Old Kodak Microdol Developer

sewbitchy · Jun 29, 2011

Hello,

I bought a lot of old equipment on ebay and there is some microdol developer and fixing salt included. I bought the lot for the developer tank and reel really since I got all of it for less than the cost of the tank and reel i figured why not it would be fun, and I thought maybe the chemicals can still be used? They are powder but the can specifically says microdol NOT microdol x, which from what I gather is for b&w and appears to still be pretty current? So I need to know is it useable and is it for b&w or color? Thanks from a total newbie.

Ian Grant · Jun 29, 2011

It's quite old as Microdol-X came out in the early 1960's - 1962/3 in the UK. You should have the instruction sheet, it's a super fine grain developer for B&W films, it was dropped and replaced by Microdol-X because of problems of Dichroic fog with newer emulsions Kodak had just introduced. There were no problems with competitors films.

I happen to have 3 boxes of it as well but I'm not sure that the developing agent will have survived 50 years Other developers I've tried haven't. So make it up and test with a short piece of film if you want to try it.

Ian

Rick A · Jun 29, 2011

I think you should just keep these chems in the original containers and display them. They may still be good to use, but why chance it. They are B&W chemicals, but haven't been out for at least half a century. My info books go back to the early 1970's and do not list either. I may have a book from the 60's that might have info, but it's packed away and not easily gotten to. Microdol is the father of Microdol-X, but I have no recollection of times or other info you need to use it. Someone else out in Apugland may have knowledge of it, so be patient. In the meantime, buy some fresh chemicals, D-76, and a non-hardening fix, and even an indicator stop bath(tho not necessary), and a rinse aidlike Edwal LFN for final rinse and spot free drying.

MattKing · Jun 29, 2011

If you have a number of packages of it you could mix up just one and try it out on a couple of rolls.

Then you would be able to say that when you first started doing your own developing you used Microdol.

And then enjoy it when everyone says "my god you look young for your age"

sewbitchy · Jun 29, 2011

Thanks for the help and tips guys! I dont think I plan to try and use it right off the start, but maybe once I get a bit more experience and I can try a snip test like mentioned. I Use mostly toy cameras and I buy expired films at the flea market and such because its for fun for me so I really dont care if I mess anything up.

Oh yeah Matt: They tell me that all the time! I dont believe them though lol!!

Werewolfman · Jan 4, 2019

I still use the old Kodak Microdol. There are no issues with the contents in those cans as they are well sealed and all of the air in those cans have been extracted and the interior of the cans are lined with brass. There are no issues with today's modern emulsion films. Actually, it works better than the current developers on the market.

Werewolfman · Jun 29, 2020

Rick A said:
I think you should just keep these chems in the original containers and display them. They may still be good to use, but why chance it. They are B&W chemicals, but haven't been out for at least half a century. My info books go back to the early 1970's and do not list either. I may have a book from the 60's that might have info, but it's packed away and not easily gotten to. Microdol is the father of Microdol-X, but I have no recollection of times or other info you need to use it. Someone else out in Apugland may have knowledge of it, so be patient. In the meantime, buy some fresh chemicals, D-76, and a non-hardening fix, and even an indicator stop bath(tho not necessary), and a rinse aidlike Edwal LFN for final rinse and spot free drying.

Follow the processing times for D-76 1:1 for all of your films for the Original Kodak Microdol Developer and you won't go wrong.
You can thank me later.

Werewolfman · Oct 11, 2024

Ian Grant said:
It's quite old as Microdol-X came out in the early 1960's - 1962/3 in the UK. You should have the instruction sheet, it's a super fine grain developer for B&W films, it was dropped and replaced by Microdol-X because of problems of Dichroic fog with newer emulsions Kodak had just introduced. There were no problems with competitors films.

I happen to have 3 boxes of it as well but I'm not sure that the developing agent will have survived 50 years Other developers I've tried haven't. So make it up and test with a short piece of film if you want to try it.

Ian

By any chance, do you still have any of that original Kodak Microdol left?

Old Kodak Microdol Developer

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