About paper

[Rhodes]

Today I was helping my advisor with a few persons more, to put a table in the old department photo lab, since the lab is going to be dismantle and the rooms are for students do their research in the paleoanthropology field.
In one cabinet, we found several phoographic paper, all the sizes (even A1 or more,like the paper use in Blow Up movie).
Since I was the only "photo geek" present, I have the role to find what to do with those paper.
My idea was to sell, to get money for the department, So my question, how much may be worth a photo paper? We got since its ilford, agfa, kodak, etc. I will do the inventory an can present the names and type. I just want to know how much may a paper be worth this days.
Of corse that, it's old paper, many boxes are to open and possible our of date, but since I do not print in paper, I just a layman in the matter!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

If its old and outdated, its worthless. Old paper gets fog from age. Throw it out. You'll undoubtedly get a bunch of people here claiming that I am wrong. I'm not. I did wet printing for 15 years and I can tell you from experience that old paper gives crappy prints.

 

[Freakscene]

It actually depends on what paper it is. Medium-old paper (made in or after the 1990s) lasts less well than paper made before 1990. I have plenty of Ektalure and other papers from the 1980s that still print very well. These papers still had large amounts of chromium salts in their emulsions and age very slowly. Kodak paper tends (tended?) to last better than other brands.

Unfortunately the only way you can tell is to try it, which means it will be a gamble for whoever buys it.

Marty

 

[Roger Hicks]

The paper is worth next to nothing, because, as Marty says, it's a gamble. But I completely disagree with Chris. Some of the best prints I've ever seen were made (by Rustam, a retired submarine commander in the Soviet Union) on very outdated paper with benzotriazole added to the developer as an anti-foggant. The paper is then slow, and develops slowly, but it may deliver excellent results. Note 'may', not 'will': Marty's advice and analysis is (as ever) spot on.

If the length of time you've been printing makes any difference to the weight of your opinion, and I am far from convinced that it does, then I've been doing it for 40+ years (and am still doing it) and I believe Rustam's experience was similar.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I think my advice was still spot on considering that the OP wants to SELL the paper. If he wanted to use it himself, then he could play with antifoggants and try it out. Maybe he'll get good results, maybe not. If he sells it, the buyer will likely not have the knowledge to do that and will expect good results with normal processing methods, and will be mad that he got 'cheated'. To me, selling it is a dishonest act unless its sold to someone you know personally and who completely understands what he's buying, and you sell it cheap.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I think my advice was still spot on considering that the OP wants to SELL the paper. If he wanted to use it himself, then he could play with antifoggants and try it out. Maybe he'll get good results, maybe not. If he sells it, the buyer will likely not have the knowledge to do that and will expect good results with normal processing methods, and will be mad that he got 'cheated'. To me, selling it is a dishonest act unless its sold to someone you know personally and who completely understands what he's buying, and you sell it cheap.

Dear Chris,

For SALES, at least without prior warning, you are absolutely right. You don't need to know the buyer personally, though, as long as you sell with the rider that the quality is completely unknown.

But an alternative to selling it is to give it away. There are almost certainly schools, photo clubs and individuals who would welcome it with glad cries.

It was 'throw it away' that made my blood run cold.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Rhodes]

But an alternative to selling it is to give it away. There are almost certainly schools, photo clubs and individuals who would welcome it with glad cries.

Cheers,

R.

Yes, that's the second option considered, since the students association has a photo department.
Chris, in selling, all the information would be display. I have to do inventory of the paper and will post here to everyone can say if it's worth something or is just completly impossible to use, etc.
About the age of the material, possibly mid 90's but I spot one box that it may be much older, since I did not recognize the branch.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yes, that's the second option considered, since the students association has a photo department.
Chris, in selling, all the information would be display. I have to do inventory of the paper and will post here to everyone can say if it's worth something or is just completly impossible to use, etc.
About the age of the material, possibly mid 90's but I spot one box that it may be much older, since I did not recognize the branch.

Go for it!

And here's an intermediate proposal:

In the students' darkroom, put in an 'honesty box' for (say) 0.05€ per sheet of 18x24cm and pro rata (i.e. A1 = 0.25€). The money goes to charity. The fact that it's for charity makes it less likely people will fail to pay. In fact, they may even pay a little more.

What's the very old paper? Some people do collect such things. Or even just the packaging for such things.

Cheers,

R.

 

[mwooten]

on a side note; It's right sad that a photo lab has to give way to the study of cavemen.

 

[Rhodes]

First of all, i'ts not cavemens. It's every human remains that are bones since before cavemen until 10 years ago! 😛 Yes, it's sad, but even the students are not awere of the lab and even so, they would not use it.
8 years ago we reactivated the lab, used for developer and print workshops (where I learn to develop) but the next students association of the course didn't do anything with lab and it was forgoten.
Roger, yes the sold price would be a fair one, because even everybox is sell at 5€, we have a money for a lot of material for the paloeanthropologic field (bags, glue, etc).
Next tuesday I will do the inventory and post here. If anyone wants some of the paper I would sell for a fair price. If no one wants or what is left, the next course is to give away.