"Retro Pyro Developer" - what is it?

[dr__red]

Just came across this:

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Hmm... it is A + B... what could it be... "yet another" Pyrocat HD?

Here is some write-up to it:
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BTW, when developing in Procat HD I can smell pretty strong scent. It also irritates my eyes while standing up above developing tray. Is it dangerous to inhale?

Also how long A+B+H2O mixed solution lasts? An hour? A day? I develop small quantities of sheet film a time. It takes considerable amount of developer to fill the trade up to workable depth. Given the price of chemicals it sort of shame to discard

 

[Leon]

Hmm... it is A + B... what could it be... "yet another" Pyrocat HD?

the info sheet hints that retro pyro uses Pyrogallol - there is none of that in sandy king's Pyrcoat HD, so I doubt it's the same.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Also how long A+B+H2O mixed solution lasts? An hour? A day? I develop small quantities of sheet film a time. It takes considerable amount of developer to fill the trade up to workable depth. Given the price of chemicals it sort of shame to discard

Sandy King has stated that he designed PyroCat-HD as a one-shot developer. It is a very inexpensive developer (especially if you mix your own from the basic chemicals). Thus, it makes little sense to try to stretch out the tray life of the working solution My own experience with PyroCat-HD is that the tray life of a large (16"x20") tray full of the working solution is sufficient for me to process 8 sheets of 8x10 film in 2 sequential batches (thus about 1 hour of tray life for the developer) , with no impact on quality.

 

[nworth]

It's not like Pyrocat. Pyrocat is pyrocatecol based; this stuff is pyrogallol based. Back before the popularity of M-Q developers took over, everyone seemed to have his own pet pyro formula. This one calims to be pyro-metol, so it may be a bit newer. It also says that it is packaged in two dry packets. That limits it a bit more. RAF Pyro and PMK both fit the requirements, but it could be anything.

 

[roy]

I would say that it is a "PMK" type of developer. Perhaps Nigel of Retro could enlighten you.

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Just came across this:

Dead Link Removed

Hmm... it is A + B... what could it be... "yet another" Pyrocat HD?

Here is some write-up to it:
Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed

BTW, when developing in Procat HD I can smell pretty strong scent. It also irritates my eyes while standing up above developing tray. Is it dangerous to inhale?

Also how long A+B+H2O mixed solution lasts? An hour? A day? I develop small quantities of sheet film a time. It takes considerable amount of developer to fill the trade up to workable depth. Given the price of chemicals it sort of shame to discard

I think it`s the same stuff as CM Pyro which is sold by Arem Publishing.
It is made under license by Speedibrews which is owned and run by Professor Michael Maunders. I read recently that he and his wife are to retire soon to Alderney and that the Pyro developer could soon be discontinued.
I beleive it is quite a popular product so it would be advisable to buy it while stocks last from Arem Publishing and Retro-Photographic.