How Kodak Punches 384,000 HOLES A MINUTE in Film Stock (Kodak Factory 3 of 3)- Smarter Every Day

[Xylo]

I don’t think Destin is puzzled.

You're probably right, but I must say that with complex machines that combine multiple operations in a single step, it's not always obvious to figure-out how things work. A bit like when The Everyday Astronaut was visiting a space museum and trying to figure out how all the pipes on a rocket engine were connected. With such machines, we don't have much of a point of reference to go by unless we study them and work on them.

 

[foc]

No more film can fit inside a 135 cassette so that is why 36 exposures was selected as the amount of good exposures one could expect.

If I remember correctly, some of the single-use cameras had 39 exp in the cassette. I know that the film cassette had a different plastic spindle, with teeth, as the camera shot from 39 down, winding the film into the cassette with every exposure. Of course, they didn't need the 0, 00, X, XX and so the film just about fitted in the cassette.

 

[Cholentpot]

They used to advertise as 24+3 which really was just a 24 shot roll plus the lead.

 

[foc]

They used to advertise as 24+3 which really was just a 24 shot roll plus the lead.

The 24+3 that I remember developing had frame numbers up to 27 plus the leader.
Labs then advertised that D&P for 24+3 was the same price as 24 exp.
Again IIRC, back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, 35mm single and multi packs were offered with 24+3 and not just confined to single use cameras.

 

[Cholentpot]

The 24+3 that I remember developing had frame numbers up to 27 plus the leader.
Labs then advertised that D&P for 24+3 was the same price as 24 exp.
Again IIRC, back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, 35mm single and multi packs were offered with 24+3 and not just confined to single use cameras.

I had an Agfa pack from the early 2000's that a shot a few years back. It advertised THREE EXTRA SHOTS PER ROLL!

 

[mshchem]

I don’t think Destin is puzzled. I think he (correctly) sees himself as a proxy for the viewer and asks lots of detailed questions, even basic ones, to ensure that those watching can actually understand what they’re seeing. Experts, unless they’re trained as educators or just naturally talented, are often pretty bad at explaining the things they know well because they subconsciously assume knowledge on the part of the learner that isn’t there. Dustin’s approach to his videos fixes that.

I thought the same. He's asking questions that the viewer may have. I don't think much gets by this fellow.

In regards to numbers of exposures, I found a 1931 Leica in a box of stuff, the film counter maxes out at 40. So maybe The Wizards of Rochester are simply following sound practices

 

[Nzoomed]

I was on a tour in 2001, part of a conference Kodak hosted. Mind-blowing for sheer scale of the operation, but what I recall was the sense that everyone there was working in a dying industry and their jobs would be going away. The engineers were the most impressive--they seemed focused on keeping the machinery working and even inventing improved versions of it in spite of the doom-and-gloom predictions. What a pleasure it is to see the operation, however diminished it might be, still functioning and to such high standards.

Well at least the good news according to the video is that they are ramping up production so that says the market is growing again.

In parts of the video you see them making Kodacolor 400 branded film cassettes. I'm curious where film with this branding is used/sold. I don't think it's available standalone (anymore), right? Is it used in disposable cameras? Is it the same emulsion as Gold 400/UltraMax?

View attachment 338774
(39:17 in the video)

I think the disposable cameras did have similar labelled film, or perhaps they are just doing the whole retro thing with their branding?

 

[foc]

I think the disposable cameras did have similar labelled film, or perhaps they are just doing the whole retro thing with their branding?

I shot a test with Kodak single use camera (SCU) film and Lomo 800 in January this year ( a project with Henning Serger) and the Kodak SUC film cassette was white with black lettering. The Film was 800 speed 39 exp and the neg marking were GT 800-5 and the film expiry date was 04/2024.

Also SUC films have a different core spool with teeth.

The Kodak 400 shown is very similar to the ColorPlus 200 cassette.

 

[Nzoomed]

I shot a test with Kodak single use camera (SCU) film and Lomo 800 in January this year ( a project with Henning Serger) and the Kodak SUC film cassette was white with black lettering. The Film was 800 speed 39 exp and the neg marking were GT 800-5 and the film expiry date was 04/2024.

Also SUC films have a different core spool with teeth.

View attachment 339026


The Kodak 400 shown is very similar to the ColorPlus 200 cassette.



View attachment 339028

Perhaps it is colorPlus then? Does this stuff replace the common kodak gold?
Ive never shot the stuff so have never seen a roll before. ive pulled film out of those kodak SUC before and they had a plain yellow label that im pretty sure read "kodak royal gold" but was totally plain, just yellow with black writing.
Back in the day all I ever shot was Kodak Max which had an ISO of 400, ive never seen kodacolor 400 before.
Wasnt that the line of consumer films that kodak gold and kodak max replaced?

 

[foc]

My understanding was that those film cassettes with the black lines, like the ColorPlus, were very much like the old VR film's cassette markings.

I have also heard that ColorPlus is a variation based on VR.

