Acufine / Diafine company history?

[GarageBoy]

Reading up on Acufine and Diafine and I was wondering, how old is the company? Who is behind it and what do they do? I don't see a website or anything
Thanks

 

[zsas]

I think, could be wrong, but Omega Brandess, out of Hampstead, MD, bought out Acufine of Vernon Hills, IL, not sure when...

My box of Diafine says Omega Brandess. An old google search said Acufine was based out of IL....so I think a change has occurred....but I could be wrong....

 

[Gerald C Koch]

The manufacturing rights for these two products has been sold several times. The only company name I remember (and it might not be the first) is Baumann.

 

[GarageBoy]

Thanks
How long has it been out?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

A bit more information. It was invented by Dr. Harold Baumann of Baumann Chemical later called Acufine Chemical and a few years ago it was sold to Charlie Brandess of BKA. I remember seeing ads in the 1960's.

At the time Acufine was introduced it was common for film manufacturers to underrate the speed of their films. The idea being that it was better to overexpose than under expose. Thus Baumann was able to make exorbitant claims of increased speed for this developer. In reality it is a fairly pedestrian PQ formula.

 

[Xpres]

A bit more information. It was invented by Dr. Harold Baumann of Baumann Chemical later called Acufine Chemical and a few years ago it was sold to Charlie Brandess of BKA. I remember seeing ads in the 1960's.

At the time Acufine was introduced it was common for film manufacturers to underrate the speed of their films. The idea being that it was better to overexpose than under expose. Thus Baumann was able to make exorbitant claims of increased speed for this developer. In reality it is a fairly pedestrian PQ formula.

Any idea what that pedestrian PQ formula is? I've seen many 'homebrew' versions around but none of them seem to quite hit the mark.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Here are the 3 suggested substitute formulas for Acufine that I have.

This formula appeared in the Dignan Newsletter.

Distilled water (50°C) …………………………………………… 750 ml
Phenidone ……………………………………………………………………………… 0.25 g
Sodium sulfite (anhy) ……………………………………………… 60.0 g
Hydroquinone ……………………………………………………………………… 2.5 g
Sodium metaborate ………………………………………………………… 2.0 g
Sodium bisulfite …………………………………………………………… 0.5 g
Potassium bromide ………………………………………………………… 0.5 g
Distilled water to make ………………………………………… 1.0 l

This formula was suggested by Paul Farber in Photographic (Oct 1984).
The published formula has been adjusted to yield 1 liter of solution.

Distilled water (50°C) …………………………………………… 750 ml
Phenidone ……………………………………………………………………………… 0.28 g
Sodium sulfite (anhy) ……………………………………………… 60.0 g
Hydroquinone ……………………………………………………………………… 5.0 g
Sodium carbonate …………………………………………………………… 2.5 g
Borax ………………………………………………………………………………………… 2.75 g
Potassium bromide ………………………………………………………… 0.9 g
Distilled water to make ………………………………………… 1.0 l

I do not have a citation for the following formula.

Distilled water (50°C) …………………………………………… 750 ml
Phenidone ……………………………………………………………………………… 0.25 g
Sodium sulfite (anhy) ……………………………………………… 50.0 g
Hydroquinone ……………………………………………………………………… 5.0 g
Borax ………………………………………………………………………………………… 2.5 g
Potassium bromide ………………………………………………………… 0.5 g
Distilled water to make ………………………………………… 1.0 l

 

[Chamaeleo]

There are several formulae for phenidone-hydroquinone developers in the BJ Almanac 1956. For example, General Purpose Negative Developer:

Sodium sulphite (sulfite in US) (anhydrous) 75 g
Hydroquinone 8 g
Sodium carbonate (anhydrous) 37.5 g
Phenidone 0.25 g
Potassium bromide 5 g
Water to make 1 litre

For tank development: diluted 1 + 5 water. Developing time 8 min at 68°F

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I have corrected my previous post to indicate that the three formulas are all specifically intended as substitutes for Acufine.

 

[albada]

This formula was suggested by Paul Farber in Photographic (Oct 1984).
The published formula has been adjusted to yield 1 liter of solution.

Jerry, do you know how the original formula was converted to grams? My notes have the following formula, which is supposedly what Farber published, but it's in teaspoons:

Water (125F) -------------- 2.5 cups
Phenidone ------------------ 1/8 tsp
Sulfite ------------------------ 2 tbs + 1 tsp
Hydroquinone ------------- 1 1/2 tsp
Borax ------------------------ 1/2 tsp
Sodium Carbonate ------ 3/8 tsp
Potassium Bromide ---- 1/8 tsp
Water to make ----------- 1 qt
​

I suppose the best way is to actually measure out the ingredients in teaspoons and weigh them. But volume-based measurements of powders are inconsistent. I wish Farber had used grams.

Mark Overton

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Mark, I rechecked my notes but there is just the formula. However IIRC the original quart size contained something like 67 g of product so the Farber formula fits pretty close to this weight. Jerry