I recently acquired a full size film processing machine from ebay. Between the shipping and the cost of the item it came to be approx 1000 dollars in cost. I'm please to have made the purchase. It had a mfg defect in that one of the sprockets was drilled crooked and caused the chain to run slanted. When I found it for sale and missing parts - the chain was derailed and twisted and it was missing the sprockets. I could tell that the sprocket fell off in  early photos from the previous owner. It was crated and shipped to me in Illinois and sustained some minor damage during truck shipping. The minor damage amounts to a few hundred dollars in plastic cost and will probably set me behind about a year or so in making the repairs in my spare time. Nevertheless- I'm glad to have it as it is huge but compared to other machines it is truly small for what it will someday do again. Its overall size about the size of a large projection TV and weighs about twice as much.

When I unloaded it from the crate I paid 4 people to help me carry it to my shop and I had one corner. It was very heavy as it is constructed well. I welded a rolling cart for it and fixed some of the broken areas caused by poor crating. PVC is easily repaired as most plumbing stores carry PVC cement and bonds well.

I have included some photos of the machine. It is missing the front loading system and the rear spooling system is incomplete. The lid over the Dryer section is missing. Also the magnetic "wishbone" is missing. It seems all the main components are present.

The request I am making is for anyone with any photos of this machine or drawings or if by any one in a million chance you own one too - I would greatly appreciate communicating with you about  this well made machine. I have all of the tools and skills to make any part it needs. I just don't have any photos of  how it is supposed to  load or unload film.  I have studies the few very small photos  in 1980s brochures of the MagiTrak series of film processors- but the big model was not emphasized and had the tiny photos while the small machines were very emphasized. Any photos or leads or help would be appreciated. My goal is to develop Super8 film in 2011/2012 using e-6 chemistry. This goal is attainable whether I receive any help or not.

I have contacted the MFG, and basically got told it is not supported. PVC is timeless and doesn't age like other plastics and is chemical proof. It is very possible that I have the only machine left of the full-sized model. If you have used one or remember anything about it- or can send me a sketch of how the loading or unloading system should be- it would be appreciated.

Dr Virago Pete
drviragopete@att.net
(847) 454-7858

The photos are below
1. Photo of the machine at seller's location (missing dryer section cover & more)
2. Photo of machine at seller's location (missing rear spooling system)
3. Photo of machine at seller's location (missing loading system)
4,5,6 The Misc small pieces I received that are part of loading/end spooling system but missing substantial protions- your help would be appreciated in how it goes and what the missing parts look like. I need to aquire a plastic sprocket and length of chain- any tips on where to find - otherwise I will need to make/duplcate this sprocket by hand
7. Photo of machine still at seller's place I pointed out sprocket which fell down and was assured that they would make sure it didnt get lost- which it did and also the sliding door on photo 2 with knob is also missing.
8. A photo of the rolling cart I made from scratch with Menards Hardware store steel and heavy duty casters. $150 cost just for the materials for the cart (square tube steel and 6ea solid steel casters with bearings) . A sheet of plywood is carriage bolted on top and the very heavy machine sits on top and actually rolls pretty easily now.

Communicating with anyone with any size or shape Bray Magitrak or other model of film processor made by Bray will help me better understand how the loading and unloading system is supposed to be. Also the brochure mentions an optional sump system. Also the magnetic dogbone and how it is supposed to be. The very very small and grainy photo of the bruchure has a handle and looks like three part dryer section cover- some sort of air filter system? The door that is missing on the side covers a hole- is that an air circulation system opening - what is supposed to go there? Any videos or books or instructions for any of the machines would help me understand.
 
The skull in the photos is something leftover from a previous owner. I still have it on there as it is part of the machine's history. Just like my motorcycle still has the leather laces on the handlegrips - a bit of history of who owned it before. Part of the character of the machine.

I am updating this to say I have not found any person to communicate with about Bray Magi-Trak. I found a (big auction site- nameless) listing where one was sold in Great Britain in March 2011 approx and I contacted both the seller and the buyer but have gotten no response- see last picture of forklift/tractor - that is the Bray Magitrak which I got no response. It is the clearest picture I have of a complete unit to date - as blurry as that picture is. The base and some loading and unloading areas of the machine are visible. Still not enough to help me with completing my machine and knowing how it is supposed to look. I do now know there are 2 units in existence. This tractor picture and online auction proves it. That unit looks complete. If that owner looks online for information - they're sure to see this ad as it comes up in the search engines- please contact me as photos of your unit and dimensions would truly help. I am willing to pay for dimensions and photos and drawings etc so I can have enough info to complete my drying area top lid which is missing, my loading area which is missing and my film exit area and drying area etc. It sounds like alot is missing but it is not- the design is basic and made in panels. Almost like you would construct something from wood- but instead is PVC sheet.
Updated 7/2011


I am updating this section to show a link which shows a Brak Magitrak medium-sized unit in the UK. The video is very shakey, and I have left a message hoping the uploader will contact me. I have requested a video of the unit that is steady so I can see the loading box and more. I have also included in that message a willlingness to pay for pictures, sketches, videos of the machine. I have also answered her questions as how the film is pulled through - with a magnetic "dogbone" which mine is missing (dogbone is shown in brochure). I hope to find someone to correspond with regarding any model of Bray Magitrak.

