identify old kodak film

michaelbsc · Aug 31, 2009

One of my auction treasures included an old Watson bulk loader with some unidentified Kodak film.

I pulled out a couple of feet and developed it to see what is on the rebate. The bottom has frame numbers and the top says Kodak Safet Film over and over. But there is no emulsion identifier.

The substrate is gray like tri x. The Watson condition makes me think it is pretty old but doesn't appear fogged.

What Kodak film would not have been identified? Do I just need to pull out some more to find the number?

colrehogan · Sep 1, 2009

There was such a thing as Kodak Safety Film, but I don't recall any specific details beyond that about the film itself. A co-worker had me scan some of her family's negatives from the 40's and a lot of them were on Kodak Safety Film.

FedericoMP · Sep 1, 2009

Safety film only means that base is made of cellulose acetate so it can any film.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_acetate_film

AgX · Sep 1, 2009

Actually it could be any base that is not hazardous.

michaelbsc · Sep 1, 2009

I know that a lot of different film was safety film. I think that only means it isn't particularly flammable.

But the lack of emulsion number seems weird. The loader has a sticker with a date of 1978. The crust of dirt makes that seem reasonable.

When did kodak shift to the gray substrate? I spooled some into a canister and I will shoot a few at 100 and a few at 400 and develop like Plus X. I should have half okay and the other half either under or over. Unless it is something unusual.

cmacd123 · Sep 1, 2009

grey base dates from at least the 1950's if not much sooner. The grey cuts down halation. MOST of the films used to alternate the wording "Kodak Safety Film" with the brand name (Kodak safety Film Kodak Plus-x pan film Kodak safety film) There should be a mark between the letters of "safety" like Sa'fety" to tell you where it was made.

B&W film is always a simalar colour to tri-x, colour film is normally a tan. B&W Movie film used to have a footage number in Ink on the back.

michaelbsc · Sep 8, 2009

DP 5246 Direct Positive B&W

cmacd123 said:
grey base dates from at least the 1950's if not much sooner....B&W film is always a simalar colour to tri-x, colour film is normally a tan. B&W Movie film used to have a footage number in Ink on the back.

OK, gang, I was back at the farm, and I checked out the bulk loader that has the film a little closer. There is a sticker that claims it is direct positive DP 5246. Apparently this number has been used for another color film as well, but this is pretty obviously a B&W film that is clear and unfogged. Slightly gray base, and no rem jet backing. It just looks like plain old B&W film.

The funny part is that it has no ID numbers in the rebate area. Was this 5246 film unmarked? Or is this sticker just a left over artifact?

Removed Account · Sep 9, 2009

In my work at a one-hour lab we sometimes get people's old family negatives to print. A great many of the older Kodak black and white films just simply say "Kodak Safety Film" and have no other marks to identify which particular film type it was. There's a good chance you many never find out exactly which film this is.

Bluechapel · Sep 9, 2009

The only time I encountered Kodak film without an emulsion number was on the varient of Tech Pan we used for ariel photos in the military. It did have "Safety Film" printed on it, but no number.

JMC1969 · Sep 9, 2009

Like cmacd123 mentioned, look to see if there are any markings in between the Safety. I have a box of 2¼x3¼ Kodak Super Panchro-Press Type B Film that I acquired recently. It has a notch code, but reads: KODAK-SºAFETY-FILM, if it is different than this, you can at least rule this film out. By the way, this film expired in July 1965, I will have to adjust the ASA on it, but I got a fair image shooting it at box speed of 250.

Dave Pritchard · Sep 9, 2009

q2q@tds.net said:
The only time I encountered Kodak film without an emulsion number was on the varient of Tech Pan we used for ariel photos in the military. It did have "Safety Film" printed on it, but no number.

I used to shoot a lot of bulk-loaded Tech Pan. None of my Tech Pan negatives have any emulsion numbers on them. If it is Tech Pan, try exposing at ASA 10.

cmacd123 · Sep 10, 2009

jerk151 said:
I have a box of 2¼x3¼ Kodak Super Panchro-Press Type B Film that I acquired recently. It has a notch code, but reads: KODAK-SºAFETY-FILM,

That means the film was produced in USA. SA'FETY Film would be made in Canada, SAF'ETY film in the UK and SAFE'TY film in europe.

Mark Antony · Sep 10, 2009

cmacd123 said:
That means the film was produced in USA. SA'FETY Film would be made in Canada, SAF'ETY film in the UK and SAFE'TY film in europe.

That's how you know the factory. there should be marks to date the film also
for instance '++' could be 1928, 1948 or 1968 x+x is 1991 while '■■' is 1940,1960 or 1980 '▲+' is 1930,1950 or 1970 etc etc

I have a list of marks if anyone is interested.

Mark

cmacd123 · Sep 11, 2009

michaelbsc said:
OK, gang, I was back at the farm, and I checked out the bulk loader that has the film a little closer. There is a sticker that claims it is direct positive DP 5246. Apparently this number has been used for another color film as well, but this is pretty obviously a B&W film that is clear and unfogged. Slightly gray base, and no rem jet backing. It just looks like plain old B&W film.

The funny part is that it has no ID numbers in the rebate area. Was this 5246 film unmarked? Or is this sticker just a left over artifact?

Looking at the Kodak motion picture website cronoology..
In 1968 they came out with "EASTMAN Direct MP film, 7/5360. Ortho sensitive. For direct reversal duplicating in a one developer process. OSCAR Awarded -- (41st Academy Year) Class I. Scientific or Technical Award. Also awarded to Consolidated Film Industries for the application of the film to the making of post-production work prints."

http://motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion/Products/Chronology_Of_Film/chrono3.htm

In 35mm that would have been 5360 in 2004 # EASTMAN Direct MP Film 2360/DMP242 ESTAR Discontinued and EASTMAN Direct MP Film DMP666 Discontinued

(2360 would be the ESTAR version of 5360 if you decode kodak's system.)

The only 5246 I caught was KODAK VISION 250D Color Negative Film 5246/7246 Introduced in 1997 and discontinued in 2005 .

If you are looking at Direct MP film, it may have the rounded perfs used on MP negative. I can't find a data sheet on the web site to check.

identify old kodak film

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