Self loader and goodies - I wonder if this ID11 still works!

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CharlesDAMorgan

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My neighbour Tony, a lovely chap who used to do a lot of bulk loading and his own development, kindly gave me all his kit. Apart from a roll of Agfa Gevaert CT18, in the loader is some Ilford FP4 from 1994, and unopened ID11, IN-1 stop and Paterson fix. All the reels are in lovely shape but need to be tested for light leaks.

I am going to try some of the FP4 for fun - I've just loaded my first reel without huge problem (so it will all go terribly wrong). I'm joking about using the ID11, but I wonder if it is still viable.

All bought from a store just 3 miles away that had everything - the Euro Foto Centre - but long since vanished. A rather nice reminder of amateur photography only 25 years ago!

selfloading-1-of-1.jpg
 
ID-11 (powder) should be OK. Stop bath also. I'd be doubtful of the fixer. Look inside if you see some yellow sulfur deposit; and check the clearing time of a piece of undeveloped FP4: with 1+4 dilution, should of order 30s.
 
Calzone said:
Powdered developers unopened have an indefinite shelf life.
Click to expand...

No they don't, were they ID-11 or D76.

The powder may get oxydized as everything out there. I recently mixed up some ID-11 which was, and by far, not that old, and it turned out to be DOA. One of the two powders had become a bit brown and once all mixed up and dissolved the stock solution was dark brown with some precipitates. I dumped it and I did it right.

This one will turn out to be still good if both the two powders are still all white and if they all dissolve properly. But the probability is very low.
If not, it's dead and must not be used.

So : ID-11, fixer, FP4+, CT-18 : all unusable (developer and fixer are resp. oxydized and sulfurized, FP4+ film is now veiled, CT-18 film is beyond this world).
Stop bath : usable, but you must filter it (there is for sure an acetic acid "mother" at the bottom of the bottle).
The two really interesting things of that kit are the bulk loader and the metal film cannister.
 
Ilford FP4 Plus, surely? Modern in other words. You are very lucky, btw. I love those job lots of photo stuff, you never, ever know what you'll find.



Regards, David
 
I bought some long expired ID-11 from a recycling store, mixed it up.. it was discoloured light brown, with precipitates but I used it anyway after putting the mixed developer through some filter paper to remove the precipitates and gunk, to develop a few rolls of HP5+. The results were definitely not optimal, but still usable with some post processing in LR6 after scanning:

HP5+ @iso400 in expired ID-11 1+1
U27021I1568545815.SEQ.1.jpg


HP5+ @iso800 in expired ID-11 undiluted
U27021I1569242107.SEQ.1.jpg
 
David - I'll compromise on FP4+. Indeed I am lucky, this is all very neat, Tony has offered me his enlarger (not that I need it with two in the wardrobe) too as he's never going to use it again. He did his own colour in the past as it was the only way he could afford it.

The ID11 has a hole in the pack and that coming out is white if a bit lumpy. I might try some of the free FP4+ for the fun of it.

Lynn - thanks, I love the tones of the last one.
 
New ID-11 (or D76 which is the same and even less expensive) is dirt cheap if used at 1:1 (what it's mainly designed for).

Why would you want to use 25 years old oxydized ID-11 at the risk of ruining some nice pics ?
 
Well, I am very pleasantly surprised with the results of 25 year old FP4+, shot at box speed and developed in FX39 1:9 for the prescribed time - there might have been a touch more developer than normal but we are talking peanuts. Shot wide open at f1.4 on my Leicaflex SL2 with Summilux R 80mm and 2.5cm macro tubes.

lady-hamilton-1-of-1.jpg
 
Developers in metal cans last a long time. Plastic or aluminum pouches no so much.

Cans have not been used since maybe 1980.
 
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