Ing. Koblic MPB (outdated film developer)

[kozesluk]

Lukas_87 submitted a new resource:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists) - Ing. Koblic MPB (outdated film developer)

during and after W.W.II. photographers in the Czech Republic suffered from lack of fresh films - in fact one wasn't able to buy anything else than outdated film or paper. famous photography-oriented Czech inventor and chemist Ing. Premysl Koblic (aside from his famous Pextral developing method) formulated a special developer intended to use with outdated films.
so it's time to tell the whole world about it .)

Metol - 4 g
Sodium sulfite (anhydrous) - 16 g
Disodium phosphate (.12H2O) - 4...

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[psvensson]

Delta 400 looks awesome, and very sharp, in MC-TEA, which is also a low-sulfite, low-pH developer. For me, the price of low grain and high sharpness was a slight reduction in speed. Totally worth it, though.

 

[kozesluk]

maybe i haven't said that loudly enough but biggest advantage of MPB is given tonality.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Interesting formula. Until you explained the presence of the Disodium Phosphate, I was at a loss as to its purpose. And another oddity that appears to me is the use of Metol with sodium sulfite in anhydrous form rather than dessicated as seems to be, by and large, customary. The anhydrous seems to be primarily used with hnydroquinone. (Ron must be rubbing off on me a little.)

Great recipe.
Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[Athiril]

Nice images, I wonder what the best formula for most beautiful tonality would be

Is metol substitutable with another developer?

 

[brianmquinn]

another oddity that appears to me is the use of Metol with sodium sulfite in anhydrous form rather than dessicated.

Anhydrous is the same thing as dessicated. It it just another word for the same thing.

 

[kozesluk]

Is metol substitutable with another developer?

should be but you have to work out the proper amounts for yourself (I just don't know, right?)...

 

[Igor Savchenko]

Lukas 87: What's capacity of the developer - how many 135 flilms in one liter, please?

 

[kozesluk]

one liter of working solution is capable of developing four 135-36 films
it is important to note that used solution can not be stored - you have to develop all four films quickly one after another.
also - increase developing time by 10 % for each developed film.

however I have no experiences with reusing MPB - I make 3x stronger mix and then use it "one shot".

 

[kozesluk]

hell, this developer is for "expired film", it's not outdated... don't know where I had my brain when I wrote that

 

[MPandolfo]

... don't know where I had my brain when I wrote that

possibly you smoked some of Daniel's plants ?

 

[haryanto]

in my country Indonesia, it's hard to find Disodium phosphate, can change it to trisodium posphate?

thanks
haryanto

 

[kozesluk]

in my country Indonesia, it's hard to find Disodium phosphate, can change it to trisodium posphate?

thanks
haryanto

as far as I know, 1 % solution of TSP has pH of 12,1.
compared to pH around 9 of 1 % solution of disodium phosphate (smewhere it's said it is neutral).
maybe it can be substitued, but then you have to adjust the pH by adding some acid. i'm not a chemist, sorry.

 

[pentaxpete]

Hallo- I just JOINED this Venerable Site ! I love mixing my own ever since 1951 when the School Chemistry Master showed members of the School Photo-Soc how to mix up developers ! I tried this Formula today with some 1992 dated Kodak TMY 400 I downrated to 250ASA -- I mixed a x3 concentration, then I diluted it 1+3 with water -- was my maths corect as the test length of 120 film was severely under-developed at 10 minutes (guessed time) and I was careful to use 18oC not the usual 20oC. Regards to all the Experts on here, from Darkest Essex, England -- Peter.

 

[fotch]

Hello pentaxpete and welcome to APUG.

 

[pentaxpete]

I did the other half of the cut 120 film-- this time I rated the film at 200ASA and gave it 17 minutes instead of 10 minutes -- result -- better, but still a bit 'thin' and I think it needs at least 18 minutes dev time and rate at 160 ASA.

 

[kozesluk]

hello, for 3x concetrate you should make up the working solution by diluting it 1+2 with water (1+2 dilution = 1:3 = 1/3 concentration). however, don't be afraid to prolong the development further, this developer is softly working. maybe you will have to add more Disodium phosphate to it for 18 years old film (10-20 g maybe, maybe more).
good luck.

 

[pentaxpete]

Dear Mr Lucas : many thanks -- your MATHS is much better than mine ! I asked my boy and HE said it should be 1+2 not 1+3 as I worked out -- I am experimenting more with the developer, will try with some other films -- the FOG level on my outdated TMY 400 was very low , so looking promising ! ( just one worry -- MY bottle says 'Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate' -- is it the same as the ordinary 'Disodium Phosphate' ? )

 

[kozesluk]

I think it should be all right as long as your Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate is Na2HPO4 . 12H2O (CAS: 10039-32-4). It's the same I think (or hope).

Best Regards from the Czech Republic!

 

[wootsk]

I have nothing to say except thank you to the contributer.