Developing very old film

[Gary L. Quay]

This has been discussed before, but usually around making new images on old film and developing it. This week I found a 1932 Kodak Premo in an antique shop. It had a roll of exposed 620 film, I'm guessing Verichrome Pan, inside. I bought the camera, and I'd like to develop the film just to see what images may be on it. The film looked very old. It is on a metal reel, and the colors of the paper backing are black and silver. Any ideas about how to develop this? I checked the Massive Development Chart at Digitaltruth, and it said 4.5 minutes in HC110 (B) for Verichrome. I'm assuming that this is for a newer emulsion than the one I have. I want to use HC110 because of it's anti-fogging properties. My instincts are to use dilution H, and develop for 11 minutes. Since the film was sitting for decades in the camera, the images are likely to be a bit shallow. I can bump up the contrast by adding extra time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

--Gary

[jb7]

At the risk or cost of slicing a frame, you could do a clip test...

[Toyon]

I agree with Joseph - a clip test. Use a developer + benzotriaizole to deal with fog. If the images are "faded" you may want to soak the negative in Selenium to bump the contrast up a stop.

[ghost]

This has been discussed before, but usually around making new images on old film and developing it. This week I found a 1932 Kodak Premo in an antique shop. It had a roll of exposed 620 film, I'm guessing Verichrome Pan, inside. I bought the camera, and I'd like to develop the film just to see what images may be on it. The film looked very old. It is on a metal reel, and the colors of the paper backing are black and silver. Any ideas about how to develop this? I checked the Massive Development Chart at Digitaltruth, and it said 4.5 minutes in HC110 (B) for Verichrome. I'm assuming that this is for a newer emulsion than the one I have. I want to use HC110 because of it's anti-fogging properties. My instincts are to use dilution H, and develop for 11 minutes. Since the film was sitting for decades in the camera, the images are likely to be a bit shallow. I can bump up the contrast by adding extra time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

--Gary

I don't think 11 minutes is near long enough.....I would go for one of these super-dilution 1-hour type deals

- agree on the anti-fog and clip test. I would love to see your results I am really charged by this kind of window into the past. Please keep us posted.

[al olson]

I am looking at the recommended development for Verichrome (ASA 64) in Kodak's 1952 Data Book.

Continuous Agitation (tray)
D-76 13 min
Microdol 13 min
DK-20 12 min
DK-60a 5.5 min

Intermittent Agitation (tank)
D-76 16 min
Microdol 16 min
DK-20 15 min
DK-60a 7 min

These may be helpful as starting points.

[Gary L. Quay]

You know, I have some old cans of DK-60a at home. I'm a bit concerned that it may lead to more fog than HC110. I'll try the clip test, and add some anti-fog to the mix if I need to.

[John Bowen]

With tongue firmly planted in cheek....

For 1930's vintage Verichrome Pan I'd suggest you use 1930's vintage D-76 :-)

Sorry, I couldn't resist..

Please let us know the results of your endeavor.

Good luck,

[Keith Fleming]

Check out www.westfordcomp.com. He collects old cameras, including ones with old film inside, and develops the film. His web site has pages of images from such film.

Keith Fleming

[ic-racer]

I have never obtained an image from old (30-40years) film found in a camera, though I always try when I have the chance. Personally I don't see how a latent image can survive that long, though, there are supposed instances of prolonged latent image survival: http://www.largeformatphotography.in...highlight=line

If you get something let us know!

[Jim Graves]

One photographer who has sort of a sub-specialty in developing "found film" is Gene M. ... over on the photo.net classic camera forum. He has a series on the rolls he's developed on his website at:

http://www.westfordcomp.com/holga/index.html