Signs of life at the New 55 project

[adelorenzo]

New 55 is showing some signs of life and looking like they will go the crowd-funding route to try to make it into production.

Posted January 1, 2014 on the New 55 blog:

Restart of New 55

Things to do in 2014:

1. Assemble a new work group locally, in Europe, and Far East
2. Revisit all old vendor quotes, sales projections, and new suppliers
3. Revise the set of technical drawings
4. Prepare fundraising effort and execute

If 4 is successful, hire the production engineer, tool up, and start production. The supply of 4x5 film has to be revised and there are some new candidate emulsions yet to test. Also there is the finalization of the receiver sheet substrate and coatings, which will take some time to finalize.

If the fundraiser falls short, wrap up the technical knowledge into some sort of open source format, and schedule a couple of handmade New55 workshops.

And today, January 8 via New 55 Facebook:

Official start of the restart today: New55's Sam Hiser named as CEO, will run kickstarter effort. BC

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Fan-stinkin'-tastic! Awesome!

 

[JW PHOTO]

I'm glad I never sold my Polaroid holders now!

 

[thegman]

I'd be all over this, I just hope it can be made to work in my Fotoman 45SPS, with the older style back, which is not strictly an Graflok one.

I'll be contributing on Kickstarter though, definitely.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I was thinking about getting another holder myself. Now I will have to.

 

[munz6869]

Marvellous!

Marc!

 

[StoneNYC]

Finally

 

[DKSEA]

This is awesome I will support a Kickstarter!

Doug

 

[VaryaV]

Groovy! I always wanted to run polaroid through the Crown!

 

[Soeren]

To buy a P-holder or not to buy a P-holder?
The stuff disappeared before I got hold of my first LF camera. My Sinar came with a polaroid holder that I sold thinking Ill never get the opportunity to use it, oh well.
When will the IR version be available
Best regards

 

[snapguy]

Hummm

I might be interested if, in fact, knew what a "New 55 Project" was and did. I am totally in the dark. Are you rebuilding '55 Chevys? I had one of those.

 

[adelorenzo]

There were links in the original post to find out more but basically New 55 has been working on a replacement for Polaroid Type 55 film.

 

[StoneNYC]

About the holders...

Please realize the New55 project chose the CHEAP 545 holders for the new version rather than use the 550 (or Fuji equivalent) holders so that many could use it easily and cheaply get started.

So for $20 you can buy one on eBay...

 

[VaryaV]

So for $20 you can buy one on eBay...

20? I found a set for 10!

 

[Tori Nelson]

So, this is what happens when you cruise the forums before you're even a 1/3 of the way through your first espresso? I got as far as Stone's $20.00 comment and hit Ebay. $28.00 (includes shipping) later I'm the proud owner of a 545 holder - AGAIN. I don't remember how many of these I sold off. Wouldn't it be funny if I got one of my old ones back

 

[StoneNYC]

So, this is what happens when you cruise the forums before you're even a 1/3 of the way through your first espresso? I got as far as Stone's $20.00 comment and hit Ebay. $28.00 (includes shipping) later I'm the proud owner of a 545 holder - AGAIN. I don't remember how many of these I sold off. Wouldn't it be funny if I got one of my old ones back

Haha you should have waited, there are plenty here that would have shipped you one for free... Lol

Well, hope it's a good one.

Just don't go buying any kodak read load holders....

 

[Christopher Walrath]

$22 shipped. In like Flynn.

 

[StoneNYC]

Watch them change their minds about the holder and I look like a fool haha. But they've been saying it for a while now (years).

 

[VaryaV]

Of course we'll all be prepped and ready if and when it does hit the market....holders in hand!

 

[gandolfi]

To buy a P-holder or not to buy a P-holder?
The stuff disappeared before I got hold of my first LF camera. My Sinar came with a polaroid holder that I sold thinking Ill never get the opportunity to use it, oh well.
When will the IR version be available
Best regards

I am sure I could find one for you up here...

 

[jacaquarie]

For what it is worth will take up on the offers from anyone here that has the extra holder that they are willing to send my way, be glad to pay shipping and such.
Who wants to offer first?
Then I will be ready when this happens.
On another note this is great news, I came to LF (4X5) just after Polaroid had gone away, have seen 55 used but never had the experience myself.
Will admit to being the fan of Polaroid and Mr. Land.
If you read just a little of the history of what Mr. Land had done and was involved with he was the exceptional mind, not appreciated by the general public.
Enough of my opinions.

Aj

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

Nah, don't worry. Polaroid made a TON of these units. Some are very worn however....I am glad I had the sense to grab a new in box 545 for 5.00 back in the dark days.

 

[jerrybro]

Still have mine, and would love to be able to use it again.

 

[swhiser]

Gentlemen-

How may I be of service?

-Sam
new55project.com

 

[jcc]

Gentlemen-

How may I be of service?

-Sam
new55project.com

Last I read on the blog was that new55 was a side project and was never really meant to be a commercial endeavor, which I interpreted as "only a few lucky folks will ever get to shoot new55, so stop holding your breath". My interest in the project dwindled considerably after reading that, though I do hear there's lots of progress being made, just none towards public availability. Please correct me if I'm wrong.