Panthermic Developer

[Rick A]

I recently acquired some AB-55 B&W Panthermic Film Developer. I have the instruction sheet for it, my querry is, has anyone had experience with it. What can I expect using it, it shows wide latitude in temp, with one time, no matter the temp or film brand.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Eric Rose]

Sounds like Harvey's 777, but I could be wrong.

 

[brucemuir]

There ia a HUGE thread somewhere on this.
I can't find anything when searching here no matter what I do but a direct google may turn something.

 

[fschifano]

Sounds more like Diafine. The "AB" suggests a two bath developer perhaps. These are almost always meant to go to completion, so time and temperature variations have little to no effect once the minimums are met.

 

[Rick A]

Thank you Frank. It is indeed a two bath developer with a part B replenisher. I remember trying Diafine back in the early 70's and wasn't impressed by it. I think I'll pass this stuff along for a nominal price if anyone wants it.

 

[holmburgers]

For the sake of newbs, could you guys explain what a "panthermic" developer is?

 

[fschifano]

Works the same over a wide range of temperatures. Etymology of the word follows.

Pan- "prefix meaning "all, whole, all-inclusive," from Greek."
Therm - an amount of heat equal to 1 British Thermal Unit.

 

[holmburgers]

Ohhh, that makes sense. Seems like a useful thing, this panthermic developer

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Be warned that 777 contains either para or ortho phenylenediamine as one of the developing agents. Contact with the skin can cause severe dermatitis in sensitive persons with possible cross sensitization to other developing agents. In the past people have had to give up their own procssing. You cannot believe the intensity of the itching it causes.

 

[Rick A]

Well, I mixed it all up according to the instructions, and tried it out with a roll of HP-4+, it reminded me of why I didn't like Diafine. It is just mediocre at best. No pop, no sizzle, just a basic flat looking negative. I suppose its the kind of working negative newspaper photo eds looked for in by-gone times, but not really worth my time for what I like. I'll stick to Pyrocat-HD and D-76.
I wonder if this stuff makes good weed killer, my neighbors shrubs are encroaching into my yard again, and he wont keep them cut back onto his own property.

 

[Mike Wilde]

If it really is 777 it needs to be 'seasoned' ie have some bromide build up in it.

The usual way is to feed it a couple of junk films to leach the bromide out of.

Pull the film out of the cassette/backing paper, to fully expose it to light, toss it into the jug of developer, and swish a few times over the a course of 5 minutes or so. Toss those films away.

I also find that it needs to run warmer than 68- like around 72 or higher to get the glycin to contribute to the final tonal scale.

The seasoning inmplies replenishment, and this it performs very well with. I have used this stuff on an ongoing basis for months and months. I think I have discussed the detials on the referenced post, the last year or so ago, I think.

 

[Rick A]

I have no clue if it is 777, it came from Cachet and is labeled "AB-55 Panthermic" which I think is for part A 5 minutes and part B 5 minutes according to the instructions. It came with a replenisher for the B stock, and is replenished at a rate of 1/2fl.oz. per film. I ran it at room temp, which was 75f (measured w/thermometer). I'll keep it around and try it from time to time to see if it seasons as you describe.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Two bath devvelopers don't work very well with today's thinner emulsions. Remember they depend on the developing agent(s) absorbed into the emulsion to do the work. Thinner means less developing agent. Years ago there was an article on this point in one of the photo mags which began, "Back in the days when films were as thick as a tippler's tongue ..." Always liked that opening line!

 

[c6h6o3]

I have no clue if it is 777, it came from Cachet and is labeled "AB-55 Panthermic" which I think is for part A 5 minutes and part B 5 minutes according to the instructions. It came with a replenisher for the B stock, and is replenished at a rate of 1/2fl.oz. per film. I ran it at room temp, which was 75f (measured w/thermometer). I'll keep it around and try it from time to time to see if it seasons as you describe.

It's not 777 if it's not labeled as such and does not come from Bluegrass Packaging of Louisville, Ky. They own the proprietary formula. 'Panthermic' simply means it works well over a wide range of temperatures. 777 is only one such developer.

Although Fred De Van, the author of the Unblinkingeye article which got me started using 777, says that you can use it pretty cold, my experience parallels that of Mike Wilde. I really don't get good results at all below 72°F. 74° is even better.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

One way to tell if it is 777 as from any odor. True 777 developer has a very pronounced aromatic odor when mixed.