• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

An interview with George Campbell of Orwo North America


If you'd be interested in coming on and having a chat with me about what really happened, I'd be happy to correct the record.
 
laingsoft said:
If you'd be interested in coming on and having a chat with me about what really happened, I'd be happy to correct the record.
Click to expand...

I'd love to correct the record, but unfortunately, I still work there and am looking forward to retirement. Government Agencies are not typically interested in the truth when it contradicts the "happy, easy" message and people tend to jump on the bandwagon and claim ownership and kudos for actions of underlings as a right; not unlike "Executive Producers" of the Golden Era of Hollywood.

As one with degree in Journalism in my background, I understand this might be frustrating to you, but practical concerns override disclosure now.

I am gathering my notes. I will eventually publish an unofficial history of the Lab and it's accomplishments; after retirement.
 

I understand. Fwiw, I'm not a journalist, I'm just a guy that wants to talk to people. Once you retire I'd be happy to talk with you if I've still got this project going.
 
I'm about 30 minutes into the podcast and, while I still maintain that George is a nice guy, he's already (unfortunately) made some statements that are definitely questionable if not blatantly untrue.
 
I never said George isn't a nice guy; he is! I am sure he's telling it as best he can from his perspective.
 
I just finished listening. Sure, he might have stretched the truth a little but it's mostly a good conversation. I believe that he's very earnest in his passion for the medium and I like the product very, very much so I'm willing to overlook a tall tale or two. The big takeaway for me is that the big contracts for archival materials (which I knew nothing about) are what float the hobbyist part of the business. That's really good to know as it puts things in perspective when I get frustrated by stocking issues. Thank you, laingsoft, for making this available to us.
 
Kino said:
I'd love to correct the record, but unfortunately, I still work there and am looking forward to retirement.....

I am gathering my notes. I will eventually publish an unofficial history of the Lab and it's accomplishments; after retirement.
Click to expand...


Even though I’m not really sure what is being referred to, I’m very sincerely anxiously looking forward to reading this. The insider stories you share here are fascinating.
 
blockend said:
Is ORWO for sale in the UK? I enjoyed shooting it back in the 80s and 90s.
Click to expand...

What you were using back then were at best films made by old Orwo, or even by Ilford. New Orwo and their films though have a heritage of old Orwo.

But see also post #16.
 
AgX said:
What you were using back then were at best films made by old Orwo, or even by Ilford.
Click to expand...
I used NP22, NP15 and a 100 ASA slide film. The transparency film was warm and grainy, the mono rather nice, especially NP22. I assumed they were all made in East Germany.
 
NP27 was my favorite of the lot. Better than today's Fomapan 400.
 
I did get a few rolls labeled "ORWO 125" around the time of the demise of the original firm, which had what I assume was ORWO edge printing and frame numbering, but both "looked like" and was rumored to be FP4. I understood that the Processing Labs continued for a while as ORWO media or some such.
 
Charles, I still have a few rolls left of ORWO 120 that is supposedly "made" by Ilford.
I'm using ORWO since 1977 and this film is exactly the same film I used back in the day. The same thickens & feel. Only paper backing is different (it's black and before it was red) and it looks "like" Ilford's. I'm 100% sure it was made from original ORWO Master roll coated just before closing of the ORWO.
 
The films made by Iford for Orwo were designated Orwopan, and packaged in black boxes with silver and yellow stripes.
 
blockend said:
I used NP22, NP15 and a 100 ASA slide film. The transparency film was warm and grainy, the mono rather nice, especially NP22. I assumed they were all made in East Germany.
Click to expand...

DDR's ORWO slide film was the only film I used to use.
With FED-2, Industar-26m and each film had S16 instructions which I only used, no exposure meter. No huge grain, superb colors.

Every time I read ravings about Kodak old slide film, whatever it was called, I smile. They must have never shot ORWO.
 

It's called Kodachrome!
 
Inaccuracies in stuff folks say is commonplace. Never can you say p(True|bloke said it) = 1. For what its worth, its an interesting listen and I am now intrigued to buy a 100' roll of UN54 or N74.
 
N75 it is since a few months.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register