Age of Azo?

Shawn Dougherty · Dec 9, 2008

I posted this on the Azo Forum as well but thought it might reach more eyes here...

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I've just begun working with a 6x6 mf camera and as such picked up 3 - 500 sheet boxes of 2 1/2 in. Azo. I'm wondering what age it is, I can find no date on the boxes though I haven't opened one yet.

The following is the info from the box:
Kodak Azo Paper
Cat 141 7831
Single weight
E2
I'm guessing the numbers below are for the emulsion...? Two boxes have the same number, one box is different.
01302-73574V PD
03904-73192P DD

Any ideas of the age or where I might look? As long as it prints well I suppose it doesn't matter but I'm curious none the less.

Shawn

Robert Hall · Dec 9, 2008

I have about 5 sheets left of what my grandfather bought which expired on my birthday. (the actual birthday in 1961) and it prints just fine. They just don't build to last anymore, do they?

I thought I would wait until I was 50 to finish off the box.

Shawn Dougherty · Dec 9, 2008

That's a great story, Robert. I'm sure it will be a nice moment for you when you use the last of it.

I was told my 3 boxes were stored well and have reasonable info to believe it... I'm sure it's fine and I'll find out soon enough but I'd still like to know when it was made. Where was the date printed on your box? As I mentioned I haven't opened mine yet....

Robert Hall · Dec 9, 2008

The date on my box say good through 9-1961 (I happened to be born in September -- how strange life is) and was stored in the house and garage through those 50 or so years it was in existence.

Bullet proof! lol

Vaughn · Dec 9, 2008

I have a large box of 10"x10", grade 4 Azo with an expiry date of 1978 -- unfortunately it is fogged (and not too evenly fogged at that)...my fault as it has been at room temp since I got it maybe 12 to 15 years ago. I might be able to use it with busy forest scenes, but low contrast negs is not a problem I usually have.

Vaughn

Photo Engineer · Dec 9, 2008

If you call Kodak, they can probably tell you the actual coating and expiration dates from the emulsion numbers. IDK if they will, but that data is encrypted in the numbers you see on the box.

PE

Shawn Dougherty · Dec 9, 2008

Thanks for the thoughts fellows!

Ron, which department should I try and contact? Obviously they don't have a paper division anymore? Thanks!!! Shawn

Photo Engineer · Dec 9, 2008

Just call the toll free number on any Kodak analog product. IDK if they still have paper product data, but they did last time I called. They told me what date it was coated on, what plant, and the expiration date. Of course, it might have helped that I knew the guy on the other end of the line personally but he made a point of telling me that they would do it for anyone.

PE

Shawn Dougherty · Dec 9, 2008

Thanks, Ron. I'll give them a call. I appreciate the info. Shawn

Shawn Dougherty · Dec 9, 2008

Well, I just talked to a very nice fellow at Kodak who looked up the Catalog number for me but said it was no longer in the system. He also tried the emulsion number but mentioned that the batch numbers are recycled and that without being able to identify the Catalog number there was no way to tell....

I'll post some pictures of the box in the next day or so and maybe someone can give me an idea from the style of packaging...? Shawn

Larry Bullis · Dec 9, 2008

I've got 3 100 foot rolls of 36 inch wide Ad Type (another kodak contact paper, lightweight) with dates in the early 70's. I found them in a (dry!) bathtub at St. Vincent de Paul (charity thrift shop) and last time I used any was in the 80's. They've been in storage pretty much since then, and I can't access them easily. I suspect that the storage conditions are not too bad. I sure hope so.

It was a great paper; toned beautifully. The bad part is that the lightweight paper has a way of drying with nasty wrinkles. The only way I could deal with that was to mount them wet using archival paste. I found a print in my files that shows the sepia tone and the wrinkles. The lens used was a 125mm Goerz Dagor on 8x10 tri-x ortho film. The vignette was intentional, I suppose that is obvious.

Uhner · Dec 9, 2008

Truly a fantastic image, and it certainly looks like a good paper – wrinkles and all.

Larry Bullis · Dec 9, 2008

Uhner said:
Truly a fantastic image, and it certainly looks like a good paper wrinkles and all.

Thanks!

Age of Azo?

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