Discontinuing Polaroid Type 59 - End of an Art Form?

[Alex Hawley]

Received a new box of Type 59 today. Its adorned with a yellow sticker stating that this product is being discontinued. Checked Polaroid's website, but nothing posted there yet. There was a post last month on the LF Forum alluding to this also, the information be obtained from Polaroid Customer Service.

Well, here we go again folks. Another great product with some unique artistic characteristics going away. Nothing has been said about discontinuing Type 59's brothers (669 and 809) but I sure liked working with the individual 4x5 sheets. Type 669 is still very affordable but since it is a pack film, its kind of a hindrance for taking emulsion transfer shots in the field. Type 809 is hugely expensive.

Time for a cry and a stock-up!

 

[Akki14]

Who's sticker was it? Could have still been the place you got it from?

 

[Alex Hawley]

Who's sticker was it? Could have still been the place you got it from?

The sticker implies that it came from Polaroid because it has their website address on it. However, I suppose it is possible that the retailer could have affixed the sticker. So, I can't say with certainty that the sticker came from Polaroid.

 

[Hovig]

I just checked B&H website, it does not say discontinued! By the way why in the passed few years
Polaroid films became so expensive?

 

[BrianShaw]

I just checked the Polaroid site. They still have the T-59 information with no mention of discontinuance.... but there is none in the Polaroid on-line store.

 

[photomc]

Just checked the newsletter from Kathleen T Carr from Oct 31 of last year and in it she mentions that due to decline, that Type 59 has been discountinued. She does mention that Type 669 would continue as it is still used for passport photos.

My thoughts are it is true, but a call/email to Polaroid would indeed confirm this sad news. However, I find it good news that 669 will continue and Type 59 should still be available for a few more months.

 

[rwyoung]

I just checked B&H website, it does not say discontinued! By the way why in the passed few years
Polaroid films became so expensive?

1) B&H's web site has a history of errors and omission of data. Citing it as a source is like citing Wikipedia... (And B&H is not alone in this by any means)

2) Polaroid film is getting expensive because of manufacturing cost, material cost, labor cost and a diminishing market.

BUY MORE FILM!

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

I gotta say, it's a bit sad when companies communicate to us via stickers...if it is indeed true, I'm sad to see it go. I've seen some very nice work done with it in the past.

 

[ilford_king]

It's true...

Our supply manager at the school store informed me he had just ordered the last remaining 5 boxes of Polaroid Type 59 from his supplier, it is dated to expire September 2008. His supplier has informed him the product is discontinued and will no longer be available for purchase.

Another sad January for Polaroid enthusiasts, they yanked SX-70 January 2006 correct? I know it was cold outside...

 

[IloveTLRs]

I use Polaroid film in a 600 & 636, also for my Mamiya back (RB67.) I hope I'm not affected.

Dead Link Removed

 

[Alex Hawley]

UPDATE: Got a box of Type 56 today (the sepia stuff) and it has the same sticker on it ("Product Being Discontinued") that the Type 59 had. This box was from a completely different supplier so it looks like these stickers are from Polaroid, not just from individual suppliers. Polaroid has a note on their website about Type 56 being discontinued.

 

[SuzanneR]

Rats... I love that stuff....

 

[imazursky]

I was just on Calumet and type 79 & 59 both have a sticker from polaroid stating its being discontinued.
Ahhhhh.
Just for my sanity, i checked on type 55. Ok for now. No sticker. Few.

 

[Ian Leake]

The yellow stickers are from Polaroid. I had some on all the boxes of ISO 100 8x10 (I forget the type number) which I ordered direct from polaroid a while back. I'm just hoping that Type 803 lasts a little bit longer - they've increased the box price by about 30% recently which will hopefully keep it profitable for them assuming anyone can afford to buy it now

 

[PHOTOTONE]

So with all these discontinued products from Polaroid, what is left? I used type 79 almost exclusively for testing in my studio for my 4x5 Ektachrome shots, but since I never got an order of type 79 I placed with Unique photo from November of 2007, I have switched to Fuji 100fc (think that is the name) in 4x5 pack form. It produces nicer images than the Polaroid type 79 does, and is the same ISO. You would think that Polaroid would at least leave ONE color 4x5 sheet film (the individual sheets).

