Kodabromide

Sjixxxy · Oct 4, 2004

I went and picked up a used D-II from a nearby shop today, along with the purchase the guys let me raid their cache of old papers for free. I snatched up all the AZO I could find, which was an unopened 100 box of 5x7 grade 3, and an unopend 100 box of grade 2 8x10, though probably won't use it for a long time since the largest negatives I have to contact print are only 4x5. They also gave me a huge 250 sheet box of Gaf 7"x15" paper that I have absoluty no use for it it is even still good.

But of the most interest is the 100 box of Grade 2 8x10 Kodabromide since it is actully enlarging paper, and there are about 4 more boxes there I can take for free if it is still good. Can someone tell me anything about this paper? Does it have the huge shelf life that I hear the AZO has, which would mean I could probably still use it? Does it have a massive tonal range or something that will make me weep tears of joy?

Sjixxxy · Oct 4, 2004

Oh yeah, exp 3/78. Any hope?

Donald Miller · Oct 4, 2004

Has the paper been refigerated? If not the Kodabromide is probably toast. That is 26 years out of date. Even refrigerated I would suspect fogging. You might try developer with benzatriazole added. Should help the fog with somewhat of a decrease in speed.

The Azo should be good. If the Azo is that old then it may be some of the old cadium incorporated emulsion. I have some and it is "far and away" better then the current emulsion.

Lee Shively · Oct 4, 2004

Kodabromide was one of my favorite papers along with Kodak Medalist and Agfa's Brovira and Portriga Rapid. All of them are long gone and I doubt you will be able to use this paper. You might add some Edwal Orthozite to Kodak Dektol mixed 1:1 or even full strength, but don't expect miracles.

Mark Layne · Oct 4, 2004

I recently bought some Kodabromide exp '84
It works fine with little if any fog. Its base colour is a little warm though compared to most. I doubt it was ever refrigerated.

Mark

noseoil · Oct 4, 2004

Great stuff. I got a box in a similar manner and I like it. This was in Tucson and it was sitting out on a warm shelf. It will show a bit less than pure white, but this is normal for this Kodak paper from what I was told. It was manufactured this way (from what I understand) and never was pure white to begin with. I asked about it at this year's LF conference in Monterey. Good luck, free paper and film are to be used. Mine was a grade 4 which has lost a bit of contrast.

titrisol · Oct 4, 2004

I used kodabromide a lot in the early-mid 80s
I hated the single weight paper (curls a lot) but is a nice paper.

I guess you have to try and see how fogged it is, some Orthozite or Benzotriazole will help getting the fog down

Good luck and enjoy it

Deckled Edge · Oct 5, 2004

Lee Shively said:
Kodabromide was one of my favorite papers....

Mine too.
It did not have the ultra-white baryta layer that gives "refrigerator white." But is was the coldest of all the papers then available. It tones beautifully in Selenium and gives the most marvelous, museum quality blacks. Some noted hints of green, and it had been panned for this, but Selenium usually cured that. It was very cold with Amidol and less so in Dektol. It warms nicely with Selectol Soft, with almost a full grade in contrast lost.
As old as yours is, I would hope you could print with it, as you deserve to see what a great paper it was.

Sjixxxy · Oct 5, 2004

Donald Miller said:
The Azo should be good. If the Azo is that old then it may be some of the old cadium incorporated emulsion. I have some and it is "far and away" better then the current emulsion.

Well, the 5x7 box is dated to expire 3/79, but the 8x10 box has no expiration dates on it.

removed account4 · Oct 5, 2004

back in the early 80s i made a hard cover books using kodabromide single weight 11x14 paper as the pages. i really loved that stuff ( and still use the box for storage of prints ) the mid-tones were really nice. i remember when i bought - the guy at the store said " this is probably the last box you will ever see, have fun with it ... "

... "have fun with it" - -
you might consider using ansco 130 to develop with, i know it reduces fog in out of date fillm - most of my paper is only 10-15 years old, so i don't have experience with *really* out of date stuff

Donald Miller · Oct 5, 2004

Sjixxxy said:
Well, the 5x7 box is dated to expire 3/79, but the 8x10 box has no expiration dates on it.

What is the finish on the Azo? If it is really old emulsion, I imagine that Michael Smith would trade current emulsion for it.

Michael A. Smith · Oct 5, 2004

Donald Miller said:
What is the finish on the Azo? If it is really old emulsion, I imagine that Michael Smith would trade current emulsion for it.

Yes, I'll trade fresh, new Azo for the box you have. Let me know if you are interested. I need the old Azo to print a portfolio of older prints. Thanks.

jimgalli · Oct 5, 2004

Hey, I'd like that GAF paper. Would work great with the 7X11 negs. I have some 1964 Gaevert Contactone that I'm using up. Let me know what it is and what you want for it. Jim

Sjixxxy · Oct 5, 2004

Michael A. Smith said:
Yes, I'll trade fresh, new Azo for the box you have. Let me know if you are interested. I need the old Azo to print a portfolio of older prints. Thanks.

Sure, I'll trade up and throw the box on ice for the day when I finally break into 8x10. The 5x7 box is lustre finish, and the 8x10 is glossy.

jimgalli said:
Hey, I'd like that GAF paper. Would work great with the 7X11 negs. I have some 1964 Gaevert Contactone that I'm using up. Let me know what it is and what you want for it. Jim

Well, all I can get from the box is that it is dimensions. It seems to have been opened at one point, and resealed at some point with thick black tape which has now deteriorated leaving black crust over the label where all the info would be. I could probably take a sheet out and just run a quick contact test to see what the finish/weight is like, and if it even still works.

jim appleyard · Nov 21, 2004

I have a friend who is an art/photo teacher. He picks up old, outdated paper and lets his student run the stuff thru inkjet printers for fun. Perhaps there is a use for digital!

Ole · Nov 21, 2004

In all of my big box of outdated paper, the Kodabromide was the only one that was completely dead. No sensitivity left - just random blobs and dots.

Even 40 years old Agfa Brovira was better - and that was outdated when I bought it 30 years ago.

BTW, none of my papers had been refrigerated - or even stored cool.

Kodabromide

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