Found a film

theukmoog

theukmoog

theukmoog

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I lost my dad a few years ago and have recently found this in a box of stuff I was going through:

Film.jpg


He was into photography when I was young, so this could have been sitting around for 40-50 years!

Am I right in thinking that, with that tab of film sticking out, it hasn't been used yet - I have a memory from my own film use that when finished the whole film is inside the body?

If there is a chance that it has been used, would it still be viable after that length of time and worth having developed?

My local Snappy-Snaps recently closed down, so where do you go for developing/printing??? :)
 
Some photographers would leave the leader out after rewinding to enable easier access if they were going to develop it themselves. Looking at how little leader is out, there’s a chance it has been exposed but hard to say. It looks like bulk rolled Ilford FP4. If he bulk rolled it himself I think there’s a fair chance he would do his own development and therefore may leave the leader out on purpose.

I use Comethrough Lab in Manchester for all processing and scans. In fact I have some film with them at the moment. Just order online, mail it off, and scans will be with you in a few days.

Come Through Lab | Manchester

Come Through Lab is an independent photographic lab and fine art printing studio based in Manchester. Professional, high quality and consistent photographic lab services for C41, B&W, E6 and ECN-2 film in 35mm and 120 formats. Fine art Giclée printing up to 44". Mail order services available.
comethroughlab.com

Edit:
If it has been exposed and has sat for 40-50 years, FP4 is resilient enough that it may be possible to still get decent enough images developed from it. Results will vary largely depending on how it has been stored though. A low and stable temperature is ideal. Sitting on a windowsill or near a radiator or subject to heat like that will probably have it completely cooked. I'd recommend telling your lab of choice the background, and they can develop some small test strips to determine how to get the best results, assuming there are exposures on there.
 
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Thanks for the detailed response.

My dad used to develop and print his pictures and this canister looks very used.

I couldn't say how it has been stored for the X years before I cleared his house but for the last few years it has been in a moving box in the small bedroom, so not too hot, not too cold.
 
In that case I think it is definitely worth sending to the lab and asking them to do a few test strips before developing it accordingly. Hopefully there's some great memories on there. Please keep us up to date if you do.

This is one of the things I love about film photography!
 
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How'd you get on with this?

TVNbBeU.jpeg


I found this roll of Ilford HP5 (non +) in a box of Fuji Super HR 100 which expired in 1990. Since Ilford introduced HP5+ in 1989, it had to be pre-1989 production, and based on the age of the Fuji box it came in, was likely exposed some time in 1988. I had it developed in 2025, some 37 years after exposure. Considering the age, I think it held up very well.

The whole roll appears to be a series taken on the ferry across the English Channel to Le Havre, France, probably from Portsmouth. There were three frames on the roll which were under-exposed and have no identifiable detail. They're not stunning images but I find it fascinating that they sat rolled up in a box for decades before they were developed and anyone got to see them.

Despite continued efforts to trace the original photographer or the subjects in the photos, I have not yet identified them. I really hope I can track them down.

42EqYjU.jpeg


UOCN1lJ.jpeg


0mqv0fV.jpeg


MV7Xjoh.jpeg


mlSpBgH.jpeg


x44hnmk.jpeg


Htum2TC.jpeg


vonnEgT.jpeg


BG9vJv9.jpeg
 
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Unfortunately, my body decided to have a serious health issue and I have been in/out hospital for a while, so the film can is still sat on my desk.

I'm home now and all good so I will get round to it again, soon, and I will update the thread when I have any results.
 
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