The Honeywell Nikor Stainless Steel 16mm 39” reel is a wonderful find. Having used Nikor reels for probably 60-years, I had no idea they made 110 film reels.
The reel is built differently than other reels too. It has what is best described as an “open” side with the film held in by a simple cross of stainless steel wire. All stainless steel reels load from the center out. It turns out the 16mm film is stiff enough to stand in the coil of wire that is the other side, so all that is required is the film can’t fall out of the coil.
The included instructions (at end of blog) explain loading very well, as well as tips on the processing. I was lucky to also get a section of 16 mm film already loaded. I had read earlier that the 110 film has a hole in it at one (maybe both) end(s). In a home-made reel I read about, they used the hole and a paper clip to hold the film in place. The Nikor reel doesn’t need the hole as it has a clamp to hold the film in the hub and the outside end of the film has nowhere to go.
It is conceivable to maybe force the film off the reel with well directed hose pressure but that would never happen while the reel was in a tank.
Hinsdale Smith Jr., the inventor of stainless steel reel-type darkroom equipment was surprising too.
He was related to the Eastman family that produced George Eastman of Kodak fame. He evidentially was considered so innovative in the Second World War he was awarded for his contribution to fast developing of aerial motion pictures. His first patent on the stainless steel reels was issued in 1937. A year later a patent was issued for cut film holders for developing.
Nikor equipment was made in Springfield and later West Springfield, Massachusetts.
I had no idea that the Nikor developing tanks & reels company were the originator of that type of equipment !