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How to get some AB 55 film developer analysed...

Sandtrout

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Aug 20, 2014
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Medium Format
In the past I've always used AB 55 and it worked well for the few films I always used. It's been unavailable since 2008. I've gone over to digital and my darkroom has become a storage unit. While cleaning out a portion of it I came across 4 units of it unopened in the 1 qt. size. How would I get this analized to find out what's in it so I could make it myself? Is that possible? Thanks in advance. DAN
 

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Dom de Dom Dom

I have some Dom Perignon that I'd like to do the same thing with. Advise.
 
Al Belson was quite a character. When I had him develop some film for me in AB55, the negatives came back full of crud. Nothing to do with "his" developer, but indicative of his "housekeeping."

If interested in "panthermic" film development today, I'd just pick up some Harvey's 777 instead of going to the trouble of having that ancient stuff analyzed.
 
I think you will find that getting it analyzed will be prohibitively expensive. Quantitative analysis is difficult and time consuming. Think several thousand of dollars.
 
Yup...you were right about the expense...I found a lab in Florida and it's roughly $500 per chemical and that's with me providing a list of most of the chemicals! Another lab said they "start" at $5000 and go up.
 
I reckon it contains metol and/or hydroquinone and/or glycin and/or some other stuff, in varying proportions.

Now if you provide me with your paypal email I'll just invoice you for my analysis, at the bargain rate of £150