Times to ditch the Ilford paperboxes?

[Paulus]

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I got an e-mail from Ilford:

 

some quotes:

 

I wrote about the eldest boxes with serialnumbers: 90B701T95

90D701C45

 

Answer:

 

QUOTE:

 

Sorry to read about your paper problems.

From my tracking of these two batch numbers though - they seem to correlate to batches manufactured a long time ago. ie both correlate to coatings in December 2003.

 

In our technical fact sheets (on our website) for all our mono paper products, we typically quote that when used within a 2 year time period - we are totally confident that optimum performance can be attained, and it will perform totally consistently. This 2 year guide shelf life - is based on someone buying/having a box of paper thats assumed just manufactured - and that its stored with care/sensibly. (ie not in heat, or high humidity).

We know that realistically paper can happily be used for many years more than 2 years - but it would need some slight enlarger/handling attention as each year goes by. (Note too - if paper is stored in a fridge, that would also increase the shelf life of the paper and make deterioraion slower).

 

As paper becomes older the following will gradually start to arise :-

- contrast will be lost.

- speed will be lost.

- background fog will appear (so the whites will look muddy/grey).

- overall it will simply get harder to work with.

 

So, that you are flagging up the observations of fog - and that you are having to use higher grades to attain a normal looking print, all seems to fit exact with this paper being old. ie now virtually 9 years old. UNQUOTE

 

 

 

So... Thanks to Ilford for such a quick answer.

 

But..

 

I think the paper is just getting to old. ..

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[pico]

Thanks for getting back to us on this. Sorry to learn the paper is old, but it does stop me from worrying about Ilford papers, which I like very much.

 

Too bad they don't put a readable manufacturing date on all their paper.

 

Imagine how good you will feel when you make that first fresh-paper print.

[Paulus]

Thanks for getting back to us on this. Sorry to learn the paper is old, but it does stop me from worrying about Ilford papers, which I like very much.

 

I once had a photo teacher who had to make an advertisement picture for Kodak, their claim was that they had great paper. He printed the picture on Ilford paper......

 

 

Too bad they don't put a readable manufacturing date on all their paper.

 

Imagine how good you will feel when you make that first fresh-paper print.

 

Thanks pico,

 

 

It really makes a great difference. It's a real pleasure printing on wonderful paper again while the whole Leica world is making an issue about some new cameras.

 

I mailed Ilford also today, if they can give some explanation about the batch numbering. I'll inform you if I know something new.

[Paulus]

And now some good news,

 

I made a last test of my five boxes before I threw the content away. I also found a RC box between the FB boxes and tested the paper on the last print I made, just making a print with my new FB Ilford Warmtone paper. I took the same speed, time, gradefilter and developed the paper.

 

There is hardly any deterioration to see in the print with this RC paper.White is why, black is black no fogging. It must be older even than the batch numbers I sent to Ilford starting with an 8 instead of a 9.

 

So I can carefully state that the RC lasts longer in my cellar than any FB paper. Plastic wins in the long run?

[Paulus]

And now some good news,

 

I made a last test of my five boxes before I threw the content away. I also found a RC box between the FB boxes and tested the paper on the last print I made, just making a print with my new FB Ilford Warmtone paper. I took the same speed, time, gradefilter and developed the paper.

 

There is hardly any deterioration to see in the print with this RC paper.White is why, black is black no fogging. It must be older even than the batch numbers I sent to Ilford starting with an 8 instead of a 9.

 

So I can carefully state that the RC lasts longer in my cellar than any FB paper. Plastic wins in the long run?

 

Sorry, now the paper FB and RC are dry, the new FB paper wins. Real white instead of greyish white.

 

The Ilford technical mailed me also back this day, stating, that :

 

Quote:

 

As we finish papers on many production routes - its not so easy to give a definitive answer to what the numbers represent.

 

You are always welcome to send an email with a batch number in though - and I will happily date it for you.

Unquote.

 

So If you have some paper with unknown date, just give them a mail, they are fast in answering and very polite!