F E R R A N I A
In the middle of the Umbrian Hills lies the old Ferrania factory that since 1964 has been owned by 3M. In 1971 3M Italia was formed and that is the form of the company today. The film they produce for the UK goes under the trade name of Scotch. It is also sold as Jessop, Boots, W. H. Smith, Photo Shop, Supersnaps etc. etc. etc. When all the sales are added up 3M is second to Kodak in volume. There are 26 private label brands.
Black and white cine film was the first product, way back in 1935. Before that the factory made explosives. First colour film was produced in 1949. The present factory is huge and is completely self contained. It even contains machines which were made in the factory to do specific tasks. There is even a waste water plant which retrieves silver, copper, zinc and mercury.
Among other work the scientists break down and analys competitors products. Grain structures, emulsion thickness and distribution of colour layers are all assessed. All the big manufacturers have similar laboratories which probably explains why it is becoming hard to recognise one film from another.
The film manufacturing process from the tri-acetate base to the last layer of emulsion is monitored throughout by computers and lasers. This ensures that thickness and colour quality are constant throughout the process.
Several million pounds have recently been spent up-dating the factory with the latest technology, and all of this must be good for the future of the production of photographic film. It also provides the C.R.C. with five different emulsion speeds which is good for our members.SPOT METER FOR EXPOSURE
Rita & Major Pearle`s article "Spot Meter For Exposure" in the July Newsletter (No. 54) brought some reaction. One member wished to know if it was meant to be either a `miliameter` or a `microammeter`!
Rita replies:- "The meter is a microammeter `50-0-50`. We found the circuit in a book by George Wakefield called "Exposure Control In Enlarging" and our son, John, made it up and it is extremely useful in printing Cibachrome. We use a system put out in an early CRC Newsletter by Arthur McKee which was proved to be very reliable and gives us really good prints with very little effort (and wastage of paper!).
Now we are working on making 16" x 20" prints using a new drum that Major has just finished making out of grey plastic water pipe with an old Paterson Tank lid. We haven`t actually used it yet but plan to do a couple of B&W 16" x 20" prints in it first to get used to handling it. It`s a big brute, 6" diameter inside and 20" long. I will let you know more when we have used it for Cibachrome".