Mystery bulk film

[moose10101]

I bought it; so what am I getting? I thought I'd take a chance for under $10. It looks like an Ilford label, but the maker isn't identified. Any insights?

 

[PhotoJim]

Looks indeed like Ilford. I'd guess FP-4 (non-Plus) given the "ASA" on the can and the "Made in England".

 

[richard ide]

Second the Ilford ID. IIRC I bought Ilford bulk film which looked identical, but 25 years ago. Run a test roll and check for fog.

 

[frobozz]

Check for fog... and edge markings! I bet they say FP-4

Duncan

 

[Denis R]

perhaps polypan f

Dead Link Removed

more discussion @ (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[PhotoJim]

Polypan-F seems to be ISO 50. If that's an Ilford film, it's more likely to be Pan-F or Pan-F Plus.

 

[fschifano]

Polypan-F seems to be ISO 50. If that's an Ilford film, it's more likely to be Pan-F or Pan-F Plus.

Not even. Can't begin to guess the pedigree of Polypan F. As PhotoJim pointed out, the speed is wrong. It shows an ISO speed along with the ASA, making its date of manufacture later than what the OP listed. They typeface on the Polypan F label is all wrong for Ilford. The typeface used on the OP's label is consistent with the typeface being used by Ilford to this day. Finally, the Polypan F lablel does not say "Made in England" and every Ilford product I've seen carries that marker.

 

[moose10101]

Looks indeed like Ilford. I'd guess FP-4 (non-Plus) given the "ASA" on the can and the "Made in England".

Good point; I'd forgotten about ASA vs. ISO. It probably is FP4; I'm just a bit surprised that the Ilford name isn't on it. I'll shoot a short roll and check it out.

 

[pantelis adiavastos]

the best source for identifying bulk roots is origin. even from arista etc because it seems they have tou maintain in even rebranded. country pretty much narrows options.
england is 90% ilford. you can figure out other brands from that such as efke, foma etc.

 

[JPD]

Maybe it was meant to be rebranded? Ilford also recently sold a cheaper version of HP5+ and FP4+ under another name (was it "Pan 125" or something like that?).

 

[2F/2F]

Looks like FP4, probably circa anywhere from the late '70s on, judging just on the fonts used.

If you cut off and develop a little piece of it along with your next batch of some other film, maybe there will be edge markings that will tell you for sure.

 

[pentaxuser]

I for one will be interested in the results so do let us know. As others have said it is likely to be FP4 at ISO 125. I suspect it is quite old so its condition depends on how it has been kept.

One thing I have spotted is that in the Queen's English in the U.K. we spell METERS as METRES so this spelling might suggest that it was for sale elsewhere such as the U.S. which is where I think you are.

Simon Galley of Harman Technology might be able to give it a date or at least confirm it is FP4.

If it is useable and was not deep frozen then I think he'd be very interested if it says FP4. It will say a lot about the longevity of Ilford film

pentaxuser

 

[wotalegend]

Here is an FP4 tin dated March '89. (Sorry about the poor d*****l image - I took it with my phone). I still have some of this particular film in a daylight loader, which I re-discovered in the top of a wardrobe recently. I have tried some and it is still usable, though I think it has lost about half its speed.

Cheers, Peter.

 

[cmacd123]

I bought it; so what am I getting? I thought I'd take a chance for under $10. It looks like an Ilford label, but the maker isn't identified.

I belive that is the way that Ilford packed their "private label" stuff back when they still used cans to pack film. (film on a cardboard core) ASA 125 would be FP4.

I used to use it as it was both good as well as less expensive than the Ilford brand. It was sold at the time by our good friends Freestyle, who probaly designed the label.

It it is - the edge printing will only be frame numbers in the same typeface as Illford's bulk rolls of the period. They just turned off the edge print on the "top" edge of the film. Look on the bottom of the can for the expiry date, although it may have rubbed off.

 

[Anscojohn]

I bought it; so what am I getting? I thought I'd take a chance for under $10. It looks like an Ilford label, but the maker isn't identified. Any insights?

**********
Does the can have a date on it? At one time (1970s) Freestyle sold a "no-name" film made in England as it's Essex, brand. Since Ilford is/was in Essex.........

 

[clayne]

Clip a leader and develop for 5 minutes in D-76. It will take less time then we've spent on this thread already.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Clip a leader and develop for 5 minutes in D-76. It will take less time then we've spent on this thread already.

Clayne, you are absolutely right about the time spent, but on the other hand, about ten posters had a nice time chatting…

Philippe

 

[pentaxuser]

The word Essex, if there is such a word on the label will help establish a date since it has been many years since Ilford was based there but in practical terms a clip test might tell you more or just shoot a few frames at various ISOs and develop. With a 100 feet it won't use much film


pentaxuser

 

[37th Exposure]

Might be a can of Freestyle's old Arista 125 which is supposed to be repacked Ilford FP4. I bought a few cans in the past and recall the label looking similar to yours in almost every respect. Bottom line is shoot and develop some and hope for the best.

 

[cmacd123]

just happened to find a reference

I was going through some negs fro the 1970 era when I came across this one I took just before a bulk loading session, I think the label matches and this was the Freestyle "English Professional" private label film which was understood to be Ilford.

 

[radekone]

Polypan has nothing to do with Ilford.
It's german product with no halation layer, it gives shiny whites in some developers. ASA 50. It's cheap and bit oldschool (not perfect what I like the most).
I like it much in D76 1+3 what gives smooth grays. In rodinal it's quite rough stuff. Great film for cheap street shooting.