lith film, bergger film, cyanotype

["Christina Z. Anderson" <zphoto@montana.net>]

Hi all!
     I've been experimenting with different lith films in a pinhole camera,
and different developers.  I have used Arista APH and APHS (no difference I
can tell...) in Howard Efner's nifty 4"x10" pinhole camera, with an exposure
of about 48 secs Sunny 16.  It is an f269 camera.  He made it so that the
innards of the camera curve the film plane in a semicircle so exposure
is even.  Fun stuff (hopefully he will manufacture said
camera and sell it; the one he is letting me use is his prototype).
    A couple things I've found.  One is that it sure doesn't seem that lith
film experiences reciprocity failure at those long exposure times.
     I used it at ISO 6 and 10; both work, but ISO 6 and development in
Dektol 1:10 for 2.5 min as per someone's recommendation on this list works
well.  at ISO 10 in Dektol 1:6 for 1.5 min it also works fine.  Pinholes are
now minimal without the weak acetic acid stop bath, just using water.
     I've been testing the negs out with some old cyanotype solution--it is
Mike Ware's stuff, 3 yr old, goes on a bright chartreuse green but exposes
well and in about 5 minutes in full sun.  I tried it on kid finish Cranes
and it was terrible; bled and washed out.  On Platinotype it is really nice.
I tested the solution to make sure it was working up to snuff by comparing
it to an old exposure neg that I had worked out 3 yr ago and it was just a
tad lower in contrast and that is all, after sitting in my cupboard 3 yr.
     I just got a packet of Bergger BPF 18 in the mail to test against the
lith film and I will report back the results.  It is a continuous tone,
ortho film.  I do not know the ISO of it--anyone on the list find one out in
using this film?  John Horowy (sp) doesn't quite know either.  He told me to
try it at a paper ISO so I will try it at 6, too, but it is expensive enough
to not want to waste--about $2.40 an 8x10 with shipping.  Arista APH and
APHS are, of course, pennies a sheet. Anyone have development times and in
what, or any experience at all with this film?
Chris