Vintage Sheet Film Notch Codes Required - 1920 to 1950

[ozphoto]

I've had a search on other threads to see if this has been asked previously, but couldn't find anything helpful regarding older sheet film notch identification and was hoping someone here might have table/s that relate to older sheet film. I have a list of sheet film notches from 1950 onwards, but haven't been able to find any that are dated earlier, which hampers research on vintage films considerably.

This particular film dates from the early 1920s, and I'm fairly certain it is *not* Kodak, as it doesn't have Kodak printed anywhere along the edges and the notches don't match; their Nitrate films have a V notch on the RHS. The information I have been able to find elsewhere, doesn't match this particular notch code, so I'm beginning to wonder if it may be Ilford (I haven't been able to l locate a chart for their film).

It was shot in South Australia, so could possibly be Ansco, but again, the codes I have found don't match. The photographer has shot quite a bit of this brand of film in 5x4 as well - this sheet though is 5x7.

Any ideas where I might find such tables? Older almanacs, books etc? For the record, it is cellulose nitrate film, which may narrow down the manufacturer, but for now, I'm stumped.

 

[AnselMortensen]

Maybe this will help?

 

[richyd]

Quick search came up with this link from which you may be able to delve into further references.

Photonegatives identification tips and notch codes chart

Tips for determining whether a film negative is cellulose nitrate, including by examining the notch codes and the film type wording on the edges of the negative and using this chart to see if it is safety film or nitrate film.

archivetools.weebly.com

 

[laser]

I can help you with information on Kodak notch codes. Send you email address to: makingKODAKfilm@yahoo.com

I have a three copies for sale of the 1st edition. I don't plan on printing any more. 2nd edition is sold out.

Kodak never used a notch like you are showing.

 

[Don_ih]

Send you email address

Maybe just help everyone for posterity? (I.e., just put the useful information in this thread.)

 

[MattKing]

Maybe just help everyone for posterity? (I.e., just put the useful information in this thread.)

If the source for the answer is a big pdf file, it often can't be uploaded here due to file size restrictions, so it may need to be emailed. But otherwise I agree

 

[ozphoto]

I can help you with information on Kodak notch codes. Send you email address to: makingKODAKfilm@yahoo.com

I have a three copies for sale of the 1st edition. I don't plan on printing any more. 2nd edition is sold out.

Kodak never used a notch like you are showing.

Agree - it's definitely *not* a Kodak notch code. I can't seem to find anything pre 1950 relating to sheet film, and sadly, the ones posted here I have already checked (and printed out for future reference.)

 

[ozphoto]

Quick search came up with this link from which you may be able to delve into further references.

Photonegatives identification tips and notch codes chart

Tips for determining whether a film negative is cellulose nitrate, including by examining the notch codes and the film type wording on the edges of the negative and using this chart to see if it is safety film or nitrate film.

archivetools.weebly.com

Thanks, I checked these out too - and no joy, sadly. However, I have also saved this page and printed out for future reference too.

Given the dead ends I keep hitting, and the fact that none of the information I've found mentions Ilford, I am beginning to wonder if it is Ilford or some other film not as well used in the 1920s.

If I could narrow down an almanac to check that would be ideal - unfortunately the ones on archive.org don't show film notch codes.

 

[Don_ih]

There's the remote possibility of it being printed on the exterior of a box. It seems both Ansco and Kodak did that in at least the 40s.
Is it possible the film was from some now-forgotten company in Australia itself or in Asia somewhere?

 

[ozphoto]

There's the remote possibility of it being printed on the exterior of a box. It seems both Ansco and Kodak did that in at least the 40s.
Is it possible the film was from some now-forgotten company in Australia itself or in Asia somewhere?

AFAIK only Kodak products were produced here in Australia; Australian Kodak Limited was formed in 1908, and remained here for many years making film (including Kodachrome). Ilford had an Australian branch but that didn't appear until 1950, and I'm not sure they produced film here.

Sadly the sheet film has been donated in packets of glassine envelopes - as a commercial photographer he filed them in boxes, numbered to follow his system, so there are no sheet film boxes to view at all.

Looking at the history of Ilford to confirm if they produced film here in Australia, I see that "Selo Limited formed incorporating Ilford, Imperial, Gem and Amalgamated Photographic Manufacturers" in 1920, so perhaps it is Selochrome film.

It is a mystery, and possibly not one that can be solved.