Ansco film history question

[Murray@uptowngallery]

Anyone know when Ansco stopped making 620 film?

Latest reference I found was mid-60's with Kodak continuing in to 80's (early?).

Last week I saw on someone's site that Kodak discontinued 620 in 1999. I thought that was almost laughable.

 

[Paul Howell]

A hazy memory but I was under the impression that Kodak continued 620 in England after Kodak stopped the US production.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Ansco went out of business in the early 70s didn't they?

PE

 

[Paul Howell]

I think Ansco was bought out or somehow become GAF and GAF folded its photo line in mid to late 70s, 77 or 78. GAF still makes roofing materials.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Agfa Ansco became Ansco when acquired by the US government at the start of WWII. Ansco became General Aniline and Film when the US government divested themselves of interest in the company in the 60s or thereabouts. They further shortened the name to GAF and then pretty much went out of business. A chemical part of the plant in Binghamton made floor tiles for a while.

PE

 

[Paul Howell]

I just Googled GAF, seems to be busness, same old logo, red background with white block letters letters.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Sorry, I meant the film business. They still make roofing material as you say, but I'm not sure about the floor tile.

A group of companies sued Kodak for coming out with the 3 step color paper process, and won. The interesting thing is that they then gradually all went pretty much out of business.

The irony is that the Ansco paper went through the Kodak 3 step process, contrary to their claims. I tested it.

The bottom line is this. If you sue Kodak and win, you are going to go out of business or suffer badly somehow or other. After all, look at Polaroid.

PE

 

[Paul Howell]

Last year I processed some ANSCO slide film that had been frozen with GAF/ANSCO kits, held up well, but I did not care for GAF B&W paper. ANSCO slide film was good for the time and fast 100, 200 and 500, but all of it is fading while my Kodak slides are holding up, even the film I processed E4 and E6. I never used GAF color papers. My best guess that GAF made 620 until they ceased film production in the 70s.

 

[Solinar]

Ansco, formerly Anthony and Scovill wound up in the hands of I.G Farben during the late 1920's.

The full story is here. http://www.answers.com/topic/gaf-2

Although the article doesn't mention it, GAF quit the film business in 1977.

 

[Murray@uptowngallery]

thanks