Harvey's 777

dave lackey

dave lackey

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Back to film developing! It has been a long time due to many things but now it is time to use up some D-76 and hopefully some Harvey's Panthermic 777.

Might as well start the new year off right!

Anyone else considering this? I will email Ellen at Bluegrass and see if they have any in stock.:)
 
>>Anyone else considering this?<<

Well, I am now Dave ;-) I had no idea what you were talking about when you mentioned the 777 and Bluegrass.

However googling around finally turned up these links, which may be of interest to others who, like me, are curious -

http://www.bluegrasspackaging.com/index.php/ct-menu-item-9
and a fascinating discussion about 777 and the names who used it -
https://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Harvey/harvey.html
then of course I came across Flickr -
https://www.flickr.com/groups/harveys777/

loading the M4 right now for the first time in a couple of years ...
Dan
 
I called them a few months ago, and it was a rather frustrating experience. They did not have any to sell, and had no idea when they would have more available. Nice. I ordered the Harvey's kit from Photographer's Formulary, I think that is what TomA was using, anyway, with his XX.

http://stores.photoformulary.com/harveys-defender-777/

Dave,

I think you have to order enormous quantities (6 gallons!) at a time from Bluegrass. I could eventually use that up (running 3.5 gallon deep tanks) but most folks would be way overloaded.
 
Nokton48 said:
I called them a few months ago, and it was a rather frustrating experience. They did not have any to sell, and had no idea when they would have more available. Nice. I ordered the Harvey's kit from Photographer's Formulary, I think that is what TomA was using, anyway, with his XX.

http://stores.photoformulary.com/harveys-defender-777/

Dave,

I think you have to order enormous quantities (6 gallons!) at a time from Bluegrass. I could eventually use that up (running 3.5 gallon deep tanks) but most folks would be way overloaded.
Click to expand...

Wow! Much better, perfect!!!:)
Thanks so much for that link!:cool:
 
I used to talk to Fred De Van on the Kiev Delphi Forum; we were both huge huge fans of the motorized Minolta SRM. Fred worked for LIFE Magazine during the 1960s covering the south, later became Art Director and shooter at Road and Track. Had some great stories (like covering Sly Stone's wedding for LIFE). I have really old Minolta books that has photos inside, by Fred. WHAT A CHARACTER! I'd love to talk to him again.

He wrote the 777 article. Bill Pierce prolly remembers Fred.

https://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Harvey/harvey.html

Another 777 Article: https://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Harvey/777RefChart.pdf

Replenishment Table: https://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Harvey/C03/c03.html
 
It's not exactly the "secret formula". Bluegrass owns the patent on that. But it is close and probably close enough for most folks.

This is not an easy to use developer in small quantities, but it is do-able (worked for TomA!) Definitely worth a go............

Also not a developer for modern emulsions. XX is a good matchup as it is unchanged since it's introduction in 1958
 
Nokton48 said:
It's not exactly the "secret formula". Bluegrass owns the patent on that. But it is close and probably close enough for most folks.

This is not an easy to use developer in small quantities, but it is do-able (worked for TomA!) Definitely worth a go............

Also not a developer for modern emulsions. XX is a good matchup.
Click to expand...

I have two rolls of XX left... I am STOKED to see how this works with it!

Btw, can you elaborate on the difficulties of working with a small quantity?:) Should I get 2 liters instead of one?
 
I would re-read Fred's article and glean what you can from it. I think Henri Cartier Bresson also preferred 777. W. Eugene Smith, too. Maybe Bill Pierce could embellish on this...... It's a large tank developer (think 8x10" film in a huge vat of developer that has been around for years). Using it in a teeny 35mm tank should work, but I really can't comment, but I'll try it when I have time. And we saw TomA's results so it should be something like that I would imagine.......
 
I seem to remember that "The Man with Red Eyes" was using some for 35mm, and it suddenly "died". Maybe he will chime in. I guess it's unstable in small quantities but worth the trouble and effort based on the results.

Also looking forward to trying it
 
I do not want to spoil the party, but do you guys think that when you use 777 with modern film your pictures will have the look of H. Cartier-Bresson's or W. Eugene Smith's?

Erik.
 
Erik van Straten said:
I do not want to spoil the party, but do you guys think that when you use 777 with modern film your pictures will have the look of H. Cartier-Bresson's or W. Eugene Smith's?

Erik.
Click to expand...


Probably not, but we are not contemplating using 777 with modern films. Eastman 5222 Double-X (this is Hollywood 35mm movie film not still film) has been unchanged in formulation since 1958. Hardly modern................ 777 does not work well with modern film, It was formulated in the 1930's. As to the "look" of the photos, we have seen some amazing examples using the dev/film combo, so we will see what comes out of it. What I have read is that is a developer that TIME-LIFE was using at some point in their careers, and they seemed to prefer it be used for their photographs, at least for a time.
 
Heads up!

Bluegrass has Harvey's 777 in powder form ready for shipping! $25 + S&H.. (gallon size)

Photographer's Formulary has Harvey's Defender 777 (liquid) available for $14.95 *S&H (1liter)

Time to order!:):):)
 
Christmas came a few weeks late!

I uncovered a dozen rolls of Double X film I had forgotten about whilst rummaging through my desk!

Two cameras loaded with Double X now! I am ready to go!:):):)
 
Found an example on the internet.

Seems you can run 120 Fuji Acros in Harveys and it is lovely!
I enjoy it when you break all the rules and it works.
 
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