How to identify an unknown film type for processing

[archive59]

I recently bought a WWII 'Luftwaffen Eigentum' Robot II via eBay and rather surprisingly the takeup spool/cartridge contained what appears to be exposed but unprocessed film. I have rewound this film into a normal 35mm cartridge using a changing bag.
Can anybody give me any guidelines as to how I can identify what type of film this might be just from looking at the leader and also what would be the safest way of developing it to guarantee getting images from it.
The film could date anywhere from the 1940s through to last month, and could be colour or B/W, is there any way I can tell what it is by looking at it?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[sevo]

Colour film is obvious by its multilayer structure with different sensitizer dyes and a filter layer - visible at the edges with a microscope or strong loupe.

With bare eyes, a yellow or brown tint of the emulsion side and a black or blue antihalation layer visible from behind also are typical for colour processes, and uncommon in b+w film (which tend to have red, purple or green sensitizer and AH dyes incorporated, if they aren't altogether greyish).

In doubt the best bet would be to develop enough of the leader to catch some bit with a unexposed margin. Develop for seven minutes in D-76 - that should make the margin print readable, regardless of the film type.

Sevo

 

[Oscar Levant]

Oh gosh, if that was my old Luftwaffen Robot, PLEASE don't develop those pictures. You could cause a divorce.

 

[archive59]

Oh gosh, if that was my old Luftwaffen Robot, PLEASE don't develop those pictures. You could cause a divorce.

That thought did pass through my friend's mind, but strangely not mine. Still, this Luftwaffen Robot has been significantly hacked about so you would recognise it as yours, but it has also left it in a state where it would not be the easiest camera to use in a domestic setting!

 

[archive59]

Colour film is obvious by its multilayer structure with different sensitizer dyes and a filter layer - visible at the edges with a microscope or strong loupe.

With bare eyes, a yellow or brown tint of the emulsion side and a black or blue antihalation layer visible from behind also are typical for colour processes, and uncommon in b+w film (which tend to have red, purple or green sensitizer and AH dyes incorporated, if they aren't altogether greyish).

In doubt the best bet would be to develop enough of the leader to catch some bit with a unexposed margin. Develop for seven minutes in D-76 - that should make the margin print readable, regardless of the film type.

Sevo

Thanks, that's the sort of info I was looking for, although not having taken much notice of what film 'looks like' I'm still a little confused. I am fairly sure that it is not multilayer having followed your instructions and viewed the edge with a 10x loupe. There basically seems to be just the emulsion layer (sandy coloured) and the film plastic itself (a mid grey colour). The film seems fairly thick compared to modern colour film stock but I am not in a position to measure it accurately.
So given the above I think the film is probably b+w, would you agree?

 

[Al Kaplan]

I wouldn't hold out much hope for film that might have spent sixty or so years subject to heat, cold, and humidity. Diafine, a two bath developer, is probably the most forgiving developer on the market. That's what I'd try.

 

[archive59]

I wouldn't hold out much hope for film that might have spent sixty or so years subject to heat, cold, and humidity. Diafine, a two bath developer, is probably the most forgiving developer on the market. That's what I'd try.

I have to admit that I don't really hold much hope out with this but I think it is worth a shot simply because of the type of camera the film was in, together with the fact that the Robot itself had been modified in such a way that it would be difficult to use handheld and looks as though it was mounted in or on something.
I am probably not going to risk more problems by attempting to process the film myself. I have been pointed towards a lab here in the UK that specialises in processing out of date film www.processc22.co.uk so I will probably use them.