Gast
Hello everyone,
Perhaps someone could give me some advice.
I have quite a few old 35mm films (50 to 60 years old) that I now want to make enlargements from.
The problem is that (as was probably common back then), the films were stored rolled up in cardboard, aluminium or plastic tins. The films are really stiff, like coiled springs with a very small radius. What’s more, some of the films have been cut into individual frames, making it almost impossible to position the films or snippets in the enlarger.
So here’s my question:
What can be done to get the films or snippets reasonably flat again without damaging the film material?
Many thanks,
Wolfgang
Wolfgg
Hello Wolfgang,
Here are the options:
1) Roll the films tightly in the opposite direction (against the twist), ideally with paper between the layers to prevent scratches, and store them for a few days (it may take weeks).
2) Re-wet the film – this may also be necessary for cleaning – then, to dry, push it into the tightest spot at the very centre, wound in the opposite direction to the spiral (i.e. with the emulsion on the outside). If necessary, you can spin the water out by placing the reel (with the film inside) in a salad spinner (don’t forget the counterweight).
3) Leave the twist in and enlarge the image with glass slides; the twist also has an advantage in that it presses the film firmly against the upper (hopefully anti-Newton) glass.
Regards, Wolfgang
Gast
Hello Wolfgang,
The options are:
1) Roll the films tightly in the opposite direction (against the grain), ideally with paper between the layers to prevent scratches, and store them for a few days (it may take weeks).
I’ve already tried that, with little success. It didn’t help much, especially with the short clips. The tip about putting paper in between is a good one, but the films are already quite scratched (probably from rolling them up – when the film didn’t fit in the canister, I suppose I pulled it a bit tighter, which really pressed the dust particles in...).
By the way, is there anything that can be done about the scratches now? (If you want to look on the positive side, the scratches do have a certain nostalgic charm... With modern video material, this sort of thing is sometimes added artificially....)
2) Rinsing again may also be necessary for cleaning; then, to dry, push it into the narrowest part at the very centre, wound in the opposite direction (i.e. with the emulsion on the outside). If necessary, you can spin the water off by placing the reel (with the film inside) in a salad spinner (don’t forget the counterweight).
That’s what I like best. I’ve got another tank with spirals inside.
What do you need to watch out for when rinsing? Any chemical additives? How long should the rinsing take? At what temperature?
3) Leave the twist and enlarge using a glass stage; the twist also has an advantage, as it presses the film firmly against the upper (hopefully anti-Newton) glass.
Well, that’s exactly what causes the problems; it works reasonably well with the film. However, the enlarger (a simple model) only has a downward-opening holder; at the top there’s just the condenser lens.... The snippets are practically impossible to position there.....
Regards, Wolfgang
Regards, Wolfgang
Wolfgg
Hello Wolfgang,
Scratches: in the past, these were mainly caused by films being stored in round tins. To get the film into the tin, it was first rolled up tightly, then ‘unrolled’ inside the tin, and as it ‘unwound’, dust got caught between the coils of film, causing the scratches. If necessary, you can fill the scratches with Vaseline from the chemist’s (test first), but it would be better to get an enlarger with diffused lighting and a book-style stage; a condenser enlarger is clearly the wrong choice here. Perhaps the condenser lens could be replaced with a glass plate covered with a diffusing material (parchment paper, etc.).
Soaking: it is best to use demineralised water with a wetting agent, as is standard practice in film development. A 5-minute soak is sufficient. No running water is necessary; you can soak many scraps in 1 litre. So simply place the snippets in the spiral (emulsion facing outwards), put them in the container with water and wetting agent, wait 5 minutes, remove the spiral, shake off the excess water and leave to dry. Use water at room temperature (= film temperature); with old emulsions, avoid sudden temperature changes (this can cause grain wrinkling).
Regards, Wolfgang
bernhardmangelsgmxde
I simply took Grandad’s old films out of their plastic cases, put them in glassine envelopes and placed them under some heavy books; after a while (a few weeks), they had been etched to such an extent that I:
1. Could make prints without any trouble (using a glassless negative stage), and:
2. Could store them right at the bottom of the negative folder without them curling up. (so no worse than fresh Luckys)
I reckon they’ll be completely flat at some point in the next few years or decades.
I found it fascinating to be able to enlarge negatives that are half a century old just like that, as if they were ‘completely normal’...
Best regards,
Bernhard
Wolfgg
Hello Bernhard,
If you roll the glassine sleeves the other way round – that is, with the glossy side facing inwards – onto something round with a diameter of about 5 cm, the films will lose their curl more quickly. You just need to check them every few days; once the films start to show a slight reverse curl of their own accord, that’s enough – they’ll stay nice and flat from then on.
Best regards, Wolfgang
Gast
I haven’t been on here for a while to discuss my issue.
I’ve tried various things.
All the mechanical methods have actually failed...
The films hardly lose their curl at all. 35mm film snippets are particularly stubborn, but even the 6x9 negatives hardly budge. No wonder – after about 40 to 50 years, I’d be surprised too if the films just flattened out again like that....
The question is, what else could be done?
I’ve been thinking about heat treatment for the films... does anyone have any experience with this? Perhaps between sheets of parchment paper or using an iron on a low setting?
Or soaking? In warm water? At the moment, I’ve no idea what I could do...
Regards
Wolfgang
