A triple beam scale (or balance) is essential in any alternative process darkroom. On a recent trip to Maine to visit my dad for Father’s Day, we were antiquing in a town about 40 minutes north of Belfast where he lives. Always on the lookout for any hidden treasures (I saw a very sweet 4×5 Crown Graphic in excellent condition with a vintage case and accessories for under $500), I came across an “pre owned” Ohaus scale for $50 (new they’re around $150). It looked like it was never used (no sign of chemical stains or rust) and it’s better than the one I already had since this one has a removable stainless steel shallow dish for easy distribution of chemicals. When I handed over the cash to pay for the scale, he asked “So…what are you going to use this for?” I just laughed.
I’m going to donate the “pre-owned” scale to students at Queens College for the Gum class I’m teaching in the fall.
