Kindermann tank lid changes / differences

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Samuel D

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These cylindrical developing tanks are sadly no longer made but I see many on the used market (often at extortionate prices). I’m talking about the models for 1 to about 4 rolls of 35 mm film with plastic tops. Can you tell me about these tops or caps?

The main lid part (full width of the steel cylinder) is black, but the cap through which chemicals are poured and drained is yellow or grey. Which colour came first and what’s the difference? Do any caps have a better flow rate than others?

Thanks! And if you have suggestions for comparable cheaper tanks available in Europe, I’m all ears. A lot of these steel tanks, Nikor, etc., seem to be in America … fewer on eBay in European countries.
 
All my stainless tanks are Kindermann, all the main lids are black, and all the smaller "pour" lids are also black. I think these all date from the late 1960s through the 1980s. Tanks are 1, 2, and 4 35mm reel sizes, plus a larger diameter one for two reels of 220.
 
My Kindermann's date from the 1970s.


I still have a 2 35s or 1 120 and

a 4 35s or 2 120s
which also came with a nicely designed and made lift rod (does not snag on reels)

All have black rubber caps.

IMO, Kindermann stainless steel tanks and reels are vastly superior to all others, SS or plastic.
 
I have both black and grey secondary cap Kindermanns. I think the black caps are older. They are also different in that there is a nubbin to pull the cap off whereas the grey caps have a ridge all the way around. No difference functionally. The older tank has a welded bottom though. The newer tanks are all one piece. I believe Kindermann also made plastic tanks that were the same size. Those are grey IIRC. I could be wrong on that though.

I don't know if Kindermann reels are vastly superior. Some peeps who use Hewes would argue with that. Kindermann also made different types over the years mostly to do with the clip. From my point of view, any company that puts their name on the reels can probably be trusted... Avoid the generic reels.

The trick to get the tank to fill quickly is to tilt it about 45º. You can get the chems in pretty fast that way. Not as fast as a JOBO though...
 
I have a generic steel tank with a steel lid. Pouring in solutions takes longer than I like. If the tank was bigger it wouldn’t work at all, at least for short development times.

There’s at least three styles of Kindermann lid:

1. All-black with vertical ridges around outside of main lid. E.g. eBay item number 273964305422 (I see the box in this ad claims a 5-second pour).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kindermann...k-and-Stainless-Reel-Model-23166/273964305422

2. Grey pour lid model with circumferential grooves around main lid. E.g. eBay item number 312621481493.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kindermann...5243-3363-Metall-Developing-Tank/312621481493

3. Yellow pour lid model otherwise visually similar to the grey model.
E.g. eBay item number 324031146408.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kindermann-Filmentwicklungstank-Edelstahl-1000-ml/324031146408

I guess you take what you can get these days, but does anyone know if there’s a pouring speed difference between these models?
 
Didn’t see PRJ’s post before my last one.

I use Hewes reels with my generic tank and like them a lot. Easy and reliable to load.

I’m after a tank for maybe three or four rolls of 35 mm film … with a lid that will accept a reasonable pour rate … and not leak much.

Thanks for the tip about pouring while tilting the tank. That might help with my generic tank too.
 
None of my Kindermann lids leak either. All are the first variety mentioned above.
With the 4-reel tank, when timing is critical I generally have started with developer already in the tank, then in the dark load and assemble the reels on the lifting rod, then drop the assembly in the tank and hit the timer button... all by (careful) feel!
At the end of the developing time the lights go off again and I pour out the (1-shot) developer and pour in water/stop in the dark.
If I'm using Diafine (favored) then time is not really a critical issue at any stage so I just use the small pouring opening with the lights on.
 
I have only one Kindermann tank. It holds 5 35mm reels and has the all black lid (which leaks like a sieve). Pour times are not too bad, but I don’t use short dev times, typically.
I don’t think the Kindermann tank is any better or worse than my old Nikors but I do prefer the Nikors with the quick-pour tops to the older type.

I have a generic, made-in-Korea tank from the late 80s that holds 1 35mm reel and it’s an exact copy of a Kindermann tank. Mine was branded ‘Tundra’ but I’m sure the same tank was marketed under lots of different names like Hansa, Kalt, etc... That tank doesn’t leak at all and, to be quite honest, I see very little difference in quality between it and the real Kindermann. I really should try the Tundra lid on the Kindermann tank to see if it leaks less.

As far as reels go I’ll agree that Hewes are the easiest to load followed by Kindermann and then Nikor. I’m happy to use whichever is close at hand, though, provided it’s one of those three brands. The no-name reels are of substantially lower quality and can be a real bear to load. At least that’s been my experience.
 
So some leak and some don’t, much like Nikor tanks. Oh well. I suppose the leak is at the metal-plastic joint, not the pour cap?

Google shows a couple of Kindermann tanks or accessories on B&H Photo, all sold out. Example:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/26257-REG/Kindermann_EKM253_Cover_and_Cap_for.html

They have grey pour caps. That makes me think the yellow pour caps probably came earlier.

I also found a 2007 photo.net thread where a two-reel Kindermann was priced at $55. That would be $70 now. Amazing price for something so simple. (The Tundra was $12.)

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/tank-differences-kindermann-vs-generic.260740/

Used prices today aren’t far off the new price.
 
Samuel D said:
So some leak and some don’t, much like Nikor tanks. Oh well. I suppose the leak is at the metal-plastic joint, not the pour cap?
Click to expand...
That’s the case with mine. I guess the plastic has deformed slightly and no longer makes a good seal against the metal. The pour cap doesn’t leak.
 
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