E-4 Processing Kit - found in garage - from about 1975

[retired_observer]

New Photorio forum user, just found you by search engine, first post

I just found an apparently intact Kodak Ektachrome E-4 Processing Kit in my garage. I have not worked with film since about 1975 so this is 50 years old. Inside: bottles still have liquid although I did not open them, plus packets of powders (bleach, color developer, fixer, etc) and even the printed instructions. Would this kit be of interest to anyone, or are the chemicals so old as to be unusable? Is it worth anything? Or perhaps be good for a museum donation?

Thanks.
in Seattle

 

[Don_ih]

Is it worth anything?

Probably not. The process is ancient history and the chemicals are likely completely dead.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Welcome to the forum.

I would suggest you either keep it as a little in-house photographic museum of your own, or perhaps seek out some photographic museum in your country.

I'm reasonably sure a complete home E-4 processing kit would be welcome somewhere. I've never seen one, it would be interesting if you could post a photo of your kit.

 

[ags2mikon]

I remember using those 50+years ago. Post a picture if it is not to much trouble.

 

[F4U]

Neato. i remember E4 and C22, but never did color. I wonder what the big difference is between E4 and E6

 

[mshchem]

Welcome to Photrio!

I remember that there's a pretty poisonous chemical, a dry powder that came in a glass bottle, required dissolving in very hot tap water.

 

[koraks]

Welcome aboard @retired_observer !

Welcome to Photrio!

I remember that there's a pretty poisonous chemical, a dry powder that came in a glass bottle, required dissolving in very hot tap water.

That would probably be the TBAB reversal agent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borane_tert-butylamine Nasty stuff alright.
The color developer itself is also toxic and can be assumed to produce irritation of skin & mucous membranes (among others).

 

[mshchem]

Welcome aboard @retired_observer !



That would probably be the TBAB reversal agent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borane_tert-butylamine Nasty stuff alright.
The color developer itself is also toxic and can be assumed to produce irritation of skin & mucous membranes (among others).

I loved processing the old Ektachrome in E3 and E4 chemistry. I remember that the emulsion was so soft before drying that with very little effort one could scrape the emulsion off with one's fingernail. It wasn't a big deal, no one used squeegees.

I processed quite a bit of C22 negatives as well. Ektacolor S and Kodacolor-X, both just wonderful films. Kodacolor-X with blue flash using genuine Kodak process and printing. No one has ever done amateur color prints better than when Eastman Kodak did everything in house in massive facilities. Humans doing the work "Ai" Actually Intelligent

 

[retired_observer]

I remember using those 50+years ago. Post a picture if it is not to much trouble.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Here are a couple of picts.

I also have the "quart" size stainless container with 4 helix inserts that you would thread the film into before processing.

 

[Don_ih]

I'm not sure about the chemicals in that pack, but there are chemicals you are just not allowed to ship in the US. So, if you think of selling it, look into that.

 

[MattKing]

Moved to the Colour Film, Paper & Chemistry sub-forum - because it just seems right that it be done!

I wonder what the big difference is between E4 and E6

Among a myriad number of differences, if you develop E4 film in E6 chemicals at the correct E6 temperature, the higher processing temperature will cause emulsion damage - it may slough off almost entirely!
And of course, Ektachrome-X (yech) was designed for E4 - which is reason enough to want an entirely different processing regime!

 

[F4U]

Looking at that E4 kit with all those little bottles of noxious potions, one might wonder what would happen if someone poured them all into a small lake. You'd end up with 10 foot tall bass with 2 heads, big teeth and 4 arms, terrorizing a small town. As for improving color reversal film, I believe the K14 process was the pinnacle.

 

[Don_ih]

one might wonder what would happen if someone poured them all into a small lake

Nothing would happen.

Pour it into a glass and drink it, maybe you'd get sick or die. Even in a swimming pool, it would do nothing.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Neato. i remember E4 and C22, but never did color. I wonder what the big difference is between E4 and E6

I thought E4 is color negative andE6 is color transparencies.

 

[F4U]

I thought E4 is color negative andE6 is color transparencies.

No, they use the E for Ekatchrome. E3, E4, and E6. And C for the color print film like C22 and C41. But I never did much color because color isn't permanent, unless it was Kodachrome and Cibachrome. But it's still neat to see an old complete kit like that.

 

[CrazyCockatoo]

See if a local photographic museum wanna take it as collection, or selling it on eBay?

 

[ags2mikon]

Thanks. That brings back pleasant memories from the summer vacations from the the early 1970's. Processing the slides and mounting them. I think I can even remember the smells. From the chemicals that is. Thanks for the memories.