What ASA should I rate these (very) expired films?

[John51]

I bought some rolls of 620. Not too bothered if the film is useless as I bought them for the spools.

Two rolls of Kodak Verichrome Pan. Expired 1981

Two rolls of Kodak Panatomic-X. Expired 1952

One roll of Ilford Selochrome. Expired 1952


Any hope of getting images from them? What speeds would you suggest? Box speed of the Verichrome Pan is 125 ASA. The other 3 don't have a speed printed on the box.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

IIRC, the speed loss is usually calculated at 1 stop per decade - so I'd rate the Verichrome at around ISO 16. It also depends on how it was stored - I'm guessing with it being that old, it probably wasn't frozen all this time. The Panatomic-X would be about an ISO 1 (it too was rated at 125, at least in recent years. I'm not sure what the official speed of Pan-X was in 1952). Same with the Selochrome. You will probably also need to use some benzotriazole in the developer to restrain fogging. There's lots of discussions here on how to do that.

 

[DWThomas]

Hmmm - I disagree with Scott about Panatomic-X -- it was rated at ISO 32 in its last incarnations -- Plus-X was 125. I've shot Panatomic-X from 1988 at ISO 25 with decent results. Slow films purportedly deteriorate more slowly, but 1952 is a lo-o-o-o-ng time ago! (So ultimately his suggestion of ISO 1 may turn out workable.)

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Hmmm - I disagree with Scott about Panatomic-X -- it was rated at ISO 32 in its last incarnations -- Plus-X was 125. I've shot Panatomic-X from 1988 at ISO 25 with decent results. Slow films purportedly deteriorate more slowly, but 1952 is a lo-o-o-o-ng time ago! (So ultimately his suggestion of ISO 1 may turn out workable.)

OOOPS- Dave you're right - I was confusing Panatomic-X with Plus-X as far as original box speed. But yeah, sixty year old film will be really off its speed.

 

[Hatchetman]

the verichrome should work out fine. add one stop (shoot at 50). It'll be fine. I doubt you get much of an image from the other stuff no matter what you do.

 

[Terry Christian]

Note that if you need more 620 spools, FilmPhotographyProject.com sells brand new ones.

 

[John51]

The 3 older films came in the case with an early model Brownie Hawkeye that I bought for respooling duty. So maybe stored in an attic for the last 60 years?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

If that's the case, you'll be lucky to get anything useable out of them no matter the exposure or development technique. They'll make a cool display - use them for that purpose.

 

[nosmok]

The Verichrome should be great at half box speed. The Panatomic might be OK at 10-16, two stops down. I have no experience with old Ilford. I would expect nothing from the 50s stuff, and maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised. Especially if you like pictures of the backing paper numbers .

The best stuff from the 50s I ever shot was some 828 SuperXX, rated at 20 in full sunlight and got great results. Good luck!

 

[John51]

fwir, Kodak HC 110 seems to be low fog for old films, just the little push I needed to buy a bottle.

Sort of amuses me that I get to use the film reminder dial on my newly acquired Kodak Medalist.

How does this sound for the first roll of Panotomic-X, 2 shots each at ASA 2, 4, 8 and 16? If it's a dud, I'll put the 2nd roll up on fleabay as that box is undamaged. Might as well let a collector have it if it won't make images.