Polydol proprietary formula

David Lyga · Jan 31, 2018

The long discontinued Polydol (powdered) developer was used by portrait photographers and gave superb tonal values. Although the formula was proprietary, does anyone know at least which developer(s) were used in the formula? - David Lyga

trendland · Jan 31, 2018

Dear David - that was a real simple task
(To me to remember what kind of agend Kodak used)
have you Amy guess what it could be ?
It started wich M and endet with l ...

with regards

Same say it is simular to microdol x ...?
I can't say - have you the formulation of
Microdol X ?
It isn't published in any way - right ?

Some say it has other ph as microdol-x?

with regards

PS : METOL

trendland · Jan 31, 2018

Perhaps you have a try with a microdol x
near formulation.
And perhaps you try sodium carbonate
(does Kodak realy use borax in such related D-2......xx formulas?)

with regards

Gerald C Koch · Jan 31, 2018

If you can find the MSDS then that would tell you which developing agents.

Rudeofus · Feb 1, 2018

It appears that Polydol is ancient enough that MSDS were not available, or at least never posted online. A photo.net posting claims that it is a more alkaline version of Microdol, although the "raise the ph level to 30" part of this posting makes me question its overall accuracy ...

Martin Rickards · Feb 1, 2018

Rudeofus said:
It appears that Polydol is ancient enough that MSDS were not available, or at least never posted online. A photo.net posting claims that it is a more alkaline version of Microdol, although the "raise the ph level to 30" part of this posting makes me question its overall accuracy ...

Wow, that is alkaline!!!

David Lyga · Feb 1, 2018

So, until further notice, it is METOL, (and ONLY metol), just like with Microdol-X. - David Lyga

darkroommike · Feb 1, 2018

No, I'm pretty sure it's more than just metol. As I recall from actually using this stuff in the 70's, 50 years ago!, it has a brownish image like Microdol-X, a fairly high pH, and it fairly active. Processing times in the same range as D-76 1:1.
Kodak also said that there was no need to ripen the developer in the tank with scrap film, so it must have had some sort of seasoning incorporated into the developer mix. There have been other threads here over the years, I would love the formula but it's proprietary.

E. von Hoegh · Feb 1, 2018

Rudeofus said:
It appears that Polydol is ancient enough that MSDS were not available, or at least never posted online. A photo.net posting claims that it is a more alkaline version of Microdol, although the "raise the ph level to 30" part of this posting makes me question its overall accuracy ...

Considering lye has a ph of about half that...

MattKing · Feb 1, 2018

My 1970 Kodak Darkroom Dataguide describes Polydol as "A long-life, high capacity developer designed for portrait, commercial, and school photography." Features include "good speed-grain ratio, superior tonal reproduction characteristics, and stable replenishment properties for consistent negative quality throughout its use."
Apparently, it also included a preference for the Oxford comma. .
Interestingly enough, when I review suggested development times, for some films like Verichrome Pan and Panatomic-x the recommended times are longer than for D-76 1:1 whereas for other films like Tri-X Pan and Plus-X Pan Professional the recommended times are shorter than for D-76 1:1.
There is no reference to Polydol in my 1940 materials.

removed account4 · Feb 1, 2018

david
you are in luck

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/kodak-polydol.123447/#post-1632238

i had a bunch-a cans of the suff years ago

were's don carwell and tom hoskinson when you need'em !?

Arvee · Feb 1, 2018

David, if the rumors are somewhat accurate this may be Agfa/Ansco's answer to Polydol.
http://johnesimmons.com/?p=111
Times are very close to what has been recommended by Matt K.

Edit: I just made some up and will give it a shot in the next day or two. pH measures 9.9.

David Lyga · Feb 2, 2018

So then, it IS only METOL!!! Of course, I don't know for sure, but if the ANSCO formula has the same characteristics, then a strong possibility exists. - David Lyga

trendland · Feb 2, 2018

David Lyga said:
So, until further notice, it is METOL, (and ONLY metol), just like with Microdol-X. - David Lyga

Yes David - until further notice - you should have a try with METOL.
If you may start with a Microdol - x near
formulation ? It is on you.
Look above what Rudeofus stated.
PH level to 30. It is a little hard to imagine. I agree with - sometimes a source via web is incorrect.
So it is again on your expertise now.
Will you start and change ph experimental on basis of Microdol -x near
formulas?

I have a little feeling your thoughts are more generally "with metol" and you
have long be there to mix a very special
soup paper developer - am I right ?

with compliments

trendland · Feb 2, 2018

David Lyga said:
So, until further notice, it is METOL, (and ONLY metol), just like with Microdol-X. - David Lyga

Yes David - until further notice - you should have a try with METOL.
If you may start with a Microdol - x near
formulation ? It is on you.
Look above what Rudeofus stated.
PH level to 30. It is a little hard to imagine. I agree with - sometimes a source via web is incorrect.
So it is again on your expertise now.
Will you start and change ph experimental on basis of Microdol -x near
formulas?

I have a little feeling your thoughts are more generally "with metol" and you
have long be there to mix a very special
soup paper developer - am I right ?

with compliments

trendland · Feb 2, 2018

Sorry smart phone doubled last post again....
Not my intention
with greetings

trendland · Feb 2, 2018

Sodium carbonate should be the right stuff to change the ph. There might be no other way as to experiment with.

with regards

David Lyga · Feb 2, 2018

trendland said:
I have a little feeling your thoughts are more generally "with metol" and you
have long be there to mix a very special
soup paper developer - am I right ?

with compliments

NOPE. NOT RIGHT. I do have some POLYDOL developer (I have lots of old stuff). I was simply curious about what it was made of.

