Lith film ruined???

ggriffi · Mar 28, 2005

Just recieved some 35mm lith film that I bought on the auction site. The box was open as the label had been cut, so when I pulled it out of the envelope it was open. So is it.........?

G

glbeas · Mar 28, 2005

You saw the roll of film in daylight? Quite likely it is, though you could try unrolling a few layers of film and try a bit in some developer to see if it stayed safe that far down. Next time be suspicious, very suspicious!

ggriffi · Mar 28, 2005

You saw the roll of film in daylight? Quite likely it is, though you could try unrolling a few layers of film and try a bit in some developer to see if it stayed safe that far down. Next time be suspicious, very suspicious!

Yeah, it a 100ft roll. The person I bought it from said "they" (Post Office) had to open it. Unbelievable, but true. Probably will do the test this weekend to find out.

Thanks for the help,

G

Nick Zentena · Mar 28, 2005

Wasn't the film in a can? Up here the post office now uses tape that says " Opened by the post office"

ggriffi · Mar 28, 2005

No the film was in the plastic box like the others that I have. When I opened the mailer and pulled the box out the lid was open and I saw the spool and the paper backing that is taped down. I just don't understand why the post office would open it anyway.

G

John Bartley · Mar 28, 2005

ggriffi said:
No the film was in the plastic box like the others that I have. When I opened the mailer and pulled the box out the lid was open and I saw the spool and the paper backing that is taped down. I just don't understand why the post office would open it anyway.

G

Post offices don't normally open packages that are staying in the country, and when they do, they put a sticker on them indicating that they have. How's the feedback rating on your supplier?

cheers

ggriffi · Mar 28, 2005

John,

His feedback WAS 100%. Only 29 transactions but still he must not know film as I can't believe that he would sit back and let them do this. In a reply that was sent to me he stated the "boxes" were opened.

G

Donald Qualls · Mar 29, 2005

If the spool was a solid plate on both sides and the film had a paper overwrap, it's probably fine. Microfilm is commonly packaged this way, intended for daylight loading into a machine for exposure. Even if the paper is removed, only the outer 2-3 layers of film is exposed; the antihalation layer prevents light from penetrating any further.

Movie film is commonly packaged this way as well, on what are then called "camera spools".

If, OTOH, the spool is a spoked one (like you might see on old fashioned film projectors), it's probably toast to the core.

ggriffi · Mar 29, 2005

Donald,

Thanks very much for the info. I do have the solid spools. So I hope that everything is fine with them. I probably panicked last night but I just have just started trying to get this film. So as the old saying goes "Let the buyer beware"

G

Lith film ruined???

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