Eastman Kodak No.4 Portrait Film Developing Hangers 3-1/4x4-1/4 Darkroom Qty 4

Eastman Kodak No.4 Portrait Film Developing Hangers 3-1/4x4-1/4 Darkroom Qty 4

This is a lot of four Eastman Kodak No.4 Portrait Film Developing Hangers sized for 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" sheet film. Each hanger is a ladder-frame design in stainless steel, with a slotted top bar for suspension over a developing tank and rigid cross members to hold the film sheet flat and evenly immersed during processing. The top bars are engraved with the size designation and Kodak patent information — patented in the U.S.A. with dates of March 5, 1912, December 21, 1920, and November 29, 1921 — placing these firmly in the early-to-mid 20th century era of professional portrait and commercial film photography.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Eastman Kodak
• Model: No.4 Portrait Film Developing Hanger
• Quantity: 4 hangers
• Film format: 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" sheet film
• Construction: Stainless steel ladder-frame with slotted top hanging bar and rigid cross members
• Engraved markings: Size designation (3-1/4 x 4-1/4) and U.S. patent dates (Mar 5, 1912; Dec 21, 1920; Nov 29, 1921) on each hanger
• Condition: Light surface oxidation and spotting consistent with age; no cracks or bends visible
• Included: 4 hangers only — no developing tank or additional accessories

Applications

Sheet film developing hangers are used in darkroom tank processing of individual sheet film negatives. The film is loaded into the hanger's channel, which holds it taut and flat, then the hanger is suspended in a deep tank of developer, stop bath, or fixer — allowing the chemistries to flow evenly across both film surfaces without the sheets touching each other or the tank walls. The 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" format was a widely used portrait and press photography format in the early-to-mid 20th century, associated with large-format portrait studios, press cameras, and commercial photography of that era. These Kodak No.4 hangers are compatible with standard deep-tank darkroom setups that accept this format. Today they are sought by darkroom practitioners who continue to process sheet film by hand, as well as by collectors of vintage Kodak and classic darkroom equipment. The patent dates (1912–1921) make this a genuine piece of photographic history from the golden era of commercial portrait photography.