Old exposed verichrome advice please

Auer · Jan 25, 2022

Picked up a very early Bessa (1920's ?) and it had a roll of exposed verichrome in it.

I was going to develop it in Legacy Eco Pro stock (xtol), anything I should know ahead of time?
Not something I do at all on the regular. Actually never done before, old film like this.

TIA

VC2 by EA - Shares, on Flickr

VC1 by EA - Shares, on Flickr

Paul Howell · Jan 25, 2022

There are lots of blogs and Ytube clips with many different approaches to developing old film. In your favor verichome pan was forgiving film with more latitude than other films of the day. Not knowing how old the film is, my Kodak Master Darkroom Data Guide 1964 lists Verichome in D 76 stock 68degrees at 9 minutes, I think D76 stock and Xtol should within a minute or so. Or use very diluted, like 1:100 and use stand development, in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Don't be surprised if the paper backing sticks to the film, or if the film crumbles, likely before safety film.

Donald Qualls · Jan 25, 2022

If that's Verichrome and not Verichrome Pan you can develop by inspection under red safelight. Verichrome was orthochromatic; "veri-chrome" loosely means "true color" because ortho films did a better job rendering colored subjects (other than red) into grayscale than the early (ca. 1870-1880) blue-sensitive emulsions. Verichrome Pan was the panchromatic upgrade of Verichrome.

BTW, that camera is later than 1927, at least -- as 1927 was the last year Voigtlander sold the 6x9 folder as "Rollfilmkamera" (I've got one) before changing the model name to "Bessa". The Rollfilmkamera had unit focusing with a scale on the bed, rather than front element focusing like that model, as well as a full-range dial-set Compur (at least on mine).

Bob AZ · Jan 25, 2022

I had the same situation and used a shallow plastic tub with a lot of developer, and another one with a lot of fixer. Unfortunately, and not to discourage you, the film yielded absolutely nothing.

Auer · Jan 25, 2022

It loaded up on a Jobo 1520 just fine, tho curly as can be.

Markings on the front part of the backing paper said "Brownie 2"

I'm gonna try 6:30min at 68F as per the big online database for Xtol..

Donald Qualls · Jan 25, 2022

"Brownie 2" or B2 is just an alternate designation for 120.

Auer · Jan 25, 2022

It came out with backing paper imprints and nothing else.

A fun short experiment.

Paul Howell · Jan 25, 2022

Too bad. I see better results from 35mm as opposed to rolls films, the ink some how transfers to the emulsion over time. Nice camera, are the bellows light tight?

Auer · Jan 25, 2022

Paul Howell said:
Too bad. I see better results from 35mm as opposed to rolls films, the ink some how transfers to the emulsion over time. Nice camera, are the bellows light tight?

Camera is in good shape, bellows are fine. I took apart the lens/shutter assembly and cleaned it up, all works.
Came with case and manual as well.

Donald Qualls · Jan 25, 2022

My Rollfilmkamera is quite good; came to me with good bellows and reasonably accurate shutter (all the way down to 1), "Skopar Anastigmat" lens. I added some velvet and foam inside to tame light leaks (ISO 25 was fast film when that camera was built; ISO 400 is a whole different animal). I've gotten some very satisfying negative out of it.

Sirius Glass · Jan 25, 2022

Auer said:
It came out with backing paper imprints and nothing else.

A fun short experiment.

Try developing it again for 15 to 20 minutes this time.

Auer · Jan 25, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Try developing it again for 15 to 20 minutes this time.

Nah, I'm done messing with it

Old exposed verichrome advice please

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