Strange tar like goo?? Waddizit? 11X14 Century.

On The Mound

A
On The Mound

  • 5
  • 3
  • 102
Finn Slough-Bouquet

A
Finn Slough-Bouquet

  • 0
  • 1
  • 61
Table Rock and the Chimneys

A
Table Rock and the Chimneys

  • 4
  • 0
  • 123
Jizo

D
Jizo

  • 4
  • 1
  • 111
Top Floor Fun

A
Top Floor Fun

  • 0
  • 0
  • 88

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
197,415
Messages
2,758,637
Members
99,492
Latest member
f8andbethere
Recent bookmarks
0

jimgalli

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
4,232
Location
Tonopah Neva
Format
ULarge Format
Spent all weekend working on a lovely 11X14 Century and was repaid with 2 fine prints from the first 2 negs! 2 for 2, I should quit while I'm ahead. Anyways, the old girl came with 4 wooden holders all in various states of repair and dis-, but one of them when I opened it up, was full of this tar like goop. There were masking tape lines and inside the lines (actually everywhere including the film channels) was this tar like goo. Try to imagine someone putting gummy tar inside a film holder! Any ideas of ancient processes that would use anything like I'm describing. Thankfully, it was just one side of one holder that was tarry. The verso on that same holder was pin clean!
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,844
Format
Hybrid
hi jim -

i am more clueless than you, but from what i remember tintypes require a thin piece of iron plate that has been baked in tar.

i might be wrong though :smile:

-john
 

Aggie

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2003
Messages
4,914
Location
So. Utah
Format
Multi Format
John has it right. The tin types have asphaltum baked onto them. But it could also be residue from someone trying to do wet plate photography long ago. That stuff sets up. but little bits of it will run until processed. If it has benn sitting for a long time, it may be that the chemicals turned to a tar like goo.
 
OP
OP
jimgalli

jimgalli

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
4,232
Location
Tonopah Neva
Format
ULarge Format
Thanks for the ideas. BTW I've just posted 2 images made with this camera and the warehouse one I'm proud to say was made in the tarry side of the film holder after 4 hours of cleaning and a re-paint.
 

pgomena

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
1,391
Location
Portland, Or
The tarry goop may have been a piece of old nitrate film that deteriorated in the holder, if the holders are that old.

Pete Gomena
 
OP
OP
jimgalli

jimgalli

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
4,232
Location
Tonopah Neva
Format
ULarge Format
Whatever it was, it was way nasty and took about 4 hours to clean. Shear determination...........and some good tunes! My hands are still sore 2 days later.
 

Struan Gray

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2004
Messages
914
Location
Lund, Sweden
Format
Multi Format
Was it a film holder or a plate holder? If the latter, I've seen some very gummy pieces of sheet foam in plate holders, presumably there to push a film septum against the front of the plate rails. The light traps in one of my MF backs also ended up in an almost liquid state.

For me, the best solvent is pure auto gas or Coleman fuel. Naptha for really stubborn stains. It dissolves foam gunk and decayed rubber beautifully, without affecting most laquers and varnishe.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom