Identify Age and type of old Ilford film

cramej · Jul 7, 2022

Hi all,

I have some bulk roll Ilford film that I can't identify. The only edge markings are

Ilford Safety Film D A 5 880640

It seems exposed correctly at EI 125 so I'm assuming it's one of the FP films but would like to know more.

Thanks

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 7, 2022

If only Simon Galley was still here!

Ian Grant · Jul 7, 2022

Ilford made film for government contracts, I used to buy ex-Government/Military surplus stock from A W Young, or Marston & Heard, both in London. There's a good chance it's FP3.

Ian

cramej · Jul 7, 2022

Did Ilford make FP4 (not plus) without the modern edge markings? As good as this looks processed, I have doubts that it is from 1968 or earlier.

AgX · Jul 7, 2022

cramej said:
As good as this looks processed, I have doubts that it is from 1968 or earlier.

Was processing before 1968 worse?

cramej · Jul 7, 2022

AgX said:
Was processing before 1968 worse?

No, by 'as good as this looks processed' I mean that I shot and processed some today to find out what mystery film awaited me in the bulk loader with unknown storage conditions prior to me receiving it probably 10 years ago. It sure doesn't look like 50 year old film shot at "box speed" and no special treatment.

Recent Neopan 400 on top, mystery Ilford bottom two strips (top at 125, bottom at 80).

Nitroplait · Jul 7, 2022

cramej said:
Did Ilford make FP4 (not plus) without the modern edge markings? As good as this looks processed, I have doubts that it is from 1968 or earlier.

I got an old bulk loader with some leftover FP4 (not plus) last year. The edge markings were just regular, no special coding.

cramej · Jul 7, 2022

Nitroplait said:
I got an old bulk loader with some leftover FP4 (not plus) last year. The edge markings were just regular, no special coding.

Similar to what's in the image above?

AgX · Jul 7, 2022

FP4 in bulk had standard still bulk-film markings, thus basically the same as the 135 version.

AgX · Jul 7, 2022

Ilford also made cine films. This was my first thought, until I read Ian's comment.
But now I see it got B&H perforations.

Nitroplait · Jul 7, 2022

cramej said:
Similar to what's in the image above?

No, markings like the commercially spooled rolls.

cmacd123 · Jul 7, 2022

Ilford Movie film, (I have a roll of Pan-f I got somewhere)
1) "ilford Safty film" will read right from the emusion side
2) BH perforations
3) the many digit number will be one digit different on your next roll. that is the "footage Number" that would be used in editing. They would print a work print with the numbers printed through, edit the work print and then use those numbers to cut the camera negative to match. the number should also read right from the emulsion side.

the "B" probably indicates the film type But I don't have my old data sheets handy, (I have the compact Photo lab index on my computer, but I does not have the type codes.)
in those days you had the choice of Pan-f, FP4 or MarkV

cramej · Jul 7, 2022

AgX said:
Ilford also made cine films. This was my first thought, until I read Ian's comment.
But now I see it got B&H perforations.

I hadn't noticed this. You're right - the perfs are different from the Neopan.

cmacd123 said:
Ilford Movie film, (I have a roll of Pan-f I got somewhere)
1) "ilford Safty film" will read right from the emusion side
2) BH perforations
3) the many digit number will be one digit different on your next roll. that is the "footage Number" that would be used in editing. They would print a work print with the numbers printed through, edit the work print and then use those numbers to cut the camera negative to match. the number should also read right from the emulsion side.

the "B" probably indicates the film type But I don't have my old data sheets handy, (I have the compact Photo lab index on my computer, but I does not have the type codes.)
in those days you had the choice of Pan-f, FP4 or MarkV

Interesting. After looking up the Mark V film, it definitely matches up with the minimalist edge markings. It looks really nice at my chosen EI, so it's likely FP4.

Thanks all!

cmacd123 · Jul 7, 2022

I have played with a couple of "found" rolls of very old (20years+) FP4 and 3 out of 4 of them actually kept almost all of their rated speed. (they did have problems with Backing paper related defects) so FP4 seems to be ageless, at least compared with other films. {one roll of 620 was still sealed in foil, and the spool had rusted still in the package}

Identify Age and type of old Ilford film

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