German Ilford

[Stephen Frizza]

I have just gotten new chemistry from Ilford and noticed it was in a different bottle so I read the label to discover it was Made in Germany. When did Ilford Chemicals start coming from Germany?

 

[Paul Howell]

I have just gotten new chemistry from Ilford and noticed it was in a different bottle so I read the label to discover it was Made in Germany. When did Ilford Chemicals start coming from Germany?

I have a bottle of Cool Tone Paper develper made in the US and another bottle of Universal Paper developer made in Spain.

Paul

 

[pentaxuser]

My understanding is that Ilford does not manufacture its own processing chemicals so it may source from several companies in several countries. There certainly wasn't a processing chemical section at Mobberley when I was there in 2006. At least not one we were shown around and I think we saw it all.

pentaxuser

 

[Martin Reed]

I have just gotten new chemistry from Ilford and noticed it was in a different bottle so I read the label to discover it was Made in Germany. When did Ilford Chemicals start coming from Germany?

It's exactly the same range of containers that Tetenal use, interpret that as you will. Good news is the 5 litre bottle is heavy duty with a wide neck that accepts a tap kit, well worth saving.

 

[railwayman3]

Guess it's "economies of scale" in production, as is happening with more and more products these days.

It's simpler to sub-contract manufacture to a large specialist factory, than have all the hassle of maintaining your own small plant at much higher cost-per-unit of production. Would work the-other-way-round if, say, a specialist film maker like Ilford or Fuji made small runs of film for another brand or shop label.

I'm sure that top brands like Ilford maintain high-level QC on all products carrying their name, wherever they are made.

 

[Ian Grant]

Companies like Champion who I believe now manufacture in Spain have a long history in the photo business. Starting life as May & Baker, they manufacture under their own brand name as well as manufacturing for others. They used to make Paterson chemistry, before they closed their UK plant - this was originally made by Ilford - and they now also manufacture for Kodak, running the former Kodak chemistry plant in the US.

Ian

 

[Paul Verizzo]

Companies like Champion who I believe now manufacture in Spain have a long history in the photo business. Starting life as May & Baker, they manufacture under their own brand name as well as manufacturing for others. They used to make Paterson chemistry, before they closed their UK plant - this was originally made by Ilford - and they now also manufacture for Kodak, running the former Kodak chemistry plant in the US.

Ian

Can't tell the players without a program...or Ian. Thanks.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I too noticed the changed packaging when I bought Ilford fixer. I hadn't noticed the "Made in Germany". But one thing which really annoys me is the conflicting information regarding dilutions for film fixing. On the outside of the bottle it mentions "1 + 4" but on the inside there does not seem to be a dilution for film fixing, except for a mention of "1 + 3". This would be pretty confusing for a new user.

 

[kraker]

On the outside of the bottle it mentions "1 + 4" but on the inside there does not seem to be a dilution for film fixing, except for a mention of "1 + 3".

What? There's text on the inside of the bottle?

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Oops. Sorry, that was a bit funny. I meant on the inside of the label.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

Hmmmm.....

Oops. Sorry, that was a bit funny. I meant on the inside of the label.

I just read the text inside the bottle backwards and is says that Paul (not me) is dead.

OK, you have to be, um, of increasing white hair to get it.