Here is the Youtube link and I am not affiliated with this video at all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni5FX884Zqg

at 23 seconds shows the loading box at far left

at 39 seconds shows lid being opened on loading box and film reel visible - until I saw this video I didn't realize that the lid lifts up and over. Very ingenius design (light-tight) but I still can't see enough of it to see how it is supposed to work.

at 2:39 more is shown but the camera is so zoomed in and shakey I can't see anything.

I see dryer lid for a brief instant- looks like it comes completely off and is laying on top of unit unlatched. It is at far right at 3:32 and a very brief 1:48 - put on pause there to see at far right.

Also not shown is the hole at the right side of machine- not sure what that is for - see my photo (second from top) which shows the output area and there is a door which slides up revealing a hole. What goes in that compartment?

Anyways I'm glad to have seen this video whether or not I get a response for more videos and pictures - it still helped alot. This video wasn't intended for me. But I learned from it.

That machine is big- mine is twice the height. It is like 2 of that machine stacked. I would say the design is the same- except the electronics and control on mine is on the exit area and all displays are consolidated into one display and one control knob. (see skull graphics area- a remnant of previous owner and adds to the machine's heritage- I keep that sort of stuff- it adds character.)

I would like to know about remjet removal/carbon antihalation layer removal which I have been doing manually after the film is dried. At which point is the antihalation layer removed- as originally instructed by Bray? How did they remove that anti-halation layer in 1980ish when this machine was made? There was a loading box shown in the Magitrak brochure - it looks like a shoe-shine boy box. I don't see that box in the video. I don't see any mention of that box in anything online.

I may be the keeper of the faith regarding this machine as I am just really searching for answers to restore my magitrak- maybe not too many still exist. This uploader's video looks like the machine was kept outdoors and may be doomed. But PVC is chemical resistant and the outdoor kept medium-sized Magitrak may be tougher/resiliant than the weather can dish out- I hope it survives. The type of PVC is type I light grey which is brittle. Type II PVC is dark grey and is not brittle (would have been a better choice in my opinion)- maybe at that time PVC type II was not yet invented?

For example Type I grey PVC if smacked with a hammer will crack and shatter
Type II grey PVC if hit with a hammer will just have a mark/scratch. Cutting Type II dark grey PVC smells like a skunk very strongly of skunk- but 1 minute later it doesn't any more and is everything proof- that is why machininsts use it alot for prototyping and fabrication of chemical resistant parts. I have cut and fabricated Type I light grey PVC to make a few pieces for my Magitrak and it is the same except brittle. Not the best choice when you have drilled and tapped holes. That is why mine is broken and in my possesion now- someone bumped into it is my hunch and the brittle exit area broke. I had enough pieces to recreate those parts. I used Type II Dark grey PVC to make my first homebrew CNC machine decades ago.

I did communicate with a former salesman for Bray, and he said it has been 10+ years and doesn't remember much. He did say that the back of the unit has a PVC back. Mine is missing that panel. Seeing any version of Magitrak photos would help me recreate that missing back PVC panel. Does it it have vent holes? Does it have a fan there?

I wonder if there was a Demo video carried around by salesman/saleswomen that someone still has? An owner's manual? Anything?

Updated 12/31/11

Update 2/2013 I am communicating with a man from UK who has send me detailed photos of his Bray Magitrak full sized machine which is slighlt different than my machine in that hisis for C41 processing and mine is for E6 processing. His machine is not as wide and not as long- but the construction and design is amazingly similar. I had questions of how the packside shouls be and I saw how his backpanel and loading cartridge and top cover is- so now I have a better understanding and have the necessary knowledge to complete mine. He has agreed to sell me his loading cartridge loading box and dogbone for $1000. I am planning on buying when I have finished paying off my above Kodak VP-1 machine as my finances are limited right now. The downsideis none of these items are the correct size (his items too small) but will serve as a guide in making my own replacement parts.

I would like to find a source for these plastic gears as I am missing 2ea (see picture of black gear). I have the skills to make these from brass or other plastic but original is always best.