I have a friend who has a few very old rolls of B/W film that have been rolled up in 35mm film cans for a long time. He asked me how to relax the film so it can be worked to make prints.
Any suggestions will be quite helpful. Thanks.
Full Version: old film
Assuming they are already developed, I would put them in a warmish (not hot) water bath for a half hour or so, and then hang them straight to dry again after a dip in a Photoflo solution.
If they haven't been processed, do the same soak before processing. I expect that would soften them so you could straighten them out.
If they haven't been processed, do the same soak before processing. I expect that would soften them so you could straighten them out.
Thank you, Eric. I actually thought the waterbath would work but I didn't want to tell him anything until I ran it here to see what others thought. Of course, I had forgotten about Photoflo. It's only been about 30 years since I had my B/W darkroom. 
Yes, they are already developed.
This guy has boxes of really old slides and film of various places from the very early 1900's. In exchange for printing some copies of old maps and such, he has allowed me to scan and print as I desire old slides of Yellowstone Nat Park from around 1900 or so. Transportation then was by stage coach and even the garbage collector wore a derby hat and suit and tie!! I love these old images!
I figure I'll be scanning and printing the B/W film for him as well.
Yes, they are already developed.
This guy has boxes of really old slides and film of various places from the very early 1900's. In exchange for printing some copies of old maps and such, he has allowed me to scan and print as I desire old slides of Yellowstone Nat Park from around 1900 or so. Transportation then was by stage coach and even the garbage collector wore a derby hat and suit and tie!! I love these old images!
I figure I'll be scanning and printing the B/W film for him as well.
Sounds like a fascinating collection to be exploring.
If you need Fotoflo, I bought a gallon of the stuff (yup -- saw it on the camera store shelf, and it was much cheaper per ounce than buying lots of the little 4-oz bottles) probably about forty years ago now. The remaining half-gallon or so is still sitting in my lovely unused-for-the-past-five-years darkroom.
I'll gladly give it to anyone who wants to come by to pick it up (near Boston).
Hmmm. I wonder if I could use the stuff to clean the keyboard on my PC. Maybe it's good for cleaning an LCD monitor, too...
If you need Fotoflo, I bought a gallon of the stuff (yup -- saw it on the camera store shelf, and it was much cheaper per ounce than buying lots of the little 4-oz bottles) probably about forty years ago now. The remaining half-gallon or so is still sitting in my lovely unused-for-the-past-five-years darkroom.
I'll gladly give it to anyone who wants to come by to pick it up (near Boston).
Hmmm. I wonder if I could use the stuff to clean the keyboard on my PC. Maybe it's good for cleaning an LCD monitor, too...
Let's see... if Boston is about 300 miles from Ellsworth, and my car gets about 22 mpg on the highway... that would take about 28 gallons of gas at 3.20/gal for a cost of about $90 for the photoflo. 
Somehow I think I can get it cheaper from B&H but I appreciate the offer!!
If I was heading down to NJ in a week or so I'd take you up on that offer, but my trip isn't planned until the end of March.
Somehow I think I can get it cheaper from B&H but I appreciate the offer!!
If I was heading down to NJ in a week or so I'd take you up on that offer, but my trip isn't planned until the end of March.
Next time I'm heading down Ellsworth way I just might take the jug along. You might have to wait a couple of years before I get there, though.
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