120 FP4+ Diagnostic Help Required

[pentaxuser]

I developed a film for a friend tonight. He found it in a drawer. His estimation is that it must be about 10 years old and he isn't aware of how it was shot. but he thinks it may have been with a 6x7

From where the stick tape attaches the film to the backing paper, there are about 4/5 completely black frames forward of this and it isn't even possible to distinguish the breaks between the shots, although it is possible to read the first Ilford film marking. Beyond this there is nothing except the image of the backing paper on clear film combined with some black mottling and Ilford markings.

Had it been completely clear except for the film markings I'd have said it was unexposed but there clearly has been a lot of light getting in to that part of the film where it was atttached to the backing paper but the rest is clear apart from the imprint of the backing paper and some black mottling.

The film wasn't taped very tightly but wasn't exactly floppy either. Not loose enough to have any effect or was it?

Any ideas?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[bdial]

Sounds like it was fogged in the camera? In an Exposed roll the taped end is inside, and theoretically the most protected from light. Maybe this is why it got tossed in a drawer rather than processed, and he simply forgot?

 

[pentaxuser]

Sounds like it was fogged in the camera? In an Exposed roll the taped end is inside, and theoretically the most protected from light. Maybe this is why it got tossed in a drawer rather than processed, and he simply forgot?

Thanks for the prompt reply. I decided that I'd wait for a couple of days and then thank all the respondents. However you are the sole respondent and I doubt if there will be others. My experience is that if a thread doesn't excite much of a response within 24 hrs then it isn't going to.

I have today learnt a little more. It was in a Mamiya and someone has confessed that he syarted to remove the back before realising there was a film in it. That would explain the fogged beginning. The clear bit but with backing paper impressions suggest that light is getting into the camera.

The film may never have been used at all but if the backing paper was showing through, it was probably just as well.

pentaxuser