Now is the time... buy your own film factory

[Bille]

Online auction of gelatin- and emulsion production-installation, (...)
due to closure company activities Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe B.V. in Tilburg, the Netherlands.

https://www.troostwijkauctions.com/uk/fujifilm-manufacturing/01-20033/

 

[HHPhoto]

In that factory film was produced until 2006.
Since then RA-4 silver-halide colour paper is produced there.
What is now sold is some of the former film production equipment (and it looks like some is from the kitchen for the employees).
As the production capacity of Fuji's film plant in Japan is more than big enough even for an increased market in the future (film renaissance like we already see it with instant film), it is understandable that this auction will be done.

Cheers, Jan

 

[jschrader]

even as an old do-it-yourselfer, I think film is something one should better buy.....

 

[RichL]

even as an old do-it-yourselfer, I think film is something one should better buy.....

Having once, long long ago coated my own roll of 35mm film, I can heartily endorse your point of view.

 

[LarsAC]

Having once, long long ago coated my own roll of 35mm film, I can heartily endorse your point of view.

Wow, are there any instructions on the net or in books how this is done? Or did you just iterate your path to success?

Lars

 

[RichL]

Wow, are there any instructions on the net or in books how this is done? Or did you just iterate your path to success?

Lars

This was back in the late 50's when Kodak still had their own stores where you could purchase nearly any product that Kodak used.

I know of no books with the recipe. I probably found it while reading about the American Civil War photographers making their own plates in the field.😀

If I recall correctly, the negatives that did turn out looked as if they had been shot through a rain streaked window.

 

[RichL]

Ya gotta love the internet.
http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Emulsion/emulsion.html

Instructions for Making a Simple
Silver-Based Photographic Emulsion
Suitable for Coating on Glass or Film


Ingredients: Gelatin, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, and silver nitrate.

Equipment: film or glass plates ...

 

[fdarnell]

Overhead crane for jumbo roll - check
Turret winders -check
Emulsion kettles and front end feeding -check
Accumulators - check
Chilling unit -check
Coating head - it's been pulled see pic 40
Formulas to work in these kettles - priceless Fuji IP

Result: 316 and 308 stainless scrap value. Might get something for drive motors and controllers.

Sad to see this. When in production (when being cleaned with lights on) no one would have ever been allowed to take pictures. It's a quite high speed line guessing on the turret winders and accumulator. Looks like coating was some kind of cascade based on take off angle.🙁