DASSONVILLE Black and White Paper

[brianmquinn]

I just purchased some old darkroom equipment and one of the items was packed in a reused box that used to hold black and white paper.

I have never heard of the Dassonville company before.
Does anyone know any of it’s history?

The box has the following written on it.
DASSONVILLE
CHARCOAL BLACK
PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER FOR PROJECTION PRINTING
OPEN ONLY IN DARK ROOM
Manufactered by the DASSONVILLE CO. LTD
205 East 42nd Street New York 17, New York

The Gum label that was used to seal the box has the following written on it:
LAID - IVORY
100 Sheets 8x10 Medium Contrast
Charcoal Black C
A charcoal-type paper, medium rough, with a delightful laid surface. The light ribbing, except in the odd sizes, runs the short way of the sheet. Medium weight.

With a description like that I can only assume it was mainly (manly) used to print nudes
But seriously does anyone know anything about this long gone company.
The lack of a zip code in the address makes this box at least 50 years old.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I think the fellow's name was Will Dassonville. He made the paper Ansel Adams used to print his Taos Pueblo book. But I don't know if that was Charcoal Black. I read somewhere that he sold his company to Defender sometime after World War II ended.

Adams did speak highly of Charcoal Black early in his autobiography, if my memory is not too hazy. I don't have his book here with me to check.

Look here for a short exhibition announcement of a 2001 showing of Dassonville's work, along with a mention of the paper at the bottom.

Ken

 

[reellis67]

Wow, I'd love to see a sheet of that stuff. What a wonderful surface...

- Randy

 

[bill schwab]

Dassonville was a wonderful photographer in his own right. One of my favorites.. From the prints I have seen on it, a wonderful paper as well.

http://tinyurl.com/n9jv5o

 

[eclarke]

Dassonville was a wonderful photographer in his own right. One of my favorites.. From the prints I have seen on it, a wonderful paper as well.

http://tinyurl.com/n9jv5o

Cool, I bought a copy of the book...can't have too many photo books!!...Evan Clarke

 

[jfish]

wonder if his formula is punished somewhere. eclarke, did his book have the formula?

 

[outwest]

If I remember it correctly, even when he sold the business and passed all the info on, they were never successful in duplicating his paper.

 

[sun of sand]

I read a thing on this paper not too far back but cant remember where and bookmarks are a mess
I think the paper itself was hard to duplicate/find/mass market/eh and the matting agents werent quite right
or something

supposed to be the closest to platinotype enlarging paper there ever was

I think


$15 for the box i'll pay shipping

 

[brianmquinn]

Here is what the box looks like.

 

[sun of sand]

I forgot reading that they gave test strips with it
they need to bring that practice back

lodima if youre listening

 

[jfish]

any paper still in it? if so sold!

 

[brianmquinn]

Sorry no paper left in it. It was used by the previous owner to store negative carriers for a Burke & James Solar enlarger. Hence the writing on the box.

Also what do they mean by test strips included? I know about cutting down sheets for test exposures but I don't think that is wat they are talking about. Were the included test strips exposed and developed paper in a step tablet form or what?

 

[Anon Ymous]

...
Also what do they mean by test strips included? I know about cutting down sheets for test exposures but I don't think that is wat they are talking about. Were the included test strips exposed and developed paper in a step tablet form or what?

Have a look here.