Where's the XTOL?

ChristopherCoy · May 12, 2020

Adorama is out, B&H is out, Freestyle is out, other online film suppliers are out, and even our local store Houston Camera Exchange is out. I read rumors online that said it was being discontinued, but some online retailers like B&H are expecting stock around July?

Was there a sudden increase in demand that depleted the stock? Are they changing manufacturers? Is it really being discontinued?

pentaxuser · May 12, 2020

Which of these rumours, if any, do you discount as being total BS, unlikely, more than likely. Can you think of any other explanations? Can friends of Kodak like the angry rodent or NB23 see this thread

It they do I hope they don't find it too stressful

Thanks

pentaxuser

Sirius Glass · May 12, 2020

ChristopherCoy said:
Adorama is out, B&H is out, Freestyle is out, other online film suppliers are out, and even our local store Houston Camera Exchange is out. I read rumors online that said it was being discontinued, but some online retailers like B&H are expecting stock around July?

Was there a sudden increase in demand that depleted the stock? Are they changing manufacturers? Is it really being discontinued?

No mystery here. People are finally getting around to developing their backlog of exposed film. It is a good sign.

ChristopherCoy · May 12, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
It is a good sign.

I hope so.

pentaxuser · May 12, 2020

There you are. Problem solved. I like a happy ending.

pentaxuser

laingsoft · May 12, 2020

I was talking to B&H support today about a battery I ordered from them, They said that due to COVID, they're having a lot of trouble getting stock for a lot of items. I'd wager it's more likely to be that rather than discontinuing XTOL.

Arcadia4 · May 12, 2020

Probably a combination of;
Production hiatus between Tetenal and New Tetenal in Germany who produce Kodak (& Ilford) B&W Chemicals.
Quality problems with short term US manufacture before reverting back to New Tetenal
C-19 not helping with production & distribution.
Lots of lockdown developing?

Some UK stores recieved new Xtol stock from Germany early May, and most have stock so maybe on its way to the US soon..

ChristopherCoy · May 12, 2020

Arcadia4 said:
Some UK stores recieved new Xtol stock from Germany early May, and most have stock so maybe on its way to the US soon..

Ah, so our XTOL is located riiiiiiiiight about here...

MattKing · May 12, 2020

Almost all of the Kodak black and white photochemistry has new SKU numbers, new packaging and new minimum order requirements. Manufacture of many of the chemicals has now been switched from Tetenal in Germany to US sources, but X-Tol appears to still be made in Germany.
As Kodak Alaris doesn't do its own distribution, the movement of product will depend on which distributor your particular retailer is buying through.

pentaxuser · May 12, 2020

I have bought up the whole stock of the U.S. Xtol. What you see, Christopher, is the one boat that was released as a diversion to slow the U.S coast guard boats who were going to stop me in my vast container ship. My plan is to resell it as Xtol II and charge a premium I cannot claim this to be all my own idea. I simply watched recent events and copied them. It seemed to have worked before so why not again?

pentaxuser

ChristopherCoy · May 12, 2020

pentaxuser said:
. My plan is to resell it as Xtol II and charge a premium

pentaxuser

You get more money if you put the words "RARE" or "VINTAGE" in front of it. And maybe a sideways photo or something.

Oldwino · May 12, 2020

ChristopherCoy said:
You get more money if you put the words "RARE" or "VINTAGE" in front of it. And maybe a sideways photo or something.

Maybe add "EXC+++++" as well.

ColdEye · May 12, 2020

You can try the free style version. I got some a week ago to try with some rollei IR film. I just hate mixing powder stuff.

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/7477...corbic-Acid-Powder-BW-Film-Developer-(Makes-5

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/7002...W27)-Powder-(Ascorbic-Acid)-Film-Developer-to

Alan Edward Klein · May 12, 2020

They got it hid in the same place they're hiding my toilet paper.

NB23 · May 13, 2020

I hope it’s not discontinued...
but there’s always ilfoxtol-3

Ai Print · May 13, 2020

Good to know. I just checked my bulk storage, I have about 80 kits of it left. I’d say I am set...

ChristopherCoy · May 13, 2020

Ai Print said:
Good to know. I just checked my bulk storage, I have about 80 kits of it left. I’d say I am set...

If it’s discontinued you’re gonna have a LOT of friends.

So uh.... what are you doing tomorrow night? Can buy you a steak dinner?

pentaxuser · May 13, 2020

Christopher, I should now confess I am in league with another Brit - Ian Grant who wrote about Xtol in his last post about Tri-X and Rodinal. We increase the demand by a subtle campaign of seemingly innocent posts about Xtol. All proceeds in my case go to the Jacobite cause and in Ian's case, being a Black Countryman is split between the Black Country Museum( nothing to do with race) and Wolverhampton Wanderers Football ( soccer) Club.

We Brits spin devious webs. It's revenge for Hollywood's portrayal of us as "quaint"

pentaxuser

David Lindquist · May 13, 2020

pentaxuser said:
Christopher, I should now confess I am in league with another Brit - Ian Grant who wrote about Xtol in his last post about Tri-X and Rodinal. We increase the demand by a subtle campaign of seemingly innocent posts about Xtol. All proceeds in my case go to the Jacobite cause and in Ian's case, being a Black Countryman is split between the Black Country Museum( nothing to do with race) and Wolverhampton Wanderers Football ( soccer) Club.

We Brits spin devious webs. It's revenge for Hollywood's portrayal of us as "quaint"

pentaxuser

I wish this forum had a "like button."
David

bluechromis · May 13, 2020

For alternatives to Xtol, there is another clone, Fomadon Excel. It is not as cost effective as Xtol and questionable how it would perform replenished. But it has the advantage of being packaged to make 1 L of stock which reduces storage issues. If one wanted to delve into it, there are home mixed Xtol clones like Mytol and Instant Mytol, that are not really that hard to make and inexpensive. But again not for replenished.

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/7002...W27)-Powder-(Ascorbic-Acid)-Film-Developer-to

pentaxuser · May 13, 2020

David Lindquist said:
I wish this forum had a "like button."
David

If I have managed to spread a bit of humour while perhaps poking a bit of gentle fun then I thank you. If you wish to make a donation our treasurer for the resurrection of the Jacobite cause is a Miss F. MacDonald who runs trip in small boats which "speed like birds on the wing over the sea to Skye" where her quiet retreat can cater for Bonnie Princes who are looking to get away from it all and emigrate safely to France

pentaxuser

peter k. · May 13, 2020

pentaxuser said:
If I have managed to spread a bit of humour while perhaps poking a bit of gentle fun then I thank you.

Two thumbs up with two big toes included, from the down under parts.

pentaxuser · May 13, 2020

peter k. said:
Two thumbs up with two big toes included, from the down under parts.

Thanks Peter.

pentaxuser

Ernst-Jan · May 13, 2020

NB23 said:
I hope it’s not discontinued...
but there’s always ilfoxtol-3

Well I would not consider that as substitute. It is absolutly not fine grained, it would compare it more to Rodinal.
I would suggest Fomadon Excel as a substitute.

ChristopherCoy · May 13, 2020

pentaxuser said:
If I have managed to spread a bit of humour while perhaps poking a bit of gentle fun then I thank you. If you wish to make a donation our treasurer for the resurrection of the Jacobite cause is a Miss F. MacDonald who runs trip in small boats which "speed like birds on the wing over the sea to Skye" where her quiet retreat can cater for Bonnie Princes who are looking to get away from it all and emigrate safely to France

pentaxuser

I always enjoy your posts!

Where's the XTOL?

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