Has anybody here ever successfully exposed and developed 60+ year old Tri-X pack film?

jnantz said:

you will need a very dark green filter

Click to expand...

If going this way, we may find useful to apply a desensitizer bath: Phenosafranine, Safranin-O, Pinacryptol Yellow, Pinkryptol Green.

In that way we may see much better without fogging, still we should test how those desensitizers work with a particular film. Also important is learning how the negative should look under safe light (before fixing).

Still some IR googles are a safe bet...

Further to my earlier message regarding elderly Kodak paper, I was recently given a Kodak Brownie 620 Model E by friends who wanted to mark a significant birthday. They were surprised when I said I'd try it out and let them know how I got on. I ran a roll of Ilford FP4 through and was pleasantly surprised by the results. For those unfamiliar with this 1950s model, there are pull-out sliders that insert a yellow filter in the light path and/or bring into play an additional lens to allow close focus for portraits. I don't have the wherewithal to print full frame so could only enlarge a two and a quarter square section of one of the negs. This I duly did and sent off a copy to my friends who, having fully surrendered to the digital wave were amazed that I'd got anything at all from the camera.
I later had some spare darkroom time so tried a contact print of one of the Brownie negs on the 1960s Kodak paper. Results of both of these are below. The square image is from a 5" by 5" enlargement on Ilford MGIV RC and the full frame contact is on the Kodak Velox White Smooth Glossy Single Weight grade 3. I'll admit to having re-touched some spots and marks that are on the underside of my scanner's glass.
Steve

Contact print. That's the way those were intended to be used.

I intend to experiment further with the Brownie as I'm sure I didn't get the best from the lens. The whole roll was exposed hand-held which wasn't ideal as: a) the camera is very light, b) holding it at waist level and peering into the finders isn't very ergonomic, c) it was windy, d) I was struggling to keep my balance on a rugged hillside and e) medication I take leaves me with a slight hand tremor. Other than that all was fine!

Steve