Kodak Black and White Chemistry Made in Germany

Ektagraphic · Aug 13, 2013

Hi Guys-

I was recently in a Calumet photo to pick up some XTOL and I noticed that the Kodak Stop Bath and PhotoFlo were now in rectangular shaped long bottles that looked different than any Kodak bottles that I have seen before and were both marked Made in Germany. I believe have read here that Kodak chemistry is made by Champion Chemical now. Has something changed? I'm just curious.

Pat

drkhalsa · Aug 13, 2013

I bought some Kodafix from Adorama last April and it was bottled the same as you describe and Made in Germany.

Sal Santamaura · Aug 13, 2013

Champion was a large Kodak creditor in the bankruptcy. Either because Champion was unwilling to take further risk by continuing to be a Kodak supplier after the bankruptcy or because Kodak thought Champion might react that way, Kodak sought another photo chemistry supplier. Tetenal reportedly is now that supplier.

Ektagraphic · Aug 14, 2013

So does or is Tetenal going to make all of the chemistry? All of my powdered Kodak products are still Made in USA

wildbill · Aug 14, 2013

yeah, now they can bring back the 5L E6 kit with separate bleach and fix as mother nature intended. Ok, not likely.

TheToadMen · Aug 14, 2013

It was mentioned in other threads that Kodak is reducing its range of packaging for chemicals. Some sizes/volumes will be discontinued to reduce costs. Beware: it is possible that the remaining packagings contain other concentrations than you're used to of the same developer.

I'm not sure, but if I remember correctly, Kodak used other conentrations in Europe and the USA as well.

Just check before mixing & developing the "same" developer...

Ektagraphic · Aug 14, 2013

Thanks for the tip. I will keep an eye out. Like I mentioned, the powdered products have the same specs still as far as I have seen

DWThomas · Aug 14, 2013

I just received a 1 liter bottle of HC110 from Freestyle about a week ago and it does indeed say "Made in Germany." There's even a peel-up two page label on it which has MSDS-type info in multiple languages -- but not a hint of how to mix the stuff!

The bottle says something about made for USA, and the Freestyle site implies it's what has been the norm for US product. I'm still finishing a previous stock and just got it for backup, but guess when I break it open a test on a piece of sheet film might be in order before committing any rolls of once in a lifetime shots.

At least it's still around!

Ektagraphic · Aug 18, 2013

Did Kodak make any kind of announcement about this?

cmacd123 · Aug 19, 2013

Ektagraphic said:
Did Kodak make any kind of announcement about this?

Just that the package sizes were changing along with the CAT numbers. The bottle that I received does have mixing instructions based on the 1 to 31 mix for Dilution B, which is what the US made product required. I have not tried the new stuff, as when I first heard o fthe change, it was a note that the old CAT number was discontinued, and so I stock up on MANY of the old 16 US fl Oz Bottles. Getting 1 Litre at a time seems more sane.

benjiboy · Aug 20, 2013

Why should it be a problem that Kodak chemicals are made in Germany?, most of the high end Kodak cameras and lenses used to be made in Germany, and the German chemical industry is probably the best in the World going right back to the 19th century.

TheToadMen · Aug 20, 2013

benjiboy said:
Why should it be a problem that Kodak chemicals are made in Germany?, most of the high end Kodak cameras and lenses used to be made in Germany, and the German chemical industry is probably the best in the World going right back to the 19th century.

It doesn't when the quality is concerned. But you'll have to check for possible changes in recipy or concentrations.

kb3lms · Aug 20, 2013

Yeah, as long as they still sell the stuff Germany is fine by me!

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Aug 21, 2013

Pictures of the bottles, anyone?

DWThomas · Aug 21, 2013

Assuming the alternate technology can be forgiven:

MattKing · Aug 21, 2013

I've recently seen the same packaging for the liquid Kodafix - the non-rapid, hardening fixer.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Aug 22, 2013

That's news to me; in Montréal I haven't seen the square bottles yet.

miha · Aug 22, 2013

Kodak T-Max fixer which I believe is only available in Europe, also comes in a square bottle which looks similar or same to the above one posted by DaveT.

DWThomas · Aug 22, 2013

And I'll toss in that the print on those labels is on the microscopic side, but on my second try yesterday, my aging eyes still did not detect any mixing instructions. I will eventually test and sort it out, but it would be nice if they gave at least a hint for reassurance.

MattKing · Aug 22, 2013

DWThomas said:
And I'll toss in that the print on those labels is on the microscopic side, but on my second try yesterday, my aging eyes still did not detect any mixing instructions. I will eventually test and sort it out, but it would be nice if they gave at least a hint for reassurance.

Is there anything on the bottle similar to the "To make 3.88 liters/1 US Gallon" that used to be on the old, 16 ounce bottles of US HC 110?

DWThomas · Aug 22, 2013

MattKing said:
Is there anything on the bottle similar to the "To make 3.88 liters/1 US Gallon" that used to be on the old, 16 ounce bottles of US HC 110?

Aha! In yet another look, with magnifier, the second page with MSDS info for a few other EU countries also peels up! The corner on that page has no peel-up indicator -- one is left to look for the less than paper thin edge. And behold under there is the base layer with mix ratios. It appears it is the traditional "North American" standard - B= 1+31 etc. They sure buried that, but thanks for prodding me to keep looking!

Ah, my day is complete! (Well the above plus the 150 mm lens for my Bronica arrived.)

kintatsu · Aug 24, 2013

I bought 3x the old 16 oz bottles around thanksgiving, and have only finsihed slightly over 1 bottle. I can't imagine ever finishing a 1 liter bottle, even developing about 12 sheets per week!

Truzi · Aug 24, 2013

This thread caused me some concern. I'm sure the contractor is making it to Kodak's specifications, and am not bothered with that or whether it's made in Germany or the U.S.A. I wanted to check my bottle of HC-110 just out of curiosity.

Having inherited some of my mother's hoarding genes, I could not find the bottle. It really concerned me that a bottle of developer had disappeared somewhere in the house. I did eventually find it (I'd looked right past it originally); it's a round bottle made in the U.S.A. Expires 10/2013, though I don't think I need to worry about that.

MattKing · Aug 24, 2013

kintatsu said:
I bought 3x the old 16 oz bottles around thanksgiving, and have only finsihed slightly over 1 bottle. I can't imagine ever finishing a 1 liter bottle, even developing about 12 sheets per week!

Well, a one litre bottle is only about twice the size of the old 16 ounce bottles, and essentially the same as the old, relatively rare, 32 ounce bottles.

John Bragg · Aug 25, 2013

I for one am delighted to have my developer made by Tetenal. I suspect that Neopress HC is a close relative and I would bet that you could substitute it. Anyone have experience of that ? Does Neopress HC have the same longevity ?

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