From: Steve Shapiro (sgshiya@redshift.com)
Date: 09/13/02-06:15:37 AM Z
That 'contact printing box' with the multiple switches is called a Morse
Printer. The bulbs were Aargon bulbs used because they produce a clear
white light and have an unfalutering duration of decades, (long life). Each
switch has a reostat to vary intesification like for burn-in and dodging.
Ansel rigged one on the wall to make his mural prints. I have one for sale
with 8 extra Aargon bulbs.
S
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Fulton" <jefulton1@attbi.com>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2002 9:00 AM
Subject: Re: printing with light bulbs; Swiffers
> Yes . . as far as I know, Weston primarily used Amidol. Azo was a paper he
> used. Regarding printing w/light bulbs: we "inherited" one of Ansel's
> printing 'boxes' @ the Institute. None of us then were wise enough to use
it
> but, for a simple explanation it covered the 8x10 negative format (maybe
was
> slightly larger) and was a hefty box with multiple bulbs inside that you
> could switch on and off with a single switch for each bulb. It remeinded
me
> of one of those sci-fi b/w movies where the 'scientist' would flip
multiple
> switches to get power up and runnning.
> For your interest . . Amidol is an excellent film developer also.
> Below is Edward Weston's print formula.
>
> Start with cold water 750 mls
> Add Sodium Sulfite 30 grams
> Amidol (Diaminophenol) 9 "
> Potassium Bromide .6 "
> