Promicrol - HEAP Sulphate

[irivlin]

Promicrol is a superb B/W developer. I do have a few packets left but I have had to swap to a home brew Vitamin C developer (yes, really) since Promicrol hasn't been manufactured for many years.

The problem is that the major constituent is 2 Beta hydoxyethyl amino phenol sulphate - referred to (by the original manufacturers - May and Baker) as HEAP Sulphate.

Let me tell you why Promicrol was so good:-

It genuinely pushed the speed. It pushed it by at least 1/2 stop but I regularly pushed by three stops. The grain hardly altered. This is an amazing feat in itself. In addition, if it is used as a "one shot" diluted developer, the edge definition (acutance) was outstanding. Somehow, the highlights were preserved and the shadows didn't go muddy or grainy or blocked out. It wasn't a compensating developer but almost behaved as one. There is no better testimonial than to say Kodak Technical Pan film (nominally rated at 25asa) can be developed in Promicrol, to give continuous tones - and easily 50asa. - 100asa is barely any different. People keep suggesting Technidol as the preferred continuous tone developer for Tech Pan but Promicrol gives far better results. The fact that Tech Pan is super high contrast film might suggest that Promicrol is a super low contrast developer... Absolutely not. Delta 100, FP4, HP5, EFKE KB14 etc etc etc are developed perfectly by Promicrol. (Take a picture, with no filter - of a landscape and the clouds and terrain will show up beautifully). Portraits. - Magnificent tonal separation. - Sounds too good to be true? Promicrol really is that good).

If I could only get hold of HEAP sulphate, I would start making the developer myself. Would anyone have a clue as to how I might be able to source some of this chemical? I've trawled the 'Net for years, without success. If anyone finds some Promicrol, contact me first and I'll give you developing times, concentrations etc. You'll be very impressed. I reckon it's the One-Stop-Shop do-all developer.
​

 

[lynnb]

out of curiosity I searched and found this thread on photo.net, where someone mentions having the original ingredient manufactured to order at great expense. Doesn't sound very hopeful!

 

[Photo_Smith]

Promicrol is now made by Champion, I think the new developer is slightly different due to the original having restricted ingredients.
This company sell it, it cheap enough to give a try...
http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/495/champion-promicrol-film-developer-1-litre

If you wish to buy heap sulphate you will need to go to a chemical seller like these:
http://www.chinachemnet.com/16642/2-methyl-5-n-(beta-hydroxyethyl)amino-phenol-960042.html

http://www.BuyersGuideChem.com/AliefAus.php?pnumm=953678964399&pname=o-[(2-Hydroxyethyl)amino]phenol%20sulfate

I can give you the original slightly poisonous formula so be careful.
Water (125°F/52°C) 750 ml
2(beta-hydroxyethyl) aminophenol sulphate 6 g
Glycin 1.13 g
Sodium Sulphite (anhydrous) 100 g
Sodium Carbonate (anhydrous) 11.5 g
Sodium Hexametaphosphate 1.7 g
Cold water to make 1L

 

[Fotohuis]

Promicrol from May & Baker was carcinogenic, one of the reason they stopped the production.
Promicrol (new) is completely different then the May & Baker receipt.

But I agree, at that time the only developer which could fitting film speed and fine grain.
With the Ascorbic Acid type developers you have the same feature but a lack of long term storage of these type developers.

 

[wintoid]

With the Ascorbic Acid type developers you have the same feature but a lack of long term storage of these type developers.

I have some PC-TEA which is 2 years old and still going strong. Having said that, I don't feel it's particularly smooth on the grain.

 

[sevo]

Promicrol from May & Baker was carcinogenic, one of the reason they stopped the production.

It probably would have been continued if it had had some use as a intermediate product in the chemical industry. But it appears to have had its only bulk use in hair dyes - and it is quite reasonable to ban smearing carcinogenic substances onto scalps...

 

[Fotohuis]

Glycin 1.13 g

"The film developing cookbook" gives on page 48 this Promicrol formulae with 1,16 g Glycin.

 

[schreg]

Hello Ian, my name is Gerhard,

were you successful ordering HEAP from China? Do you have this substance in hands by now and were you able to make Promicrol? If no, do you have information how to synthetisize HEAP or do you know where to find this information? I make my own Glycin and use it for Ansco 130 developer. I found the reciep in an 1917 issue of British Chemical Journal. For HEAP I found no information on synthesis.

Best regards
Gerhard

Promicrol is a superb B/W developer. I do have a few packets left but I have had to swap to a home brew Vitamin C developer (yes, really) since Promicrol hasn't been manufactured for many years.

The problem is that the major constituent is 2 Beta hydoxyethyl amino phenol sulphate - referred to (by the original manufacturers - May and Baker) as HEAP Sulphate.

