Kodak books - Charts of 1940s films

[Darkbluesky]

Hello

I am new here and a very amateur in analog photo but still I like it. It has something digital lacks for the moment. I shoot analog photo from time to time and I shoot also digital.

I am a fan of the 40s black&white (and of course the old Kodachrome look too). And I am trying to find as much information as possible about that.

Currently I am about to buy some Kodak books edited in the 40s, you know, the "Kodak Reference HandBook" and the "Kodak Films: A Data Book On Black and White Negative Materials", for some years of the forties. But I am really interested in finding the spectral sensitivity chart and response (density vs exposure) chart of the films used then, specially Eastman Plus-X and Super-XX of that time.

And if possible, Kodachrome (but that is a bit different story).

I think that some of you here could own, or know, these books, and probably you could tell me, please, if these charts/data is shown in these publications, as I really need it.

Thank you very much for any help!

 

[Gerald C Koch]

For many years Kodak published softcover books meant to be stored in special binders called photographic notebooks. One you might be interested in is "Eastman Kodak Motion Picture Films for Professional use". Other books detailed Kodak B/W and color films, B/W papers, developers, etc. These was usually a wedge spectrogram showing the spectral sensitivity of each film. These were usually updated once a year. Just about everything you'd wish to know about a certain prduct.

 

[lamda]

I have read that Kodak density vs. exposure curves from that era were not always accurate. So, if you tried to pick a modern film that had a similar curve to the 1940's curve, you might be mislead.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

If you search in Russian sites , there are many books available as free pdf download which even Eastman Kodak and RIT Kodak Archive people do not have no idea about their existence. I found my 1940 Kodak Dye Technologies Book from a Russian chemical compounds distributor which is equivalent of Sigma.
Site indicates they have 1920 and after 1940 copies also. I found PE and Capstaff indicated sulfonic acid dye formulas there. There are only 10 different RGB Green and their sensitometry. And there are VGIK Moscow Russian State Cinema School web based books which google translated successfully.
Some of them on Color theory and color use in Soviet Cinema.

Umut

 

[Jim Noel]

Old Copies of the Photo Lab Index or the British Journal of Photography should have the information you are looking for.
As Lamda has indicated the curves of that period probably were not as accurate as those of today simply because of technology.
Also remember, there are probably no films on the market which have curves similar to the most films of the era. Sadly there is no film on the market today which has the long straight line of Super XX.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Posted wirelessly..

I have the complete refence book in the binder. Lemme check at home tonight.

 

[Darkbluesky]

Thank you very much for your answers.

Yes, in fact I am not trying to use a modern film, with old references, what I want are the actual references of the old stock film.

Jim, thank you for the clues, I'll keep these in mind if the first approach fails, because it seems harder to find the good edition/number of Photo Lab Index or the British Journal of Photography that has the info I want...

Christopher, it will be perfect, thanks. I wait for your answer .

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I believe the information you seek and much more is located in the Films section. Films covered include Verichrome, Plus-X, Super-XX, Super Ortho Press Packs, Panatomic-X, Infrared, Direct Positive Panchromatic, Positive, H. C. Positive, Micro-File, Tri-X, the list goes on and on. Data includes: General Properties, Film Exposure Index, Color Sensitivity, Filter Factors, Daylight Exposure Table, Photoflood Exposure Table, Photoflash Exposures, Contrast, Recommended Development, Sensitometric Curves (H&D Curves), Time-Temp Development Curves, Graininess, Resolving Power, Fixing, Safelight and Formats and Packaging available.

It really is a remarkable resource.

 

[Darkbluesky]

Just what I was looking for. Thank you very much! I have just ordered the books.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Posted wirelessly..

I received a PM. So, to clarify, I am referring to the Kodak Photographic Reference Handbook.