Nordic Lab film-loading aid for Jobo developing reels

• Operable blind in a changing bag: Tool and reel are held firmly in position relative to each other, so you no longer have to feel around in the dark for the reel entry.
• No finger contact with the emulsion: The film is guided into the reel instead of being pushed along with your fingers. This eliminates fingerprints and kinked half-moon marks that can no longer be rescued later.
• 120 with separate take-up roller: The 120 version comes in two parts: one body holds the reel and the film roll, while the second, removable roller winds up the backing paper and pulls the film onto the reel in the process.
• Repeatable even for beginners: Precisely the step where most films get damaged works the same way every time.

Design & idea: Nordic Lab (Sasha Yakovlev). Licensed design, made in Germany and checked for fit on a real Jobo reel.

Compatibility

• Jobo DuoSet reel 1501, adjustable universal reel; the 35mm version for the 35mm setting, the 120 version for the 120 setting.
• This makes it suitable for the Jobo 1500 series developing tanks: 1510, 1520, 1540.
• For 35mm film and 120 roll film.
• Not suitable for Paterson developing reels. For Paterson, the same loading aid is available in its own version: Film loading aid for Paterson developing reels.

Scope of delivery

• Variant 35mm: 1x loading aid 35mm, one-piece
• Variant 120: 1x loading aid 120, two-piece: body and take-up roller that plug together
• Variant set 35mm + 120: 1x loading aid 35mm and 1x loading aid 120 (two-piece)
• All variants come without developing reel, without developing tank and without film. These are not included.

The two parts of the 120 version

• Body: Holds the Jobo 1501 reel in the 120 position and, next to it, the 120 film. Both sit firmly in place relative to each other, so nothing slips in the dark.
• Take-up roller (the second part): Plugs into the body next to the film. It has a lengthwise slot for the end of the backing paper and a grip on top. When you turn it, the backing paper winds onto the roller, pulling the film off the roll and onto the reel. The take-up roller therefore serves as both paper winder and crank; without it, you would have to separate film and paper blindly by hand and feed the film along.

Technical details

• Material: engineering plastic
• Color: black, matte
• Dimensions 35mm version: 132 x 97 x 49 mm
• Dimensions 120 version: body 141 x 134 x 74 mm, take-up roller 31 x 31 x 84 mm
• Film formats: 35mm (small format) and 120 (medium format / roll film)
• Compatible with: Jobo 1501 reel in the respective format position
• Design 35mm: one-piece
• Design 120: two-piece: body with holders for reel and film, plus the removable take-up roller with paper slot
• Made to order in Würzburg

Description

The film inevitably has to go onto the reel in the dark, in a changing bag or in the darkroom. That is exactly where the typical damage happens: the film leader misses the reel opening, you start over several times, push it along with your fingers and leave fingerprints or kinks. The loading aid holds the reel and the film and keeps them in position relative to each other, so the film finds its way even without sight.

With 120 roll film, there is the added factor that the backing paper is attached to the film and has to be carried along. That is why this version is two-piece. Here is how it works: you place the 120 film into the body in daylight, slide the end of the backing paper into the lengthwise slot of the take-up roller and plug the roller into its holder. Then the Jobo reel in the 120 position goes in, and you thread the end of the film into the reel. In the changing bag, all you do is turn the roller: the backing paper winds up, and the film runs evenly onto the reel. The 35mm version does not need this second part, because 35mm film has no backing paper. It holds the film cassette and the reel, so the film leader finds the entry without any searching.

Which reel you need: a Jobo 1501 in the matching format position; it is not included. Sasha provides the original designs free of charge, and anyone who wants to print their own is expressly invited to: 35mm version and 120 version on his Ko-fi page. If you want a finished part, tested on a real Jobo reel and shipped from the EU, you can get it here.

Frequently asked questions

What is the second part in the 120 version for?
That is the take-up roller for the backing paper. You slide the end of the paper into its lengthwise slot and turn the handle inside the changing bag. The backing paper winds onto the roller, and exactly this pull feeds the film onto the reel. The 35mm version doesn't have this part, because 35mm film has no backing paper.

Which reel do I need for it?
A Jobo DuoSet 1501 set to the matching format. The reel is not included.

Does it also fit Paterson reels?
No. The dimensions are different; there is a separate version for Paterson.

Does the emulsion side matter?
No. In the developing tank it makes no difference whether the emulsion faces inward or outward. The film develops the same way in both cases.