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Getting Brownie film developed in Boston
By adamg on Tue, 12/25/2018 - 8:05pm
Jocelyn asks:
So, if one got film for a Brownie camera, where in the Boston area could one get it developed?
She adds:
Its 120 spooled. Eric bought me film to go with the camera he bought for my birthday and I have another one that might work pic.twitter.com/7bgsmk5MGz
— Jocelyn (@hkergrrl) December 25, 2018
Neighborhoods:
Ad:
Comments
Some answers via Twitter
Newtonville Camera
Benjamin J Lipiecki writes:
Nudyville
I had a boss long ago who liked the place and would go with some frequency. He'd slur the name when telling people he was leaving the office to go to "Nudyville". We know what he meant but I'm sure there was plenty of people over the years who assumed the place was run by a pervert.
A desire to see a woman naked
Is a perverse act? Sheesh, how Puritan are we?
Colortek
You can have this film (and some other vintage/specialty varieties) developed by Colortek, which is located right by South Station. Very handy if you live or work in town and don't want to take a trek to somewhere like Methuen. They were very helpful a couple years ago when I was dabbling with a vintage camera I had acquired, and it looks like they still do this. http://www.colortekofboston.com/
Brownie film- call Benjamin Franklin
Call BFS Printing or Colortek- around the corner from each other near South Staion.
If they can’t do it, they’ll likely know someone who can.
Don't want to discourage anyone from using a local service ...
... but lots of people do this by mail; one option is NorthCoastPhoto.com.
Pictured camera takes 616
The Brownie Target Six-16, took 616 roll film, see http://www.brownie-camera.com/46.shtml
If the film is actual 120, then it's possible that the camera could have been modified to take 120 spools, or the film was 120 that was respooled onto a 616 spool.
Old School Photo Lab/Photosmith in Dover, NH processes 120. They offer mail order service and has a retail shop.
Mail Order: https://oldschoolphotolab.com/
Retail (Photosmith): http://photosmithimaging.com/
Disclaimer: I have never used the services of Photosmith/OSPL.
Noticed that as well
I mentioned it to the original tweeter and she seems unconcerned, so I am as well.
I'm trying really hard not to be Well Actually Guy on this topic, but I do a lot of work with vintage film cameras, so this is right in my wheelhouse and it's killing me.
Used to use my mom's old brownie camera
It seemed to take 120 film just fine.
Some of them were either manufactured for 120 or modified to fit 120 or it just worked.
Baby Brownie Special
I have a Baby Brownie Special that takes 127 film. 127 is still available today, but only from a couple of known manufacturers. I found that it costs more to develop and print 127 than it costs to buy the film.
Respooling on 127 backing paper
I've kept a couple of 127 cameras working for special projects by hanging on to the backing papers (and scrounging them wherever possible). Two rolls of 127 film are just about the same length as one 36 exposure role of 135, so if you have the backing papers and a blacked-out space to work in, it's not much harder than, say, respooling 120 onto 620 spools, just more steps.
Bonus: You can develop it easily at home in a standard 135 tank.
Minus: It's a bitch to print. But it scans well.
I second the suggestion for
I second the suggestion for Colortek, and if they can't Jackie could surely provide a good recommendation.