Let me tell you why Promicrol was so good:-

It genuinely pushed the speed. It pushed it by at least 1/2 stop but I regularly pushed by three stops. The grain hardly altered. This is an amazing feat in itself. In addition, if it is used as a "one shot" diluted developer, the edge definition (acutance) was outstanding. Somehow, the highlights were preserved and the shadows didn't go muddy or grainy or blocked out. It wasn't a compensating developer but almost behaved as one. There is no better testimonial than to say Kodak Technical Pan film (nominally rated at 25asa) can be developed in Promicrol, to give continuous tones - and easily 50asa. - 100asa is barely any different. People keep suggesting Technidol as the preferred continuous tone developer for Tech Pan but Promicrol gives far better results. The fact that Tech Pan is super high contrast film might suggest that Promicrol is a super low contrast developer... Absolutely not. Delta 100, FP4, HP5, EFKE KB14 etc etc etc are developed perfectly by Promicrol. (Take a picture, with no filter - of a landscape and the clouds and terrain will show up beautifully). Portraits. - Magnificent tonal separation. - Sounds too good to be true? Promicrol really is that good).

If I could only get hold of HEAP sulphate, I would start making the developer myself. Would anyone have a clue as to how I might be able to source some of this chemical? I've trawled the 'Net for years, without success. If anyone finds some Promicrol, contact me first and I'll give you developing times, concentrations etc. You'll be very impressed. I reckon it's the One-Stop-Shop do-all developer.
​

 

[elmarman]

Tri-X in Promicrol 1+2 for 15 mins, Asahi Pentax S3 + 105mm f2.8 Pre-set takumar taken many years agom scan from 10x8" print

Tony by pentaxpete, on Flickr

In 1958 I got a job at May*Baker, Dagenham in the Microbiological Research Building -- I had a School friend who tested Promicrol -- one week he did Part 1, second week he did part 2 so he saved un-used part 2 from week one and un-used part 1 from week 2 and put them together and I had FREE Promicrol and I used to 'Smuggle' it out past Security on my Bicycle -- !!

 

[Fotohuis]

Do you have H+D curves from films tested with M&B Promicrol?

Regards,

Robert

http://www.fotohuisrovo.nl

 

[elmarman]

Robert : if you were asking ME about H&D Curve results -- well NO -- but my school friend would have had them there in 1958 but the factory has all been demolished now for a Housing Estate -- you should have asked me earlier --

 

[Fotohuis]

Well it doesn't matter because data from 1958 is not transferable to the new Ilford, Kodak, Foma and Fuji films.

More interesting is how to get that HEAP Sulfate in a small Synthetic volume and for a regular price.

As far as I know Promicrol was at that time the only type developer which could match fine grain and high sharpness.

 

[irivlin]

I was never able to find anyone who could make 2 beta hydroxyethyl aminophenol sulphate.
By any chance, have you had any luck with it?

Ian

Hello Ian, my name is Gerhard,

were you successful ordering HEAP from China? Do you have this substance in hands by now and were you able to make Promicrol? If no, do you have information how to synthetisize HEAP or do you know where to find this information? I make my own Glycin and use it for Ansco 130 developer. I found the reciep in an 1917 issue of British Chemical Journal. For HEAP I found no information on synthesis.

Best regards
Gerhard

 

[irivlin]

Any luck with the HEAP sulphate?
Ian

 

[irivlin]

HEAP sulphate and electrolytic development.

HEAP sulphate and electrolytic development.

Does anyone know if this is the same chemical?

http://www.buyersguidechem.com/AliefAus.php?pnumm=953678964399

On a completely separate issue, do any members have any experience with electrolytic physical development? I can't see any reason why an electric current passed across a film emulsion wouldn't reduce the silver, just as chemical reagents do. I could see this offering benefits too ie, no silver grain clumping, developing cost would be virtually zero and simply altering the current would adjust the density. I envisage a current passing across the width of the film, whilst the film is in an electrolyte (saline or sodium sulphite). The current would be supplied by slowly revolving metal rollers pressing medial to the perforations, each side. The mechanism would be very simple and "development" time might be acceptably short. If anyone wants to collaborate on such a project, please get back to me. Ian

 

[sevo]

Does anyone know if this is the same chemical?

http://www.buyersguidechem.com/AliefAus.php?pnumm=953678964399

Probably not quite - sounds like a isomer, which might make a considerable difference. But IIRC Atomal and Promicrol used different HEAP isomers, so maybe somebody should give it a try (if these guys don't demand minimal orders past the threshold of practical unobtainability).

On a completely separate issue, do any members have any experience with electrolytic physical development?

Companies like Agfa and Kodak have worked on various electrical processing techniques for almost a century, with no tangible results, even where process films were concerned. It is rather unlikely that we'll be able to get it going now, with nobody at hand who could afford to make a huge variety of experimental film.