Mystery Kodak 120 B&W Film

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plummerl

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I've been cataloging 45 years worth of negatives. A Kodak 120 film that I shot in the late seventies keeps popping up and I can't seem to identify the name of the film. The B&W negatives all read "KODAK SAFETY FILM 6040". Even with a doctorate in Googling, I've been unable to pull anything out. My go to source at www.taphilo.com skips right over it. Anyone stumble on what this was?
 

Alan9940

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Just guessing, but could it be some early version of Verichrome Pan, since that film was 6041?
 

voceumana

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Possibilties: Panatomic-X, Royal-X Pan, and Tech Pan, though I doubt it is Tech Pan.
 

voceumana

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Donald Qualls

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The only 6040 I found in the 1998 Kodak Professional list is 876 6040, which is Polymax 8x10 in 100 sheet boxes...
 

Bill Burk

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Ask Laser he will tell you it’s Panatomic-X

I also have a slew of negatives with 6040 and I had a brick of Panatomic-X I know I was shooting. I had picked up some Plus-X but that’s clearly marked PX.

For some reason I don’t have development records from 15 years ago. But I have a few rolls left. I could confirm this. For now I will take Bob’s word for it
 

Bill Burk

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Ask Laser he will tell you it’s Panatomic-X

I also have a slew of negatives with 6040 and I had a brick of Panatomic-X I know I was shooting. I had picked up some Plus-X but that’s clearly marked PX.

For some reason I don’t have development records from 15 years ago. But I have a few rolls left. I could confirm this. For now I will take Bob’s word for it
I found a record cross referencing a known roll.

It is Panatomic-X 120
 

Kino

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Amazing what folks know here...
 
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plummerl

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Thanks all! I finally found a reference to 6040, in of all places, a PDF document in the Museum of Victoria (Australia). It's a Kodak pamphlet for HC-110. Shows 6040 for 120, 5060 for 35mm, Panatomic-X.

50910012667_cdf36ccb40_c_d.jpg
 

MattKing

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I just looked at that entire document. Unfortunately, the publication/revision date at the end is not readable, but what is readable is that it is a Kodak Limited document - i.e. from the UK.
By the way, roll film could also refer to a bunch more sizes - not just 120.
 
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plummerl

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I just looked at that entire document. Unfortunately, the publication/revision date at the end is not readable, but what is readable is that it is a Kodak Limited document - i.e. from the UK.
By the way, roll film could also refer to a bunch more sizes - not just 120.
My guess on what was partially readable was that it looked like 1970. Understood about roll, I only mentioned the roll that I had!
 

Craig

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The 6XXX means 120/220 film on a 3.6 mil acetate base, Tmax on a 5mil base. X040-X059 indicated still film ( as opposed to motion picture) B&W with paper backing on a spool.
 

beemermark

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I looked in my The Compact Photo-Lab-Index last update in 1979 and couldn't find a Kodak film labeled 6040. Very handy reference for old films, developers, and developer formulas. I think I've had my copy since 1979.
http://www.taphilo.com/Photo/kodakfilmnumxref.shtml list film number to film type but no 6040. 6041 is Verichrome Pan
 
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Bill Burk

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It’s funny how this thread really helped me because my catalog also just had “6040” written because that’s all you can see in the margin. I planned to cross reference to taphilo reference but didn’t know it was missing the entry.

But with a positive ID now, it all falls into place and makes sense. I shot a lot of Panatomic-X 120...
 

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takilmaboxer

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It is Panatomic-X. I shot it exclusively Back In The Day and my neg preservers that contain film marked with 6040 also have Panatomic-X written on them. Look at the grain structure through a microscope or under an enlarger. Grain so fine you can barely see it (sigh).
 

MarkS

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AFAIK Panatomic-X in 120 size was discontinued in the early '70s, which helps explain why data about it is a little harder to find. The 35mm version survived into the late 1980s, replaced in EK's lineup by TMX-100. Kodak continued to use the Panatomic name on an aerial long-roll film, but that was a different emulsion entirely.
 

voceumana

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Amazing how difficult this search was. Kodak dropped Panatomic-X like a hot potato just after introducing TMax-100. I suspect there were agents in its manufacture they no longer wanted to deal with because of environmental concerns, and limited use. But it really was a beautiful film. Along with Verichrome Pan.
 

Bill Burk

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I bought a bulk roll of Pan F thinking of giving it a try. But I will never run out of Panatomic-X so that box remains sealed
 

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