Orwo and Agfa Paper (old)

I see sometimes some Orwo and Agfa paper for sale, used and old stock.
Is this something people have experience of? Is it worth purchasing, if the price is right?
Also I don´t really understand the differences between the different papers, like Universal and Portrait for Orwo and the different Agfa ones. IT does not state too much in the information.
If people have used it perhaps they can say what they think.
Did Orwo/Agfa get to use variable contrast or is it always a fixed contrast.
What about Foma paper - they still make it.
Or Forte is that something.

Agfa

The name indicated speed and tone.


Coding:

the first letter(s) indicated the name

the last letter indicated the gradation

the following three-figure combination indicated paper-thickness, paper-hue and surface

the last single figure indicated the gradation again

I've used old papers, up to maybe 10-15 years and stored in ordinary cool house conditions, with no problems at all. But, like outdated film, everything depends on reasonable storage conditions.

I'm fairly sure that all original Orwo paper will be over 20 years old, as the "old" company went out of business in the early 1990's. Later Agfa paper could be more recent, IIRC about 10 years ago that the changes in the Agfa company occurred?

Forte was a Hungarian company, which closed in 2007, made some great papers (in my limited experience with them).

Like any outdated photo product, you have to rely on the seller's comments as to storage, but, if the price is right and you have time to experiment, it may be worth a punt. But, as always with old photo supplies, don't rely on them for the photos of your daughter's wedding.

All old ORWO papers I have used have been good.
Most old Agfa papers i have used have had at least some fogging.
This includes batches of both aquired togheter and likely stored together.
My conclusion so far is that ORWO keeps significantly better, even if it's older.

I had to dump almost 100 sheets of ORWO BH1 paper 18x24 cms size as it was all FOGGED to grey and even with 1% Benzotriazole added to the print developer ( D72 Formula) I didn't make any difference -- I bought it just before the British Importer of ORWO films and papers went broke.

I've used some OrWo from the 1980's It has all been very good. Equally old Agfa Record Rapid RRW was fogged.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think these old East German papers may contain substances later doomed not-so-enviromentally-good, like cadmium, which makes them tolerate aging so well.
I have some really old Forte too in the yellow boxes working very well. Cost me almost nothing.

How old is old? The general opinion seems to be that the multigraded Agfa paper doesn't keep well, which is in accordance with my own experience. It fogged pretty badly after only a couple of years and using a fog restrainer was mostly of no avail. The much older Portriga and Brovira speed might be better tho. And even the multigrade paper might be good for lith and alternative processes.

With the Orwo i have no experience.

I'm a big Agfa lover and managed to pick up some Broviraspeed (from the 70s I think) a few years back, no idea how it was stored as it was at my local store in Adelaide.

The 100 sheet (unopened) 3.5x5" was superb, not one sheet failed me; the 100 sheetbox 5x7" had some edge fogging, but that was probably due to the interior bag not being wrapped well, and the 25 sheet 8x10" packs (x2) were varied - 1 (unopened pack) 10 sheets were fogged, the second pack opened - all but 3 sheets were fogged.

It's a bit of lucky-dip - personally I wouldn't be spending $$$ on the stuff (maybe $5-$10/box depending on the number of sheets), but when you do land a box that has several sheets to work with, it's a great feeling!

Realised I put this in the wrong forum
so I posted it here aswell
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

with your replies.