Old film developer

[Jim C.]

I acquired some old film in some film holders I bought at a moving sale
and it seems like the film in the holders is Royal Pan, ( two V notches )
i have no idea how old it may be but I'm curious to develop some of it since the
dark slides show some of them to be exposed.

Currently I have some TMax developer already mixed but Googling
about developing old film D-76 seems to come up as a possible developer
for the Royal Pan.
Any suggestions on what developer to use on the old Royal Pan ?

[IanG]

Kodak didn't recommend D76 for Royal Pan.

It had an ASA/BS of 200 and the recommended developers were DK-60a, DK-50 or Dektol (D-72). It's often forgotten that Dektol was once sold as a negative developer.

It was quite a flat film (in terms of contrast) as was Ilford's equivalent HPS.

Dev times at 20°C (68°F) with Intermittent agitation were:

DK-60a 4 min
DK50 5 min
Dektol/D72 (Full strength) 2½ mins

For less contrast
DK-50 1+1 8 min

Ian

[al olson]

You don't mention the spacing between the V-notches. The Kodak Data Book Kodak Films, 7th ed. (first 1958 printing), shows:

Super-XX Panchromatic Sheet Film, EI=100, two V-notches adjacent to each other.
Royal Pan Sheet Film, EI=200, two V-notches with a space between them.
Panatomic-X Sheet Film, EI=32, two V-notches with a long space (>.5") between them.

(Note that back in those times Kodak provided an exposure index, but they were not using ASA. Royal Pan was not listed in the 1954 Data Book.)

If your film is Royal Pan (this was a fast, low grain film that was popular with press photographers), Ian's numbers are correct for intermittent agitation. Kodak also lists times for continuous agitation (tray) which likely would apply if you were using a Jobo as well.

DK-60a ------- 2.75 min
DK-50 -------- 3
Dk-50 (1:1) --- 5
Dektol -------- 2 (the Data Book does not give a time for intermittent)

Back at that time I used D-76 to get good results.

[Jim C.]

Thanks for the replies, I may have to spring for a small amount of Dektol
just to make sure I get something out of the negs.

Al, I've attached some pics of a sheet showing the notches, I'm pretty sure
based on what I googled it's Royal Pan 4140 ( ?)

[al olson]

Thanks for the replies, I may have to spring for a small amount of Dektol
just to make sure I get something out of the negs.

Al, I've attached some pics of a sheet showing the notches, I'm pretty sure
based on what I googled it's Royal Pan 4140 ( ?)

Jim, that looks like the spacing they show in the Data Book. Enjoy the Dektol. When I am in a hurry, I had been dipping my 8x10 film in the Nova vertical tank filled with Dektol, noarmally used for prints. I quit doing that because the dyes and coatings came off in the developer. However, the negatives came out with nice contrast and no apparent increase in grain.

I would like to hear how you come out with the Royal Pan. I know it has been discontinued for quite a few years.

[Jim C.]

That's what I'm wondering too, these were in some dusty 4X5 holders, for how long I don't know.
They could be fogged or they could still be ok, shot 2 sheets today at ASA 400, and I guess I'm off
to B&H to pick up some fresh Dektol, I don't think the stuff I have in can is any good.

[Jim C.]

I got around to developing some of the old royal pan in the holders with Dektol
and time and temperature wasn't kind to the film.

What I thought were exposed sheets wasn't, I guess the dark slides were either
put in wrong or they were taken out and the film was fogged, of the unexposed sheets
I shot one at ASA 400 and developed it and aside from the interesting mold growth
I don't think the rest of the sheets are worth using.