II, but also had the facility to develop 16mm sub-miniature (still camera) films and (in later adverts, but may not have required any modification) the 'new' 220 film size*. On the 'downside', it no longer took 116 film. It required 480cc to cover the spiral loaded with 120 or 620 film, 370cc for 127, 290cc for 35mm and 160cc for 16mm. The Universal 3 cost the same as the Universal II, at 32s.6d. (£1.63p)

The Series II tanks (other than the Universal II) were still available as late as spring 1968 (AP, 8th March edition, p47) alongside the Universal 3. The Paterson force film washer was then 5s (up from 4s.3d in 1962).

RF Hunter claimed "an extra wide neck, permitting rapid filling and emptying of solutions." It also incorporated "A polythene sealing ring (between body and screw on top) which greatly assists in preventing leakage of solutions during inversion."

Unlike the Universal 3, the Series II tanks did not have an additional sealing ring between the tank body and the screw on top lid (though my experience with the Major II is that leakage is not a great problem and even my System 4 tank isn't perfect in this respect).

*220 film enabled 24 6x6cm pictures on a 120 sized spool; 220 only used a paper leader and trailer - there was no backing paper behind the film. It was introduced in the UK post-July 1966. But Camerapedia says 220 was introduced in 1965, so possibly Kodak introduced the film ealier in its native USA or perhaps 220 film was announced some time before its actual appearance.

The Johnson Universal developing tank shown alongside, from AP magazine dated 18th September 1963, was selected for display at the Design Centre, London. "Designed by practical photographers to do a better job."

Percy W Harris Hon.FRPS, FPSA extolled it as "The biggest advance in tank design since the introduction of the spiral tank."

Despite all the above 'hype', the differences and advantages compared to e.g. the Polly-Max tank (above) are difficult to see. Indeed, there is no longer an option to use a central spiral to double up the number of (35mm) films that can be developed, though the facility to develop 2 off 120/620 or 127 films simultaneously, by loading them end to end, remained. The facility to develop the large 116 film size had been dropped.

The design included an additional sealing ring, where the top screwed onto the tank body, and was claimed to have a large filling funnel and novel light-trapping, the latter enabling avoidance of solution 'spluttering' during rapid poured in.

It was priced at 32s.6d (£1.63p).

The 'Paterson Tank System 4' was introduced in 1968.
(ref: AP for 7th January 1970, p30; confirmed by Photography magazine for December 1981).

As shown alongside, there were 5 tanks in the range. The film spirals (now called 'reels' to suit the American market and enable the packaging & instructions to be unified across all English speaking markets) are made of acetal resin (nylon) for smooth loading, high heat resistance (allows rapid heated drying) and extreme resistance to photographic chemicals. They universally fit all the System 4 tanks. The tank body and top are of polystyrene.

The smallest tank is the 35mm, taking a full length 35mm (or 126) film. Cost £2.24p in 1973. Next is the Universal, capable of processing full length 35mm to 120/620 roll films. With two spirals, it can process 2 off 35mm at the same time. Cost (with one spiral) £2.41 in 1973.

Multi-Unit Tanks are sold without spirals as the number and type of spirals "may vary with individual requirements".

Multi-Unit 1 holds up to 3 35mm, 2 127 or 2 120/620 films
Multi-Unit 2 holds up to 5 35mm, 4 127 or 3 120/620 films
Multi-Unit 3 holds up to 8 35mm, 6 127 or 5 120/620 films

With either design of spiral, a firm twist of the two halves frees them to allow adjustment to the required film width, and a second (contra) twist locks the halves securely in the selected position.

Adjustable for all film sizes (35mm to 120/220). Cost 18s.6d each, (93p) distributors (now) being Johnsons of Hendon.

AP for 7th January 1970, on their 'What's New' page, describe the System 4 as popular because "these tanks offer standardised lids, spirals and other components, which allow a system to be built up to suit individual requirements. The system is now further extended by an entirely new design of centre-load spiral." (Also visible in the 1973 Paterson brochure picture, above)

To load the spiral, the leading edge of the film is pushed under a stainless steel clip on the centre core, which holds the film securely and without any risk of damage. The film is held by its edges and the spiral rotated, winding the film into the grooves from the centre outwards.

AP found these centre loading spirals loaded easily and (in common with the normal type) felt firm at their widest setting.

The Paterson 'Super System 4' tank series appeared in late 1981 (Ref: Phtography magazine, December 1981). The picture alongside is taken from a Paterson brochure of darkroom equipment dated 1984, showing the five tanks plus some accessories. The reels (only) are interchangeable with the previous System 4 tanks, but this presumably explains why the name 'System 4' is retained. The Super System 4 tanks are physically larger than the System 4 due to the design of the lid being a large funnel with no sealing ring to trap chemicals and no screw thread to 'cross'. The lid is turned until a loud click is heard, whereupon it is secure and light tight. A snap-on PVC cap covers the whole of the top of the tank, makling it water-tight fior inversion agitation. Despite their apparent larger size, they cost the same and used the same volume of chemicals, as the System 4 tanks.

"Simpler to load, faster to fill and easier to clean than any other tank. The large diameter one piece lid and funnel clip into place securely and positively. A water-tight PVC cap seals the top of the tank to prevent leakage during inversion."

The five Super System 4 tanks comprise:
~ a 35mm designed for full length 35mm film.
~ a Universal, for up to 2x35mm (with additional spiral) or one roll film incl. 220.
~ Multi-reel 3: Will take up to 3x 35mm or 2 roll films.
~ Multi-reel 5: Will take up to 5x35mm or 4 roll films.
~ Multi-reel 8: Will take up to 8x35mm or 5 roll films.

All 'auto'load' reels are adjustable to take 35mm, 126, 127, 120 and 220 films. They use the unique twin-ball ratchet system for easy film loading.