Recommendations for developing old film

[Thomas-Paris]

I've been reading here for a year or so, finally got around to making an account...

I found a roll of old exposed, but undeveloped film from the 90s. It's hand-rolled, marked as 400, and I would guess probably Ilford. For most of this decade it's been in pretty constant 10-20 C temperatures, but I think the box it came out of spent a year or so in a storage locker in San Leandro (East Bay, CA), so we're probably talking 40+ C highs.

So, I'm not expecting miracles, but I'm curious what's on it. Any suggestions on how best to get some sort of images out of it?

My current setup is a little four-roll tank that I use to develop T-Max in with Xtol.

My current thinking is to try Xtol 1:3 and add a little extra time. According to the German PDF I have, Kodak says 16 min at 21 C for Ilford HP5 Plus at EI400, so I was thinking of giving it 18 min (as for 20 C) or 20 min.

I've never tried stand development, would now be a good time to try it? Would Xtol work there, or do I need to get another developer? I've been happy with HC 110 dilution B in the past (though I didn't like it with T-Max), so I guess I wouldn't mind buying some HC 110.

I try to be very careful with handling my film and my development, so I'm completely out of my comfort zone here. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[sevo]

Both HC-110 and XTOL will do if you can assume the film to be 400 - development times with either are very close within one speed range, across brands and types. If the speed is only a vague guess, HC-110 is safer for unknown film within the 100-400 range.

 

[charjohncarter]

Gene M, on Photo.net, and he has probably developed more found film than anybody, uses HC-110. He says it is reduces fog. If you don't care about fog you could use Xtol. I don't know about 90s film, but really old stuff you have to add some time.