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I just checked the Polaroid shop (online USA internet store run by Polaroid)...they do not show ANY color film in 4x5 sheets or 8x10 sheets anymore.
This is very sad..........

 

[amuderick]

Recently the Polaroid website doesn't show items when they are out of stock. They just disappear. That doesn't mean they are discontinued.

59 is discontinued. That is official from Polaroid. So are 51 and 56.

The word about 79 is news to me. There was an email from Polaroid Corp which was posted in December that 79 would continue to be produced. They also promised that 55 will continue. I read on photo.net that someone got a box of 55 with a discontinuation sticker on it.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Recently the Polaroid website doesn't show items when they are out of stock. They just disappear. That doesn't mean they are discontinued.

59 is discontinued. That is official from Polaroid. So are 51 and 56.

The word about 79 is news to me. There was an email from Polaroid Corp which was posted in December that 79 would continue to be produced. They also promised that 55 will continue. I read on photo.net that someone got a box of 55 with a discontinuation sticker on it.

Of course I don't go by just what is on the website. I also go by my personal experience. I ordered some Type 79 back in November from Unique Photo, a vendor that has always had it in stock in the past. They said they were out of stock and didn't expect delivery from Polaroid until December 15. Well, December 15 came and went, and then into January. I phoned back, and talked to my sales rep and he said they still have an outstanding Purchase Order with Polaroid for Type 79 but he has no idea when they will get it, or if Polaroid is going to ship it, ever. So I changed my order to something else. But if Polaroid is "out-of-stock" on all 4x5 color films, and I believe type 79 was the last color film in 4x5 sheets, and it has been several months now, then it doesn't bode well for future availability. Several months ago there was information where a coating facility once owned by Polaroid, and most recently doing contract manufacturing for Polaroid was closing, and all the assets were being offered for sale at auction including proprietary processes. If this was the only coating plant for Polaroids larger-format materials it could have wide-ranging consequences for not only 4x5 users, but for 8x10 and those that use the ultra-large Polaroid 24" view camera system. I wish there was clear information. As it stands, if a vendor has type 79 they will ship, but if they are out, nobody knows if there will be more.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've got about half a box of 809 left. I wonder what I'll do with my 8x10" Polaroid setup when it joins the film pack holder in the graveyard of obsolete photo gear. Maybe the holders can be adapted for wetplate and the processor can be turned into a calendering press for albumen prints (though for that to work, the roller that contacts the print surface needs to move faster than the roller that moves the print through the press).

 

[Alex Hawley]

I've got about half a box of 809 left. I wonder what I'll do with my 8x10" Polaroid setup when it joins the film pack holder in the graveyard of obsolete photo gear. Maybe the holders can be adapted for wetplate and the processor can be turned into a calendering press for albumen prints.

We shouldn't give up quite yet David. According to Polaroid's website, 809 and 803 are still going. But here's their list of products on their way out. Its disturbing:

664, 54, 804, 51, 53, and 56

Type 59 still doesn't show a discontinuance notice on their website.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

We shouldn't give up quite yet David. According to Polaroid's website, 809 and 803 are still going. But here's their list of products on their way out. Its disturbing:

664, 54, 804, 51, 53, and 56

Type 59 still doesn't show a discontinuance notice on their website.

But Polaroid doesn't have ANY type 59, nor do they have type 79. If Polaroid doesn't have it, it ain't around, except old stock.

 

[Ted Harris]

Just because they don't have something now doesn't mean they won't have it in the future. Polaroid has been going through some moving exercises for the past six weeks and my rep told me in early December that things would be spotty re production an delivery through early February.

As for T59 its beyond me why anyone would use it instead of T79 ... assuming 79 is still available.

 

[Alex Hawley]

As for T59 its beyond me why anyone would use it instead of T79 ... assuming 79 is still available.

Image transfers and emulsion lifts.

 

[Ted Harris]

Alex, got it ... never thought of that as I use it strictly for lighting tests.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Another person (over on Large Format Forum) reports getting a box of T79 with a "product discontinuation" sticker on it. That would be it for 4x5 size polaroid color materials...all gone.