Mystery film from way back: Voigtländer Bessachrome 120 DIN18

[Fortepun]

You love this game, I know. However, doing research using keywords such as Voigtländer, bessa, chrome, film, 120, or bessachrome is hard, because they will lead you to Bessa cameras, other film cameras, or the late rebranded Fuji slide film marketed as Voigtländer V.

Bessa folders came out in 1929, and chrome could mean both slide film and black and white with increased red sensitivity, if I understand this correctly. This roll is on a wooden/metal spool, and it's ISO 50. How old, and what am I looking at? Simply ancient Agfa? Thank you all!

EDIT: sorry, I put this in the wrong room.

 

[JPD]

These Bessachrom plates should be from the same period: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/bessachrom-platte.27895/ It is a black and white film.

Maybe Ian Grant has learned more about them.

A box is also sold on Ebay. The seller doesn't mention an expiration date, but perhaps you can ask.

Bessachrom is not found in the 1939 Voigtländer catalog.

 

[Ian Grant]

I have a box of Bessachrom glass plates. I can't add more than is in linked to thread above which is about them. Except the first use of the Chrom/Chrome designation in the name was by GEK Mees for Verichrome and Allochrome plates, these had extended red sensitivity but were not quite fully Panchromatic, unlike the Wratten Panchromatic plates.

Ian

 

[JPD]

"B2-8 12/6x6" is a clue. In the 1930s B2 was called 6x9-film. Here it seems like it has the numbers for 6x6 on the backing paper. It has DIN, but not ASA. It's not in the 1939 Voigtländer catalog. My guess is that it was made in the late 1940s.

The metal flange isn't painted, which could also point to the early post-war period.

 

[Fortepun]

"B2-8 12/6x6" is a clue. In the 1930s B2 was called 6x9-film. Here it seems like it has the numbers for 6x6 on the backing paper. It has DIN, but not ASA. It's not in the 1939 Voigtländer catalog. My guess is that it was made in the late 1940s.

The metal flange isn't painted, which could also point to the early post-war period.

Thank you, that certainly helps. I'll try to dig deeper before attempting to shoot this roll, if ever.