[Leica] plastic or metal tank

[Alex Brattell <alex@zetetic.co.uk>]

>Stephen Korbin asked the subject question.
>Stephen,
>I started using Patterson plastic tanks with their nylon reels around
>1970.  I am still using the original tanks and reels from 1970.  I
>confess that, in spite of numerous attempts, I have never successfully
>loaded film on a steel reel.  I have had only one breakage - one of the
>center tubes developed a crack but I am still using it OK.
>Randolph Carlisle

I've used the plastic Paterson reels and tanks for years, no problems. I
have used metal ones but never could get used to them for 35mm (120 is
easier with metal spools IMO)

There's a lovely story that the man who invented the Paterson spools got the
idea for them when, on holiday in South Africa, he watched a snake devouring
a rodent. Lateral thinking or what?!

Alex