Developing Old Verichrome

[mwooten]

I need a little advice. I recently found a roll of exposed Kodak Verichrome Pan 127 film in a closet of my mother's house. The use-by date on the box is March 1978 (and the drug store price label says 80¢).

I have found a Rodinal development recipe of 1:50, 10 minutes @ 70 degrees F. Agitate for the first 30 seconds, and then 5 seconds of agitation every 30 seconds.

The developers I have on hand are Rodinal and Ilfosol 3 -- so I'd like to utilize those if possible. Should I use a longer development time, and/or stronger agitation since the latent images are so old?
Also, the 127 roll of film looks a lot like a mini-me version of 120 film. Does it have the same paper backing that 120 does, and spool onto the reel in a similar manner to 120?

--michael

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Michael, you need a 127 size reel for the film, but it loads the same as 120 and has the same paper backing arrangement.

 

[mwooten]

Thanks Chris. I believe my plastic Patterson reel will open up to cover the 127 film width.

--michael

 

[newspaperguy]

...and to spread a light on things...

you can load it under a red safelight
and see what you are doing - REALLY.

 

[Al Kaplan]

The original Verichrome was OK with a red safelight because it was orthochromatic (not sensitive to red light) but Verichrome Pan was panchromatic and it was sensitive to red light.

Some people would check how the film was developing using a very faint green safelight for just a few seconds. Some people still do that. Most panchromatic films are less sensitive to green light while our eyes are very sensitive to it.

According to my 1967 edition of "Kodak Black-And-White Films In Rolls" these times are for 68f, 20c:

D-76 7
D-76 1:1 9
Microdol-X 9
HC-110
Dilution A 3 3/4
Dilution B 8

If you need more complete time/temps including Microdol-X 3:1 private message me.

127 film is wound on a very small diameter spool. After thirty odd years wound on the spool it probably has taken a set and might be difficult to get on a developing reel. Good luck!