KODAK VPC and Verichrome Pan

Fourtoes · Jun 30, 2010

Hi,
I recently purchased a kodak vest pocket camera at a boot/garage sale for £3. Inside was a roll of exposed Verichrome Pan with no inclination of date.

I bit the bullet and dev'd it in whatever I had around. In this case ID-11 for 12 minutes 1-1 dilution at 20˚. Followed by stop, fix and wash.

I was really pleased with the results, heres a couple of the better focussed ones. 7 in all of the 8 on the roll. The last one was overexposed from me testing the shutter at the sale.

Just thought I'd share with you.

perkeleellinen · Jun 30, 2010

Great photos!

An 'A' reg plate, 1963? And the 'N', is that Newcastle?

Fourtoes · Jun 30, 2010

From what I can figure out, its a Ford Anglia and NA is for Manchester, England.
As I bought the camera just a few miles from there it makes sense.

And doesnt that fella look like one of the Kray twins? Mind you they all did back then.

perkeleellinen · Jun 30, 2010

He does! That little boy would be pushing 50 now, I suppose.

Fourtoes · Jun 30, 2010

Yep, I reckon late 1950's early 1960's from the car and clothing etc.

railwayman3 · Jun 30, 2010

NA is definitely a Manchester registration, and the ones from there with the four numbers in front of the two letters were first issued in Dec 1959 (according to my copy of "A to Z of Car Numbers"...my wife says I'm sad.).

The clothes and general appearance of the photos certainly look like the early 60's.

Nice find....wonder if the car could be still around. The Ford Anglia was considered rather stylish, with its recessed rear window.

Fourtoes · Jun 30, 2010

Hi Railwayman3.
The car has RAC badges so I've contacted their Archivist. You never know.
Also in the background is an estate agents sign but theres not enough info on the neg to get anymore from it.

perkeleellinen · Jun 30, 2010

Fourtoes said:
Hi Railwayman3.
The car has RAC badges so I've contacted their Archivist. You never know.
Also in the background is an estate agents sign but theres not enough info on the neg to get anymore from it.

Wouldn't it be great if you could trace that boy and give him a copy of that photo?

Fourtoes · Jun 30, 2010

Thats what I like about this. Heres a set of images this family has never seen, a little lost history.

smithy17 · Jun 30, 2010

That Verichrome-Pan looks like a good film. Very rich tones. Pity they don't make it any more.
Is that Car a Ford Anglia?

Fourtoes · Jun 30, 2010

Yep a Ford Anglia.

RAC got back to me....
"The badge relates to the owner rather than the motor vehicle that it (currently) resides on. [So the reg. no. is not of any great help.] If the image is good enough to show the badge's serial no., we might be able to provide you with the name of its original owner. Failing that, we should be able to give you some general information about the badge's features if you're interested. To that end, please send an image."

lns · Jun 30, 2010

Okay, this film is 50 years old? The secret to eternal life is in there somewhere.

-Laura

Ian Grant · Jun 30, 2010

That Polka dot dress is very 50's, the car was probably new.

My mum used Verichrome Pan in her Brownie 127 is was a very thick emulsion with a wide exposure latitude, ideal for cameras with little or no exposure control. The Ilford equivalent was Selochrome which my father used, before he switched to Kodachrome.

Ian

smithy17 · Jun 30, 2010

Ian Grant said:
That Polka dot dress is very 50's, the car was probably new.

My mum used Verichrome Pan in her Brownie 127 is was a very thick emulsion with a wide exposure latitude, ideal for cameras with little or no exposure control.

Ian

Many of our old family snaps were made with V-Pan and they still look good today. Why was it was only recommended for snap shots? Lovely stuff.
Nice to see the uploaded images.

Ian Grant · Jun 30, 2010

smithy17 said:
V-Pan ..... Why was it was only recommended for snap shots?

I got into photography while it was just still around, it had had a very long production run since it's introduction as plain Verichrome 1908'ish by Wratten & Wainwright, a British company. Wratten & Wainwright were bought in 1913 by Kodak and their two star chemists Mees & Sheppard set up up Kodak's new Rochester research centre, the UK employees became Kodak's harrow research team.

Verichrone was OK but not as fine grained, sharp or tonal as Plus X, and Tri X was faster, but these films were less tolerant of over/under exposure.

Ian

Martin Aislabie · Jun 30, 2010

I have some rolls of Verichrome, unused in 620 size - it fits my fathers 1950's (~ish) camera

What exposure should I give it and what is the recommended development time in ID11 @ 1+1 ?

The film has been in the deep freeze for about 30 years - so who knows what I'll get from it - but it should be a giggle

Martin

mwdake · Jun 30, 2010

An 'A' reg plate

No, it is before they went to 'A', 'B' plates, if I remember right that started in 1963.

mike c · Jun 30, 2010

When did Kodak stop making verichrome,seems I bought some in the early 80's in 120.
Mike

Fourtoes · Jul 1, 2010

mwdake said:
No, it is before they went to 'A', 'B' plates, if I remember right that started in 1963.

NA is a Manchester Plate. From 1959.

I've tried Hi res scans of...
RAC serial number on front of car.......not enough detail.
For Sale sign behind car.........Thomas Henderson, Anderson?? Maybe.
Black Sign white text futher back.......not enough detail.

So all we know for sure its a Manchester Reg'd car late 1950s or early 1960's.
As for where it is?
As for who this is?

I've emailed Manchester Evening News to see if they could help.

2F/2F · Jul 1, 2010

Thanks for sharing your excellent success developing found-in-old-camera film! I have been nowhere near as lucky myself.

Fourtoes · Jul 1, 2010

The Manchester Evening News have just called to say they are sending a photographer to take my picture with the old KVP camera so they can run the story.
So hopefully someone in the area might recognise someone or something. Fingers crossed. Mind you a picture of my mug isn't going to help things along.

mwdake · Jul 1, 2010

The Ford Anglia 105E, as pictured, came out in 1959.

jamie young · Jul 1, 2010

Verichrome pan was mostly a consumer market film , but also had a strong following with pro portrait shooters. It also was one of the main B&W films for cirkut photos, and I still have about 50 rolls of it ( 8" by 5 feet) . they discontinued it somewhere around 2002-2004. I've gotten fond of it - A great film

rjbuzzclick · Jul 1, 2010

I love Verichrome Pan. I have a few rolls that expired in 1969:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjbuzzclick/4038191760/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjbuzzclick/4040653692/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjbuzzclick/4038189890/

Fourtoes · Jul 2, 2010

Well the local press turned up.

Were here an hour taking shots of me with the negs and with the camera, then the online reporter turned up with the ne iphone and said they'd like to shoot some video for the website.
Oh how embarrassing. Wish I'd brushed my hair etc.

So hopefully they'll tun the story and we might get some follow up leads. If I'm brave enough I'll post a link to the video, if they use it.

KODAK VPC and Verichrome Pan

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