Foma- why so expensive?

[Tom Kershaw]

Martin,

Are you able to comment on how Bergger and Oriental Seagull fit in within this manufacturing and distribution process?

Tom.

 

[Martin Reed]

Distributors who have established sufficient brand identity to commission manufacture of their 'own brand' variants. They make their own arrangements, requires deep pockets! I'm just a humble importer of existing products, content to encourage some variety in the ranges on offer.

 

[Ian Grant]

Interestingly Oriental advertised their papers (& other products) in the UK in the 1930's.

Ian

 

[Martin Reed]

Yes, I wonder if there is any history of their sales in the UK at that period. And what happened to them in WW2 and subsequently? The original 'New Seagull' paper came out in 1967, but we didn't start getting it into the UK until '84 when it was getting a lot of attention in the US. As the song says, 'you don't know what you've got till it's gone'.

 

[bill spears]

Is Oriental/Seagull still being manufactured and distributed ? I've lost track of the number of times it's disappeared and re-appeared

 

[Neil Souch]

Bill, as far as I know UK wise the original Oriental Seagull disapeared a good few years ago. It came back briefly in name only but with something else inside the box that was nothing like the original paper. IIRC Mr Cad used to sell it in London. Someone gave me a box of it and it was rubbish. I wish the original stuff would come baclk- one of my favourite all time papers.

Neil.

 

[Ian Grant]

It has to be remembered that both Fuji & Oriental have had B&W products made by Ilford in the past, in the case of Fuji some of it was public knowledge.

Ian

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Ian,

I remember a few years ago (maybe 2004/05), Silverprint listed Oriental Seagull paper. I take it is this paper:
http://macodirect.de/oriental-seagull-vcfbii-c-1_17_522_523.html is not the same product.

Tom.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Martin,

Have you know anything yet about a potential new 'Fomatone 133' paper?

Tom.

 

[Martin Reed]

Ian,

I remember I few years ago (maybe 2004/05), Silverprint listed Oriental Seagull paper. I take it is this paper:
http://macodirect.de/oriental-seagull-vcfbii-c-1_17_522_523.html is not the same product.
Tom.

No,the factory manufacturing the original paper is long gone, and the paper sold as Oriental is a high quality product, but lacking the unique 'personality' of the original, especially when it comes to lithing.

 

[WRSchmalfuss]

FOMA why so expensive?

ILFORD UK is producing the ORIENTAL Japan papers individually. For no other private label product, this unique formula is used. Unique! The ORIENTAL papers is packed in Japan, and sold primarily in Japan, the USA and Germany, by strong trade partners in very significant quantities. The cheaper Dollar has now ensured that more recently, the prices for ORIENTAL paper in Germany could be significantly reduced, in delight of us consumers.

Cheers