New Ilford film being Introduced

[AgX]

Both Ilford twins that emerged out of old-Ilford's insolvency many years ago went on with the range of products made before in the respective plants. And sometime Harman added ink-jet papers too.

 

[Arcadia4]

At the time of Ilford Imaging UKs bankcruptcy in 2004, the ILFORD name was kept by the then still profitable Swiss arm of company, (hence the Ilford.com website). It changed hands several times, the firm and its plant at Marly initially being bought by the Oji Paper Company of Japan in 2005 and then Paradigm Global Partners LLP in May 2010. It too was bankrupt in 2013. However ILFORD Imaging the brand and trademarks (but not the Marly plant) was then acquired by Australian firm CR Kennedy & Company Pty Ltd and Japan-based Chugai Photo Chemical Company. ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH is now the brand owner based in Germany still used on inkjet products..

The UK Intellectual Property Office site (free) shows that Ilford Imaging Europe GmbH, Buchholzstraβe 79, 51469 Bergisch Gladbach, Germany is the current owner of the ILFORD trademark including all 3 original UK registrations dating back to 1907 for multiple photographic applications.

Harman Technology Limited is named as the exclusive licence holder on some of these from Feb 2005 covering; Photographic dry plates, sensitized photographic films, Photographic apparatus, Prepared paper for photographic purposes.

So the ILFORD we think of is a 'brand' licensed to Harman Technology Ltd trading as 'Ilford Photo' . Since 2005 the film/paper is manufactured by Harman Technology Ltd.

In summary ILFORD Imaging in Germany is the only ILFORD company and brand owner. Harman Technology Ltd is the exclusive licensee of the ILFORD brand in certain photographic applications.

 

[pentaxuser]

Thanks AgX Given that Harman may have been looking to the hybrid future as far back as 2008 by giving what was probably 100% analogue visitors inkjet paper, might it be that the other Ilford new products apart from the second product it has mentioned and hastily withdrawn and a new film,will be inkjet paper and not pure analogue stuff at all?

pentaxuser

 

[Oren Grad]

At the time of Ilford Imaging UKs bankcruptcy in 2004... etc.

Very clear summary - thank you!

 

[mshchem]

It's interesting that the market for quality ink jet paper, for the mass market, was devastated as the iPhone era took hold. I was given 100s of sheets by a photo shop in town. No one uses it.
It's a different situation, somewhat with special papers. But all in all the traditional AgX products seem to be holding their own quite well.
I think when Ilford sold Harman the AgX business Ilford thought they were keeping the "modern" technology, ink jet papers to be produced in Switzerland. These were beautiful papers, but the market became saturated by other companies and the profit was gone.

 

[AgX]

I think when Ilford sold Harman the AgX business Ilford thought they were keeping the "modern" technology, ink jet papers to be produced in Switzerland. These were beautiful papers, but the market became saturated by other companies and the profit was gone.

At first glance this looks reasonable.

But you overlook that after the establishing of two "Ilfords" :

-) the people in Marly introduced an AgX film, even one of a kind that never was before
-) the people in Mobberley started with ink-jet papers

 

[Bob Carnie]

Bob, this is not Harman Technology / Ilford Photo. It's the other Ilford company that focuses on inkjet papers. And this product line is apparently announced only in Japan - there is no mention of it on the main (European) ilford.com website.

Ok I am confused.. the packaging looks consistent to the Ilford warmtone line of papers I have been using for ever..

 

[Bob Carnie]

Too bad, the products look like a nice way for beginners to get started. It would be nice if the products were more universal.

yes indeed

 

[AgX]

Ok I am confused.. the packaging looks consistent to the Ilford warmtone line of papers I have been using for ever..

Is that a surprise at a manufacturer called Ilford?

Harman only by grace of Ilford Imaging could use the Ilford brand on specific products. It is far fetched to assume the legal mothercompany to change their brand appearance to please Harman.
After the collapse of Ilford Imaging the new owners of the Ilford brand of course took over the corporate identity, that was the reason to take over that brand property.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Is that a surprise at a manufacturer called Ilford?

Harman only by grace of Ilford Imaging could use the Ilford brand on specific products. It is far fetched to assume the legal mothercompany to change their brand appearance to please Harman.
After the collapse of Ilford Imaging the new owners of the Ilford brand of course took over the corporate identity, that was the reason to take over that brand property.

