Mystery Kodak 120 B&W Film

plummerl · Feb 4, 2021

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 · Feb 4, 2021

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

voceumana · Feb 4, 2021

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

Andrew O'Neill · Feb 4, 2021

Very odd that it's not listed on their cross reference table...

voceumana · Feb 4, 2021

I found a reference to 6040 on a photograph (here: https://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/photo/E76F4509-DDC0-4385-A963-313390350633) but suspect that might have been a copy negative because of the date of the original photo. Though your date of 1970 doesn't fit, perhaps Kodak Verichrome (orthochromatic film) predecessor to Verichrome Pan. I've got some old Kodak Darkroom Dataguides I can check, but don't hold out a lot of hope.

Donald Qualls · Feb 4, 2021

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

Bill Burk · Feb 4, 2021

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 · Feb 4, 2021

Bill Burk said:
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 · Feb 4, 2021

Amazing what folks know here...

madNbad · Feb 4, 2021

Here's a reference for any others you may have laying about: http://www.taphilo.com/Photo/kodakfilmnumxref.shtml

plummerl · Feb 4, 2021

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.

MattKing · Feb 4, 2021

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.

plummerl · Feb 4, 2021

MattKing said:
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 · Feb 4, 2021

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 · Feb 4, 2021

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

Bill Burk · Feb 5, 2021

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...

takilmaboxer · Feb 5, 2021

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 · Feb 5, 2021

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 · Feb 5, 2021

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.

takilmaboxer · Feb 6, 2021

Those were my go-to films in those days, replaced by TM100 and FP4 in the modern world.

Craig · Feb 6, 2021

Pan F is a good replacement for Panatomic-X

Bill Burk · Feb 6, 2021

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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