I am smart enough to understand that Kodak probably has a lot more experience with developer formulae than I do, but I am sufficiently arrogant to refuse to believe that as solid truth, either. In summation, you might be partly correct, as, old as I am, I yet search for the alchemy that will turn silver halide into gold. - David Lyga

David Lyga · Feb 2, 2018

trendland said:
Sorry smart phone doubled last post again....
Not my intention
with greetings

Then, how smart can that phone really be? - David Lyga

trendland · Feb 2, 2018

David Lyga said:
NOPE. NOT RIGHT. I do have some POLYDOL developer (I have lots of old stuff). I was simply curious about what it was made of.

I am smart enough to understand that Kodak probably has a lot more experience with developer formulae than I do, but I am sufficiently arrogant to refuse to believe that as solid truth, either. In summation, you might be partly correct, as, old as I am, I yet search for the alchemy that will turn silver halide into gold. - David Lyga

David ....let me state I realy like All of your posts...
But soon as you mentioned it - I am in doubts if you said the truth.
Because if anybody find a way to turn silver halide into gold it must be you !
But you definitivly never will state while sitting on heavy gold reserves .
And the age of people is allways very relative - believe me. So I felt much more old before I reached my age of 30.than today. ... (obviously it depends a little on further circumstances)
And YES my smartphone has reached
(meanwhile) the IQ of an ant.
So many words - I noticed later - I am spelling right - but this beast correct me constantly ...
Have a nice time David

Truzi · Feb 2, 2018

David Lyga said:
Then, how smart can that phone really be? - David Lyga

LOL.

David Lyga · Feb 3, 2018

trendland said:
David ....let me state I realy like All of your posts...

OK Trendland, I will correct your grammar.

David ....let me state that I really like all of your posts...
But as soon as you mentioned it - I have a doubt as to whether you spoke the truth.
Because if anybody is able to find a way to turn silver halide into gold, it must be you !
But, definitely, you will never state this while sitting on such heavy gold reserves .
And the chronological age of people is always very relative - believe me. So, I felt much older before I had reached age 30 than I do today. ... (obviously this depends a little upon further circumstances)
And YES (meanwhile) my smartphone has reached
the IQ of an ant.
So many words - I noticed later - I am spelling incorrectly - but this beast correct me constantly (you stump me with this, Trendland: what 'beast' do you mean, or are you wishing to say that it is BEST for someone to correct you? ...
Have a nice time David

You know, Trendland, the intelligence of an ant is not so paltry. In fact, there are many in Philadelphia who I wish had such intelligence. As for my gold reserves, I live each day hoping they do not cause my third floor efficiency to collapse and force my landlord to evict me. - David Lyga

trendland · Feb 3, 2018

David Lyga said:
OK Trendland, I will correct your grammar.

David ....let me state that I really like all of your posts...
But as soon as you mentioned it - I have a doubt as to whether you spoke the truth.
Because if anybody is able to find a way to turn silver halide into gold, it must be you !
But, definitely, you will never state this while sitting on such heavy gold reserves .
And the chronological age of people is always very relative - believe me. So, I felt much older before I had reached age 30 than I do today. ... (obviously this depends a little upon further circumstances)
And YES (meanwhile) my smartphone has reached
the IQ of an ant.
So many words - I noticed later - I am spelling incorrectly - but this beast correct me constantly (you stump me with this, Trendland: what 'beast' do you mean, or are you wishing to say that it is BEST for someone to correct you? ...
Have a nice time David

You know, Trendland, the intelligence of an ant is not so paltry. In fact, there are many in Philadelphia who I wish had such intelligence. As for my gold reserves, I live each day hoping they do not cause my third floor efficiency to collapse and force my landlord to evict me. - David Lyga

Nothing to say against ants. ..

With greetings

Arvee · Feb 3, 2018

Update: Exposed/developed a roll of TMY-2 at box speed in the batch of mixed from scratch Agfa/Ansco 12 developer. I arbitrarily chose 10' development time as it was in the middle of the range (8'-12' @ 65F). Agitation: 4 inversions/minute with 8 oz. stock developer in a 16 oz. SS tank with extra reel present. Test camera: Nikon 6006 with Nikkor 35-80mm F/4-5.6; exposures made at 50mm in slightly hazy direct sunlight as recommended by camera's internal matrix metering mode.

Results: rich shadow detail (somewhat better than my usual results with D-76/HC-110 at box speed; I suspect the added carbonate helped) and the highlights were well controlled as expected with a D-23 variant. Detail/sharpness was excellent with no discernible graininess in negatives as observed with a 10X loupe. Again, better overall results than I've previously had with my usual HC-110 or D-76 at box speed. Very simple to mix from scratch. Bottom line: very pleased with the test.

Note: It's been many years since I've used Polydol so I was unable to draw any meaningful conclusions how Agfa 12 might compare with original Polydol. Sorry, no scans, but will check back when I print the negs in the darkroom if I notice any significant differences. I don't expect to see anything major.

Very interested in other folk's results if you give it a try.

faberryman · Feb 3, 2018

Another magic bullet. Seemingly the more obscure the better.

Polydol proprietary formula

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