Would you like to see the return of the Kentmere Art range?

[Monophoto]

My recollection is that the demise of these papers was based on the fact that the suppliers who made the base paper were no longer producing that stock. Kentmere didn't have a choice in the matter.

Therefore, asking Kentmere to start making it again is futile - it just ain't gonna happen.

 

[Martin Reed]

What I'm curious about is why it seems that all paper with anything other than a gloss, dead matte, or ugly pearl seems to be vanishing. Is there anything to do but horde or coat? Neither is particularly attractive to me.

Not quite sure what surface(s) you would like, but Foma have just sent me a sample of a new product in their FB Variant, code 123. To quote;

"Fomabrom Variant 123 is manufactured using a heavy spar loaded paper base material (unprepared photographic paper) with square weight of 280 g/m2, surface finish of velvet type and of semi-mat gloss degree."

That should cover all tastes! However it seems to be coming in close to the discontinued Agfa Classic 118, slightly warm with a reasonably subdued stipple, slightly more gloss sheen than the Agfa paper. Not on the Foma Foma website yet, I'll PDF the datasheet if anyone is interested.

 

[Gary Holliday]

It seems not everyone appreciates "ugly pearl", but I think it looks quite tasteful! I'm very interested in this new product Martin, do Foma plan to mass produce this or is it a test sample? Are the samples for sale?

If Foma are looking for feedback, I'm hoping they will use a neutral white looking base for the paper...more like Art deluxe.

 

[Martin Reed]

FOMA Variant 123

Well they're taking orders and have a full data sheet prepared. I've ordered 9.5x12" and 12x16" for stock at Silverprint, so should have it next month. It's slightly misleading that they have put it into the Variant range - the base colour is warm unlike the brilliant white of the other Variants, and is actually slightly warmer than Fomatone. So it's close to Agfa 118 or even Ektalure G.

 

[Martin Reed]

Correction, Foma are field testing, and the paper is not yet in production. If interested contact your Foma distributor. I'll put the data sheet on the Silverprint website.

 

[Gary Holliday]

"There have been alterations in the base material market too, as the producer Felix Schoeller ceased production and exited this market. They produced the base material for Kentmere's Art Classic, hence their search for a replacement. I'm afraid I don't know if this will affect Bergger's plans - I believe it won't, as they have confirmed their intentions to me since Schoeller's departure."
Tim Rudman

From
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/board/get_full_answer.php?id=118

I wonder if Tim could elaborate on Bergger's ideas for continuing production of this paper base. Is Silver Supreme a product on its last legs?

 

[Ole]

... is manufactured using a heavy spar loaded paper base material ...

Just guessing here, but "heavy spar" looks like a literal translation of "tungspat", which is "barite" in English. Or "baryta", if you prefer.

 

[Gary Holliday]

Dear All,

...we are currently looking at the base options going forward for the possible re-introduction of KENTMERE Art Classic.




Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Well this is fantastic news. Art Classic and Art de Luxe with a bit of luck might see the light of day.

Silverprint and Freestyle confirmed the discontinuation of Fomatone 532 Nature and again my heart sank thinking that another textured paper was gone.

However with thanks to fotohuis, he explained that Felix Schoeller based papers were no longer available and that Foma will be continuing stocks on a similar base sourced in the Far East.

So hopefully Simon will take note and look into the possibilities.

 

[Bob F.]

Just guessing here, but "heavy spar" looks like a literal translation of "tungspat", which is "barite" in English. Or "baryta", if you prefer.

I thought I recalled the term "spar paper" from somewhere so looked it up... from the OED:

Heavy Spar

The native sulphate of barium, barytes; also improperly applied to barium carbonate, and sometimes to the sulphate and carbonate of strontia.

1789 A. CRAWFORD in Med. Commun. II. 353 The muriated barytes..was obtained by the decomposition of the heavy spar. Ibid. 356 Heavy spar from the lead mines of Derbyshire. 1805-17 R. JAMESON Char. Min. (ed. 3) 107 Heavy spar, and actyonite afford examples of the hexahedral prism. 1845 ATKINSON in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club II. No. 13. 137 It is calc-spar, in a setting of heavy-spar or sulphate of baryta. 1885 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 86/2 Baryta White..is prepared by grinding to a fine powder the pure white native sulphate of baryta (heavy spar).

I really need to find something useful to do with my time on these long cold winter evenings - heading for the darkroom in 10 mins...

Bob.

 

[Sanjay Sen]

I may have bought the last two packs of Art Classic from B&H, just two days ago. I went to their website today to check, and it's gone - not even listed as discontinued, totally gone..

 

[Gary Holliday]

Sanjay, the closest paper at the moment is Foma Nature 532 chamois available from Freestyle...(don't know all the other USA stockists).

 

[ajuk]

Ilford bought Kentmere, when?

 

[Sanjay Sen]

Ilford bought Kentmere, when?

Simon posted the information in October 2007; see (there was a url link here which no longer exists).