Mystery 4x5 sheet film!

j-dogg

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Found 12 4x5 Fidelity Elite film holders locally, when I got there I did the shake test and found almost all of them are loaded with some ancient mystery film. I sacrificed one sheet to take this photo. Research tells me the wide divot is indicative of a low production / special order Kodak film. I think it's BW. It was apparently stored in a basement so theres no telling how good it is. The hole tells me its possibly QuickLoad.

I have 10 internets for the first person to tell me what I have on my hands and whether or not to try to get it developed because some of it appears to be exposed.

 

Don_ih

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If a sheet seems to be exposed, develop it in Dektol for 3 or 4 minutes. You might see something. Chances are, though, it will develop as 100% exposed, since whoever had the holders probably opened them at some point.

It kinda looks like this:

but also not.
 

Lachlan Young

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That particular wide notch means 'C-41' for both Fuji and Kodak (will need to check Agfa). The punched hole for drying and the order of the other notches looks like Fuji.
 
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j-dogg

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Got a clue here, one of the holders is labeled Royal Pan Daylight 200 if that's what it is surely this film is at least 50 years old. If someone can confirm this, would be interesting to see if I can get an image. A friend and I will be using HC-110, Photographers Formulary TF5 and whatever stop bath he has.

Aa for the special divot I'm just going by what I've been reading, havent been around 4x5 for a while but I've decided to give it a concerted try. I emptied the other holders in my darkroom into an old 4x5 bag for Tmax.
 
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j-dogg

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I can confirm it is definitely some kind of C41 film as my Tri-X 320 sheets are gray
 

Donald Qualls

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I've gotten images off film that was discontinued in the mid-1950s (i.e. 65+ years expired) and left in a camera (stored heaven only knows how) for more than half a century.

Not color film, though. I most likely wouldn't pay lab E-6 sheet film fees, but I'd surely try it in C-41 at home.
 
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j-dogg

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Ive got a 25 pack of Ansco film expired in the 50s, black and white and I believe 200 speed, factory sealed
 

Donald Qualls

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j-dogg said:
Ive got a 25 pack of Ansco film expired in the 50s, black and white and I believe 200 speed, factory sealed
Click to expand...

Nice. Shoot it a 4 stops under and process in HC-110.
 
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