Agfa/Ansco Formula Numbering

Gerald Koch · Dec 14, 2006

There is a definite difference in the numbering of Agfa formulas between the US and Europe. It is unwise to assume that a particular Agfa formula is the same as an Ansco/GAF one. This seems to be particularly true for print developers. I collect formulas and this discrepency caused me some grief until I found that others had found the same problem. Comparison between American and European formula collections has confirmed this. Therefore, it is really not a good idea to list a formula as Agfa/Ansco/GAF.

Some examples:

AG-110 high contrast rapid paper . . . . AN-110 warm black paper
AG-120 brown tone paper . . . . . . . . . AN-120 soft working paper similar to
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selectol Soft
AG-135 for X-Ray papers . . . . . . . . . AN-135 warm tone paper

jim appleyard · Dec 14, 2006

Thanks for the info. I'll have to check my recipes.

Ian Grant · Oct 3, 2007

Agfa/Ansco/Orwo/Gevaert/Voightlander Formula Numbering

I'm revisiting this subject because I'm compiling a database of developers.

A major problem is that Agfa's formulae come from many different origins, so need to be listed by their original publisher.

I would appreciate any help with formulæ preferably in Excel or Open Office Calc formats. References to the original primary source are essential. Books like the Morgan & Lester PhotoLab Index are too full of mistakes and errors, even Anchell's Cookbooks aren't perfect.

My intention is to make the database available via APUG.

Ian

AgX · Oct 3, 2007

There was another member who some weeks ago informed on the history of one specific Agfa formula and I advised him to dive into the Agfa archives.
He should know best. If not you should inform at the archives yourself, Ian.

eclarke · Oct 3, 2007

I have the 1913 Agfa formula book and also the 1941 Ansco book. Which formulas are you interested in??..Evan Clarke

Ian Grant · Oct 3, 2007

As you have primary sources all If only to cross check what I have already.

Ian

eclarke said:
I have the 1913 Agfa formula book and also the 1941 Ansco book. Which formulas are you interested in??..Evan Clarke

eclarke · Oct 4, 2007

Hi Ian,
Here is a link to the 1941 Agfa Ansco book which I scanned and posted as a .pdf which you can save. Check it out and see if there are any differences and then I will check the 1913 book. I would scan it but it was a dime book in 1913 and I am afraid I would ruin it, it's a little delicate I think I need to find time to transcribe it..Evan

eclarke · Oct 4, 2007

Sorry all, dementia..

Dead Link Removed

Ian Grant · Oct 4, 2007

Thanks Evan.

The more I look I'm finding other formulae that differ depending whether the number is Agfa (Germany) or Agfa Ansco (US). As Orwo (Film Tec) still publish a few formulae in their technical data this add more problems.

I'd appreciate any help with Dupont(Defender), Gevaert etc forulae.

Ian

eclarke · Oct 4, 2007

Ian Grant said:
Thanks Evan.

The more I look I'm finding other formulae that differ depending whether the number is Agfa (Germany) or Agfa Ansco (US). As Orwo (Film Tec) still publish a few formulae in their technical data this add more problems.

I'd appreciate any help with Dupont(Defender), Gevaert etc forulae.

Ian

I have lots of old formula books, maybe 35-40 of them (I haven't actually counted and I don't have them on a shelf). I can check them for you..Evan

Tom Hoskinson · Oct 4, 2007

Agfa Formulas For Photographic Use, Rev.to June 15, 1939

Ian Grant said:
Thanks Evan.

The more I look I'm finding other formulae that differ depending whether the number is Agfa (Germany) or Agfa Ansco (US). As Orwo (Film Tec) still publish a few formulae in their technical data this add more problems.

I'd appreciate any help with Dupont(Defender), Gevaert etc forulae.

Ian

Agfa Formulas For Photographic Use, Revised to June 15, 1939

This booklet was published by the Agfa Ansco Corporation, Binghamton, New York. I will transcribe the formulas into Excel spreadsheets.

Tom Hoskinson · Oct 5, 2007

Gerald Koch said:
There is a definite difference in the numbering of Agfa formulas between the US and Europe. It is unwise to assume that a particular Agfa formula is the same as an Ansco/GAF one. This seems to be particularly true for print developers. I collect formulas and this discrepency caused me some grief until I found that others had found the same problem. Comparison between American and European formula collections has confirmed this. Therefore, it is really not a good idea to list a formula as Agfa/Ansco/GAF.

Some examples:

AG-110 high contrast rapid paper . . . . AN-110 warm black paper
AG-120 brown tone paper . . . . . . . . . AN-120 soft working paper similar to
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selectol Soft
AG-135 for X-Ray papers . . . . . . . . . AN-135 warm tone paper

Here are 3 ANSCO-AGFA formulas from the 1939 book published by ANSCO-AGFA

Ian Grant · Oct 5, 2007

Thanks Tom, the Ansco Agfa formulae are not a problem. The issue is where they differ from the parent company's formulae - Agfa (Germany), and its successors (Orwo).

For instance Agfa Ansco 17 is quite different to Orwo 17, which is identical to Kodak D97. Agfa Ansco 79 is a Paraformaldehyde lith developer, while Agfa 79 is a Pyrocatechin based high speed graphics developer.

Ian

Agfa/Ansco Formula Numbering

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