Still confused.. Actually I am moving away from Ilford products as I see not a lot of reason to support them, and the distribution in Canada is ridiculous.
I am looking at Bergger and hand coating as the way for me to survive.

I

 

[AgX]

Bob, read post #177. And connection with my post above there all is said that can be said.
Otherwise PM me.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Bob, read post #177. And connection with my post above there all is said that can be said.
Otherwise PM me.

Yes indeed , I think my confusion is more about how bean counters and marketing gurus are trying to make a go of a historical company heritage that use to be full of photo geeks, much like we saw the demise of Kodak I am wondering if we are not seeing this with its British counterpart.

 

[Kino]

Yes indeed , I think my confusion is more about how bean counters and marketing gurus are trying to make a go of a historical company heritage that use to be full of photo geeks, much like we saw the demise of Kodak I am wondering if we are not seeing this with its British counterpart.

The very same thought occurred to me...

 

[pentaxuser]

Well its main communications conduit seems to be Twitter - that's where the link was for the new film. Mind you another enterprising person somewhere near a District called Columbia in N America favours the same conduit and his enterprise is doing OK according to him so it can't be all bad, can it?

Isn't that close to where MattKing is? The difference being that Matt lives in the British part of the District.

I may be a little confused owing to Brexit

pentaxuser

 

[miha]

Still confused.. Actually I am moving away from Ilford products as I see not a lot of reason to support them, and the distribution in Canada is ridiculous.
I am looking at Bergger and hand coating as the way for me to survive.

I

I'm surprised. I understand Ilford FB IV, now Classic in matt was your paper of choice for many personal projects. Bergger have no neutral tone matt paper in their portfolio.

 

[canuhead]

Well its main communications conduit seems to be Twitter - that's where the link was for the new film. Mind you another enterprising person somewhere near a District called Columbia in N America favours the same conduit and his enterprise is doing OK according to him so it can't be all bad, can it?

Isn't that close to where MattKing is? The difference being that Matt lives in the British part of the District.

I may be a little confused owing to Brexit

pentaxuser

nah, Matt is in British Columbia, which is in Canada. The District of Columbia is basically Washington (DC and the United States). so opposite sides of the continent.

 

[pentaxuser]

nah, Matt is in British Columbia, which is in Canada. The District of Columbia is basically Washington (DC and the United States). so opposite sides of the continent.

Thanks for the reply. It was meant as a bit of whimsy on my part. The clue was in the reference to being confused due to Brexit where things are moving at an ever increasing pace. The pace resembles the ever increasing pace in the climax of "Goodfellas"

So who is the guy who uses Twitter a lot in the District of Columbia? A question perhaps best answered by Sal in California, I feel

pentaxuser

 

[Bob Carnie]

I'm surprised. I understand Ilford FB IV, now Classic in matt was your paper of choice for many personal projects. Bergger have no neutral tone matt paper in their portfolio.

These days I do palladium printing with gum over at a rate of 100 - 1 vs enlarger based silver prints... I may change my tune in the coming year due to the silver film I am producing but the moment I find a suitable matt paper to rival Ilfords vs I will switch..

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Presumably Bergger has better distribution in Canada compared to ILFORD Photo?

 

[canuhead]

Thanks for the reply. It was meant as a bit of whimsy on my part. The clue was in the reference to being confused due to Brexit where things are moving at an ever increasing pace. The pace resembles the ever increasing pace in the climax of "Goodfellas"

So who is the guy who uses Twitter a lot in the District of Columbia? A question perhaps best answered by Sal in California, I feel

pentaxuser

 

[canuhead]

Presumably Bergger has better distribution in Canada compared to ILFORD Photo?

There are a couple of sources for Bergger paper here. Downtown Camera carries some, as does Argentix. tbh, I usually buy neutral tone from B&H if the price difference is sizeable.

 

[miha]

These days I do palladium printing with gum over at a rate of 100 - 1 vs enlarger based silver prints... I may change my tune in the coming year due to the silver film I am producing but the moment I find a suitable matt paper to rival Ilfords vs I will switch..

Fomabrom Variant III 112 could fit the bill.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Foma produces some good papers but I've found they can be rather delicate in the wash.

 

[miha]

Foma produces some good papers but I've found they can be rather delicate in the wash.

In what way?

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Mostly when making lith prints in the past and the emulsion has been exposed to warm and extended process times.