It can be very confusing sometimes.

 

[mshchem]

My understanding was that those film cassettes with the black lines, like the ColorPlus, were very much like the old VR film's cassette markings.

I have also heard that ColorPlus is a variation based on VR.

It can be very confusing sometimes.

There's probably a couple marketing people left. They have to do something

 

[Arcadia4]

Yes the colorplus cassette is similar (as unchanged from its kodak vr 200 origin). and so this an old kodak vr 400 cassette blank, but there is no colorplus 400 on sale or film with that packaging. So this is just old stock used as a demo piece.

 

[Nzoomed]

I still dont know why it would be branded as Kodacolor on the film cartridge, but not on the box which reads something completley different?
I havent seen the Kodacolor branding marketed on anything since the 90's, then everything switched to Kodak Gold.

 

[MattKing]

I still dont know why it would be branded as Kodacolor on the film cartridge, but not on the box which reads something completley different?
I havent seen the Kodacolor branding marketed on anything since the 90's, then everything switched to Kodak Gold.

Perhaps they still have a bunch of the Kodacolor cassettes - which can be used up in the disposable cameras, because customers normally don't see them.

 

[Cholentpot]

ColorPlus 200 was coming in Kodacolor cans last time I bought 'em.

 

[Daniela]

This was fascinating to see. I certainly have a new found appreciation for each roll of film. The coating machine...wow...Ilford seems to use the same type (at 5.50). I now wonder what technology other companies use...

I don’t think Destin is puzzled. I think he (correctly) sees himself as a proxy for the viewer and asks lots of detailed questions, even basic ones, to ensure that those watching can actually understand what they’re seeing. Experts, unless they’re trained as educators or just naturally talented, are often pretty bad at explaining the things they know well because they subconsciously assume knowledge on the part of the learner that isn’t there. Dustin’s approach to his videos fixes that.

I agree. I found the host's approach super helpful to explore/understand basic things that us mere mortals without engineering knowledge can't easily understand and appreciate.

 

[Nzoomed]

Perhaps they still have a bunch of the Kodacolor cassettes - which can be used up in the disposable cameras, because customers normally don't see them.

Quite possible, which means they must have had a huge amount of stock printed going way back into the 90s

 

[MattKing]

Quite possible, which means they must have had a huge amount of stock printed going way back into the 90s

In the 1990s, Eastman Kodak were manufacturing upwards of 70 master stock rolls a day of Kodacolor…each and every day – enough to make nearly 3.4 million spools each day.

 

[Nzoomed]

In the 1990s, Eastman Kodak were manufacturing upwards of 70 master stock rolls a day of Kodacolor…each and every day – enough to make nearly 3.4 million spools each day.

Thats quite alot of film, kinda ironic that Kodak is now having to ramp up production again after struggling to downscale production as much as possible. I guess its a good problem for them to have!

 

[warden]

It’s appropriate that the host pauses at the end to ask how this series makes you feel. Mainly I’m thankful for channels like his, and companies like Kodak that are willing to share how they make their products with us. Film is amazing enough without knowing how it’s made, but once you learn even a little about the complexity involved how can you be less than gobsmacked?

Two thumbs up.

 

[armadsen]

It’s appropriate that the host pauses at the end to ask how this series makes you feel.

I agree, and if you enjoyed these videos, it's worth checking out some of (the host) Destin's other videos. His sense of wonder and curiosity toward things many people never think about matches my own in many ways, and beyond learning from his stuff, I always get that sense of joy from him.

Watching this particular series makes me want to go knock on Kodak's door and ask for a job. (I'm an engineer, with some minor experience in process automation, and fairly deep image/color processing expertise, albeit digital, so it's not altogether crazy.)

 

[MattKing]

Watching this particular series makes me want to go knock on Kodak's door and ask for a job. (I'm an engineer, with some minor experience in process automation, and fairly deep image/color processing expertise, albeit digital, so it's not altogether crazy.)

This is one of the biggest reasons that Eastman Kodak cooperated in the endeavour - they are looking for younger employees that can fill their needs.

 

[mshchem]

I agree, and if you enjoyed these videos, it's worth checking out some of (the host) Destin's other videos. His sense of wonder and curiosity toward things many people never think about matches my own in many ways, and beyond learning from his stuff, I always get that sense of joy from him.

Watching this particular series makes me want to go knock on Kodak's door and ask for a job. (I'm an engineer, with some minor experience in process automation, and fairly deep image/color processing expertise, albeit digital, so it's not altogether crazy.)

Call them up, it would be a great opportunity. Beautiful place to live too

 

[MattKing]

Or use the link on their site: https://www.kodak.com/en/company/page/careers
I have it on good authority that they have hired a number of younger people in recent months - some who love film, and some who are new to it.

 

[Xylo]

I know that it always amazes me that some genius so long ago figured out this stuff.
When I learned that the color in film actually comes from the oxidation of the developer and not the developer itself, it simply blew my mind.
Check out his video on color chemistry on his second channel
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