AM20/AM50 developer production ceased

[RobertV]

Unfortunately by the disappearance of the Amaloco plant in Ommen, Holland a lot of products are gone.
Also the High Definition (non-staining) AM50 (60ml) developer from Amaloco. The content of this developer: Pyrocatechine, Sodiumsulfite and Sodiumhydroxide.

It's a High Definition surface developer 1+29 in dilution.


I would like to have a replacement for this developer.

Is it wise to go back for a real Beutler type developer:

A: Water 1000ml
Metol 10g
Sodiumsulfite 50g

B: Water 1000ml
Sodiumcarbonate 50g

50ml A + 50ml B fill up till 500ml working solution.

Or try the more simmilar Pyrocatechin surface developer according Windisch:

A: water 100ml
Pyrocatechin 8g
Sodiumsulfite 1,25g

B: 10% Sodiumhydroxide solution

12ml A + 7 ml B fill up till 500ml

What are the main expected differences about these developers?

 

[RobertV]

AM50 was working very well with Rollei Pan 25 and Efke 25 film.

Rollei Pan 25 in AM50 1+29 for 5:00 Min.

 

[Ian Grant]

The Pyrocatechin developer is a tanning developer and as such will give better edge sharpness, it will also be closer to the AM50 you were using. Johnson's Definol was also a Pyrocatechin based developer probably in the form of Meritol (Pyrocatechin/PPD).

You could also try Crawley's FX-1 which is a variation of the Beutler developer.

Ian

 

[RobertV]

I have here a modification of the (original) Beutler type where is suggested to add a very small amount of PotassiumIodid (0,001%) to improved the edge sharpness.


For the FX-1 (high acutance) Crawley I have found:
Water 750ml
Metol 0,5g
Sodiumsulfite 5,0g
Sodiumcarbonate 2,5g
PotassiumIodide 0,001% 5ml
Fill up till 1000ml with water

But this solution you can not keep long in stock.

Question: What do you understand by Tanning? What is the difference of tanning and staining?

 

[Ian Grant]

Tanning is a hardening of the gelatin and is quite different to staining where a dye is produced during development. However they are often found together because Pyrogallol & Pyrocatechin are tanning developing agents as well as staining.

The Pyrocatechin developer you listed will give some staining but as it's a surface developer it won't be particularly visible, staining helps to give a smoother tonality and gives the appearance of finer grain.

FX-1 can be made uo as 2 part developers, Part B being the Carbonate which means the keeping properties will be greatly improved.

Ian

 

[RobertV]

OK thank you very much. I was not aware about the technical English word "tanning".

Yes, by reading further (Sammlung Fotografischer Rezepte) I have found the divided FX-1 formulae. It's real close to the Beutler recepture with KI modification.

Thank you very much for some more inside information about these formulaes.

Is there any disadvantage after recalculation of the 10.H2O Soda (Sodiumcarbonate) to use Na2CO3 . 10.H2O instead of Soda Sicc. ?

 

[Ian Grant]

Is there any disadvantage after recalculation of the 10.H2O Soda (Sodiumcarbonate) to use Na2CO3 . 10.H2O instead of Soda Sicc. ?

Crawley claimed you had to use a specific form of Carbonate at one time in FX-1 or FX-2 but these days the purity is much higher so it should make no difference.

Ian

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

I`m sure there are suitable alternatives available. It`s not worth lamenting the passing of these film developers. Try Tetenal Neofin Blue or Paterson FX39.

 

[RobertV]

AM50 in a glass packing costs Eur. 2,71 and with this developer you can do 3-4 films.

Neofin Blue/Blau costs Eur. 10,- for 5 films.

Beutler recepture:
A:
1g Metol
5g Sodiumsulfite
B:
5g Soda

both filling up to 100ml water.

For 4 films (1+1+10). Costs Eur. 0,30.

For such a big difference what is in fact the same I will soup my films in my own brewery

 

[Ian Grant]

For such a big difference what is in fact the same I will soup my films in my own brewery

Don't forget the hops, try adding some Fuggles, helps the tanning

 

[RobertV]

It must be the blue water in Neofin Blau which is responsible for that price.

 

[RobertV]

This is the way it goes now:

 

[RobertV]

Thanks to Tom A. (from the R.F.Forum) who could provide me more different data for the Beutler High Definition developer, I could extrapolate some suitable developing time for the (new) Rollei Super Pan 200 film:

Super Pan 200 E.I. 160 in Beutler for 9:30 Min. at 20 degrees C. Slow agitation.
The pond in my garden, M7 + Summicron 2,0/50mm.
C.I. 0,65 Grey Card (Zone V) was on 0,76 log D.