Kodabromide Paper A

[Jeremy]

In searching for a step tablet I could use with my gum printing on Sunday I came across a Kodak Master Darkroom Dataguide for B&W from 1978 on my shelf. In this it has a section where sample images are printed on little rectangles of different Kodak B&W papers and the Kodabromide Paper A really stands out with smooth, neutral tones and DEEP blacks! This paper has, I know, been discontinued for quite a while, but sometimes I wish Mr. Peabody would show up and we could go get some of these older, discontinued papers (and learn a moral in the process).

Any fond remembrances of this discontinued paper? Makes me also wish I could try out some Agfa Brovira...*sigh*

 

[jim appleyard]

You actually remember Mr. Peabody? That's a good thing!

 

[Ray C.]

Peabody here in the Wayback Machine....

Ohhh, Mr. Wizard....

Tweezle-de-dee, Tweezle-de-Doo. Time for this one to come home!

All I can say is: Yes, I miss Kodabromide and Brovira too but, I also look forward to experimenting with new papers, developers and toners.


Regards

 

[noseoil]

If you look at garage sales and old stuff from used camera sales, Kodabromide shows up from time to time. I've played with some in the past few years that I find that way, and it is fun to work with. Too bad there isn't a steady supply to get a better feel for it. tim

 

[lee]

I used Brovira a lot but what I really liked was Agfa Insignia that one I do miss

lee\c

 

[jim appleyard]

Peabody here in the Wayback Machine....

Ohhh, Mr. Wizard....

Tweezle-de-dee, Tweezle-de-Doo. Time for this one to come home!

All I can say is: Yes, I miss Kodabromide and Brovira too but, I also look forward to experimenting with new papers, developers and toners.


Regards

Wasn't it "Twizzle-Twazzle"??? It's been awhile!

 

[panchromatic]

When I asked a photographer friend of mine which paper was his favorite he replied "kodabromide" but of course alas it is no longer made, I too wish i could try it out.

 

[mikepry]

I got a full unopened box of Gr 2 of that and when I ran my tests with it using a step wedge, it was almost a dead ringer to AZO as far as the exposure scale goes. It is a beautiful paper with no signs of serious fogging.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Jermey

The paper that I really miss are Ilford Ilfomar and Kodak Ectalure.
I really wish some smart cookie in NA would decide to take over a small coating alley and produce some of these old papers.

 

[Charles Webb]

For myself I desprately continue to search for any brand that will give me the
same tones, rich blacks and fantastic highlites that Dupont Velour Black grades 2 and 3 delivered. I have a few sheets left in the freezer, but really hesitate to use them. For me it was simply the best and easiest paper I have ever used to make display prints.

 

[Earl Dunbar]

The one I really wish I had been able to try was Dupont Varigam. All the greats raved about it, and mourned its passing. I do remember Ilfomar, and when Stan C. Reade Photo in London, ON hard of its discontinuation, urged me to buy a bunch. I was very cash-strapped at the time, so I didn't, but now I'm wishing I had robbed a bank or something.

Earl

 

[Peter Schrager]

Kodabromide

This past weekend I found a 500 sheet box of Kodabromide on the F surface/grade 2 and two 100 sheet boxes in the G surface/grades 2+4. All of the boxes had been unopened. I made a print yesterday with the F surface (glossy) and developed in Zone VI dev. at 1:3. The paper is quite good. The poster who said that the paper reminded them of AZO is correct. The paper has quite a long scale and prints easily. I am very pleased because I only paid $25 for all 700 sheets. Seems a real shame that Kodak always discontinues the good stuff. In real world terms the modern papers are quite good and there's no sense in lamenting the loss of the "great" papers. In the end it's still the image that ends up on the paper that counts.
Regards, Peter

 

[Mark Layne]

I have never been put off by those who claim any paper older than a few months is bad. I have Kodabromide, Brovira, Varilour etc which is almost as old as I am and works fine.
Here's an interesting thing with Kodabromide. I thought that because it was old tech with cadmium it should make colourful lith prints. To my surprise what you actually get is a normal print with enhanced blacks-like AZO.
If you think your blacks are weak develop in dilute lith developer. Adjust your exposure so that highlights are correct by the time you get good blacks
Mark

 

[stinkjet]

Kodabromide A was unique in that the 'A' designation referred to the thickness of the paper and not the surface. It was designed to be so pliable that the print could actually be folded without cracking the emulsion. I imagine it was meant to be bound in books. Kodabromide was, to my knowledge, the only paper to carry that mark.

stinkjet

 

[noseoil]

The only thing I can find about my Kodabromide which is different than a "new" paper is that the actual paper base isn't a pure white, actually an off white. I was told this is normal. Try comparing your base white to another paper and see what you have tim

 

[Jeremy]

Tee hee....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7505684562&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1