THE LAB FUND
ABOUT
The Lab Fund started as an impromptu rescue mission, taking on the remnants of Londons last independent Cine Film Lab (pre i-Daillies), Film & Photo Ltd that closed in 2015! The equipment was rescued from a double garage before it was sent to the scrap heap as part of a pre-sale house clearance, an all too common occurrence with old film equipment!
Our aim is to caretake, refurbish and restore these priceless pieces of equipment to as-close-to-perfect working condition possible so we can offer services not currently offered in the East of England and wider UK for Analog Film-Makers.
If you can help out with a donation or better yet technical expertise (the resource pool has severely diminished over time) we and the wider community would be very grateful!!
THE refurb process
With manuals in short supply, the refurb process is mainly trial and error and involves dis-assembling and refurbishing rollers, bearings, springs, electrics and motors. Upgrading components where able to modern tech is also our goal!
the ultimate goal
The ultimate goal is to make this equipment available to the community not only through workshops and residencies but also as a working analog film cutting space - now that would be something truly unique in the UK these days!
how we use funds
All internal labour is volunteer - so where do the funds go? Well we need diagnostic and repair equipment as well as one-off ‘missing’ pieces being made in addition to electrical / engineering services for 21st century safety etc.
can you help?
Any donation amount helps us move that little bit closer to getting the machines fully refurbished and available for use, so if you can spare the change, do consider supporting the cause! We also welcome volunteer services!
MEET THe MACHINES
Super8Ukraine Processor
Unit #1, this was the precursor processor to those now used by Gauge Film (UK), Rewind Photo (AU) and Libash Milano (IT) to name a few!
Arri MiniPrint 16/35
The ‘directors’ desktop optical printer for convenient 16/35 blow ups and reductions, rarest of rare these days!
Bell & Howell Model C’s
The workhorse contact printer of the motion picture industry, responsible for making all the prints distributed to cinema’s before digital!
Other misc. equipment
Wet-gate pumps, silver-recovery unit, copious Kodak filters, lenses, motors, projectors, camera magazines and more!
Takita 16/35 Step Printer
Shoot on 35mm, distribute on 16mm! Optical printers like these were responsible for reducing down / blowing up prints between formats!
Cameras galore!
We have a truly incredible mix of old multi-format cameras including Mitchell, Acme, Neilson-Hordell, Westrex and Oxberry cameras!
Oxberry 20-OP
The legendary optical printer that before going digital was responsible for putting the magic into movies, think Star Wars space battles!
