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ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Just to be sure we have reliable data: Roger, if you still have the bottle, would you try to test suggested. Try developing a short piece of leader.
I'm very surprised that your developer would fail completely, leaving your film absolutely blank.
What was that phrase? Something like, 'Inquiring minds want to know.'
john_s
Well-known
In the last few years of Agfa Rodinal they altered the formula (the Agfa accountants, not the photo chemists). They reduced the concentration of the rather cheap developing agent p-aminophenol and bumped up the amount of hydroxide (even cheaper). This led to similar developing action when new but poorer keeping qualities. Maybe your 17 year old bottle (which might have been on the shelf for a while when you bought it) is real Rodinal.
Fotohuis
Well-known
The last change in Agfa Rodinal/R09 one shot was around 1992. In 2004 Agfa photo division went to Agfa Photo together with the chemical plant in Vaihingen-Enz. In 2005/2006 Agfa Photo went belly up and one year later the plant was sold to A&O. Two years later it was sold again to CCP&S the actual owner of the plant. Apart from photo chemicals they are producing pharmaceutical materials.
The packing is done by Compard in Hamburg (Germany).
It's done under a Nitrogen stream. In this way original Rodinal/R09 one shot is pretty clear.
Calbe R09/APH09 is packed without Nitrogen. It's already dark like Coke. Again: THIS version has a limited lifespan.
If you're using up he whole concentrate within two years or so, it doesn't matter what version you're using because the differences in development are rather small.
If you want to pay the smallest price: R09 Calbe / APH09 is your choice.
If you want to go for safety and an unlimited lifetime: Rodinal/R09 one shot or Adonal is the way to go. On the bottle of R09 one shot is written in small letters, made by CCP&S and it's the original Rodinal formulae.
The packing is done by Compard in Hamburg (Germany).
It's done under a Nitrogen stream. In this way original Rodinal/R09 one shot is pretty clear.
Calbe R09/APH09 is packed without Nitrogen. It's already dark like Coke. Again: THIS version has a limited lifespan.
If you're using up he whole concentrate within two years or so, it doesn't matter what version you're using because the differences in development are rather small.
If you want to pay the smallest price: R09 Calbe / APH09 is your choice.
If you want to go for safety and an unlimited lifetime: Rodinal/R09 one shot or Adonal is the way to go. On the bottle of R09 one shot is written in small letters, made by CCP&S and it's the original Rodinal formulae.
John Bragg
Well-known
Thanks for clearing that up Robert.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Well, I'm just glad I bought a decent supply of the Agfa Rodinal when Agfa went belly-up -- saves me from having to read so much. 
I'm now moving on to staining developers (Moersch Finol, currently) so I probably won't use up my Rodinal by the time I'm belly up!
I'm now moving on to staining developers (Moersch Finol, currently) so I probably won't use up my Rodinal by the time I'm belly up!
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Been using Rodinal for over twenty years. Last bottle I bought was back in 2006. Had lots of little crystals in it as it sat for more than three years when I switched to HC110. Pulled it back out this past winter, and it still worked fine. Finally used it all up a month ago.
Obviously it's no longer available, so I bought some ADOX Adonal, which everyone assured me was the exact same formula. I've had it for a month and noticed that the liquid in the bottle has already gone Coca-Cola brown on me (much quicker than Rodinal used to). Is this the stuff that you folks are talking about going belly up in less than a year??
Best,
-Tim
Obviously it's no longer available, so I bought some ADOX Adonal, which everyone assured me was the exact same formula. I've had it for a month and noticed that the liquid in the bottle has already gone Coca-Cola brown on me (much quicker than Rodinal used to). Is this the stuff that you folks are talking about going belly up in less than a year??
Best,
-Tim
haempe
Well-known
No.
ADOX stuff:
APH09 is the earlyAGFA/ORWO/Calbe Rodinal/R09 (pre-war formula)
Adonal is the AGFA-West Rodinal (latest formula before AGFA died)
(simplified)
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Okay Thanks, that's a relief.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
James1
Established
Apologies for dragging up a 2.5 month old thread...
The above quote is interesting. I have a few 250ml bottles of Calbe R09, they are dark brown and look like APH09 bottles (apart from the size of course).
But they must have been packed under nitrogen as the liquid inside was clear when I pulled off the silver top underneath the red outer cap. The liquid is darkening now, as expected. There are no dilutions specified on the bottle at all, though that hasn't bothered me as I have been using it at 1:100 for stand development.
Confused?? I am...
even though Robert's explanation is pretty clear for the various versions mentioned. I wonder if I have 'new' R09 (i.e. Rodinal) or 'old' R09 (i.e. APH09) - I bought it because I was looking for the older version.Must admit, I would love a bottle of "proper" old Orwo R09 to play with...
haempe
Well-known
Calbe R09 = APH09. Just differently packed.
Must admit, I would love a bottle of "proper" old Orwo R09 to play with...
I have still two 1l bottles of ORWO R09 (expired '88). The last bottle that I've used up was fine. Pm me if interested.
Terry Christian
Established
I have a half-full bottle of Compard R09 One Shot (Rodinal) that I bought from Freestyle in April 2011, which is about a year and a half, and have been using it off and on. It has turned a dark, charcoal-gray color with yellowish tinges at the edges, but it still works just as well as when I first opened it.