Some very old panatomic x

[Finn lyle]

While doing some cleaning at my work (at a university), I came across an unopened box of 35mm panatomic X that expired in 1948. Its the reusable cassette that has a hollow silver center with silver caps, and didn’t even come in a can— just a foil wrapper. Wildly enough it has a huge leader (4”) with “PANATOMIC X” punched into it. It was definitely not stored in good conditions, think an old attic, so I’m not sure if it’s going to give anything usable, but what the heck. For exposing I was thinking to do a stop or two over, so ISO 8-18, and developing in 60° HC-110 for 7 minutes. Will this work well or should I give it less compensation?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If anything shows up on it, please post them here!

 

[OrientPoint]

I'm shooting from a box of 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 sheet PanX that expired in 1963. I have no idea how it was stored, but it's providing wonderful results when shot at box speed (which is ISO 64, according to the sheet in the box). The grain is more pronounced than in "fresh" PanX from the late 80's that I've used, but it's still quite fine and there's surprisingly little base fog. I develop it in HC110, dilution B, 7 minutes @65F.

Your film has 15 years on mine and storage matters, of course. They've also seemingly changed the emulsion over the years – I've seen PanX boxes with ISO 32, ISO 64 and values in between. But based upon my experience, I'd recommend not over-compensating out of the gate. Your plan to shoot at 1 stop over sounds like a good starting place to me.

 

[MattKing]

1948 ASA 32 is equivalent to 1963 ASA 64 - they changed the standard.

 

[OrientPoint]

That explains it

But why is later PanX ISO 32 again?

 

[Finn lyle]

Was Pan-X rated 32 (now 64) ASA in 1948? There is no ASA indication on the box of mine, and wildly enough it says on the box it was produced in France. Don't know how I missed that the first time round, the whole box is in French. Here's some images of the carton and cassette. Even the sparse casette writing is in french. Also, it appears to have seen some use already, was Kodak reusing cassettes in the early days? In any case, Ive got the film in set to ASA 32 now.

 

[MarkS]

The long leader was to fit into screw-mount "Barnack" Leicas and other bottom-loading cameras. Nice artifact you have, better as a museum piece than as usable film. It's not like you'll find another!

 

[markjwyatt]

That explains it

But why is later PanX ISO 32 again?

In the 1930s it was ASA 25.

 

[braxus]

Pan X is one film that is usable no matter what year of film you have. I too have noticed grain is bigger on film that has some age affects. Id shoot it at box speed and develop normally. Its not likely you wont get some result from the film.

 

[beemermark]

I move around a lot but have been in my current house for more than 14 years. In 2019 I found a bulk film loader loaded with Pan X. I always tape the information of the film outside and this one was Pan X with an expiration date in the early '80's. I found it in my attic were temperatures routinely exceed 140 deg F for 6 months (I live in the South). The loader was in a carton and had evidently been put in the attic when I moved here. So 140 deg temps for >12 years. Film was good as new. B&W film used to have a lot of silver halides (?) and seem to be good for ever. I say try yours at the rated speed and develop per the box instructions and adjust (if necessary) from there.