Unidentified 16mm Film.. How do i figure out what it is?

[Oscar Brown]

I have recently invested in a Bolex H16, and along with it came an exposed (it was on the take-up spool so i can only guess) spool of film, unidentified. Is there any way to develop this film and figure out what type it is without developing the entire length, and what process would that be? having never actually developed movie film previously.
i assume its a test roll of film but for all i know its been sitting inside this camera for a few decades.
any help would be appreciated

 

[ic-racer]

Just cut off a strip and process it as B&W reversal. If it comes out clear, try a longer length that may contain images and see what you get. Personally, I'd not waste any time processing someone els's film for free.

 

[samcomet]

I have recently invested in a Bolex H16, and along with it came an exposed (it was on the take-up spool so i can only guess) spool of film, unidentified. Is there any way to develop this film and figure out what type it is without developing the entire length, and what process would that be? having never actually developed movie film previously.
i assume its a test roll of film but for all i know its been sitting inside this camera for a few decades.
any help would be appreciated

Does it still have the feed core or spool, and if so can you describe it?
cheers,
Sam

 

[Oscar Brown]

okay, so with the info been given, I've just developed a good couple metres or so in a pair of big tins. i developed it by hand for 6 minutes at room temperature in a mixture of 1+9 ILFOTEC LC29, which felt pretty warm, maybe 24 degrees c or so. the film left a load of what i presume to anti-halation layer, on the bottom of the tin of developer, a little bit in the sink and a couple flakes in the fixer. it turned the developer from almost a clear colour to very grey, and the fixer from almost clear to a very sickly yellow colour.
The only markings on the edge seemed to be something like "J1 64 0 3, 866" and counting up from 866, pictures included below.
there didn't seem to be any markings of exposure on the film, but the film was a milky grey sort of colour, which made it hard to make out any image, if there was any. i could see where the leader started and ended though, as there is a fairly clear black to milk-grey transition a couple feet in.
There are photos of the reels included with the camera below, plus more photos.

 

[Oscar Brown]

I also developed this like a b/w negative, as i don't know enough or really anything with reversal processing

 

[georgegrosu]

I have met a similar case with SVEMA Reversal Cine COLOR FILM 2 x 8 mm.
Something like this http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SVEMA-1x8-CO...-Perforated-/252567170862?hash=item3ace2d2f2e
I developed in b&w developer and then fixing.
On the emulsion side I see silver developed through support seem undeveloped.
In my opinion they are very old films and fixer solution can not reach the depth emulsion layer.
Maybe even neither the developer.

George

 

[samcomet]

I also developed this like a b/w negative, as i don't know enough or really anything with reversal processing

G'day Oscar,
Pity that the original spool did not come with the camera. We may have identified the original maker of the film from that (or at least the original maker of the previous load of film). At any rate I might offer up a guess and take a punt that you bought the camera here in Oz. As a former doco shooter back in the day (I've shot a fair many non-sync docos on the trusty Bolex), I am thinking that the only two major filmstocks available back then were Kodak & Fuji (in 16mm 100' loads). Assuming that you are correct in the analysis of the particles of anti-halation backing left over, then the film is probably colour. If the edge markings are as you say then it may very well just be Kodak 7296 (check item number 10) or Kodak 7219 which used a the letter "J" along its edge marking latent image or inked ID. This might be of help. I know that Ilford also used the letter "J" for its Pan F stock but I don't seem to recall it being available in Oz as 16mm motion picture film. The only hesitation that I would have about this brainwave is that the word "KODAK" was also usually printed with the edge markings as well. Perhaps Photo Engineer who was a boffin for Kodak in Rochester, and a member here on APUG, could help if you PM him an invitation to join this thread........ Anyway this might be something to consider.
Cheers,
Sam