How Long Does Unexposed Paper Last ? ILFORD ORION Paper

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

Just to add a bit of fun on this much talked about 'topic'

Our laatest press release : http://goo.gl/yJbNP

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[Ghostman]

A wonderful story, thanks for sharing.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thank you

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Good grief, that paper is as old as I am!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Good grief, that paper is as old as I am!

And you still print, right?

 

[Steve Smith]

Yes, but he's a bit foggy.


Steve.

 

[Katie]

Yes, but he's a bit foggy.


Steve.

..and might be yellowing a bit as well.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Soooo... Let's see...

That box of 250 sheets of Ilford MGIV FB I just bought should still be usable in...

<click, click, click...>

2084??

Nice...



Ken

 

[redrockcoulee]

And I thought I was doing good using a box of Kodak Opal expiry date 03/69. The Opal is practically brand new in comparision.

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

Cool story, Simon! I've made some nice prints on Kodak Velox with a 1947 expiration date. =)

 

[gandolfi]

very cool!

(I have some VERY old 18x24 glass negatives from Ilford... Anyone know how old?)

 

[bobwysiwyg]

And you still print, right?

Actually, I have advanced to cursive.

 

[paul_c5x4]

(I have some VERY old 18x24 glass negatives from Ilford... Anyone know how old?)

At a guess, around 1923 to 1926. Perhaps a note to Simon with the batch number would elicit further information

 

[Molli]

very cool!

(I have some VERY old 18x24 glass negatives from Ilford... Anyone know how old?)

Did your plates still have their instruction page enclosed? There should be something like C.37 or whatever down in the bottom corner. The letter of the alphabet is indicative of the month A=January, B=February, C=March, etc., and 37 would be shorthand for the year 1937.

Maurice Fisher's site "Photographic Memorabilia", mentioned in the article Simon linked to, has a listing of Ilford's History and Chronology here and, just beneath the introduction there are examples of the various logos used by Ilford on their products. I couldn't make out enough details in the image you've posted - check the flag, the cloud formation and how the sky is shaded to see if you can find a match amongst those shown.
Hope that helps! I've been in contact with Maurice in the past and made a great deal of use of his site as a point of reference and he's extraordinarily helpful and a lovely human being.

 

[Rafal Lukawiecki]

At a guess, around 1923 to 1926. Perhaps a note to Simon with the batch number would elicit further information

Could we avail of the usual Ilford customer service in case of an emulsion issue with those, or have we just missed out on the warranty? It happens to me all the time.