ONE
THOUSAND A.S.A.’??? IT!S ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE, IS’NT IT???
Well to me it is. Especially so after I had thought back for more than
fifty years. To the days, in fact, when I was an embryo cameraman, an
apprentice in the heart of the Black Country.
Why should the speed of a modern emulsion spark off such memories of the
long ago, you may ask. I’ll tell you.
You see I came across a table of film speed comparisons the other day.
You know the sort of thing - H & D (Hunter & Driffield) converted
to Din and to ASA. I was amazed at the speed I used and no doubt many
other members, too, will remember in those far off days and, yes, for a
good many years afterwards as well.
The plate (not film you will note) favoured by many at the time was
Imperial Eclipse, which were rated at. 650 H & D. Later: the English
company produced a “faster” version rated at the amazing speed of
850 H & D. when I noted the speed of these plates from the
aforementioned conversion table I could hardly believe my eyes.
Eighty - five H & D actually converts to a “massive” 25 ASA.
six fifty H & D equivalent is 20 ASA How on earth did we ever get
an image on the plates. Frankly I don’t know the answer to that one. I
can merely assure you that we did.
In fact I well remember, the very first Press job I did when a very raw
16 year - old. It was a wedding of a fireman who with his bride, were to
leave the church on the fire appliance (it was called a fire ENGINE then,
and it was a stinking, dull day with a constant drizzle. It’s
impossible, I thought. I’ll never get anything. So the plates were
‘boiled’ an expression we used to indicate that the negs were likely
to be a bit thin. It simply meant that the dev. was made a mite
warmer than normal. Well I did get a picture of sorts arid it turned out
to be my first ever published.
But now 1000 ASA, .And in colour film too. Imagine light having to fight
it’s way through a dozen layers of emulsion at that amazing speed.
Bet it’s all shades of “infra-red”
by the time it arrives at the backing !
CHEMISTS
& CHEMICALS
I remember mentioning in this column some time ago that chemists no longer
supply chemicals. It seems that Reg Long of Area 19 has found one who will
supply Glacial Acetic Acid - but at an exorbitant price., May I suggest’
that Ron contacts Hogg Laboratory Supplies, 93. Sloan Street (Qff Camden
Street. Birmingham BI.) I have always found this company most helpful -
and reasonable.
NEWSLETTERS
IN MINITURE?
Eric Weatherill, Leader of
Area 11 has been getting together with Bob Lewis of Area 9 with the idea
of reducing the print size of their respective Newsletters. Apparently
both use a computer to produce their regular N/L’s and Bob has already
successfully produced a minature version of his. Obviously the saving in
paper is considerable - for the price of this commodity these days is way
beyond most other materials.
For this reason I heartly commend Bob’s enterprise and can quite see
the sense in Eric exploring the possibilities of his joining this quest
for saving the Club some of that very scarce, but necessary evil, money.
At the same time, though, I must sound a cautionary note, for there are
some of us with eyesight that ‘aint’ quite like what it used to be.
And Eric’s mention of the Jessop advertising sheet caused me to shudder
at the prospect of receiving a tiny version of the excellent production
now circulated by the Area 11 leader. Spare us, Oh Eric!!
CITRAZINIC...
& ALL THAT.
My piece in the April issue regarding the formula for E .6 which omitted
Citrizinic Acid brought the following from the anther, Mr. C. H. Cowling,
via the Area 11 newsletter.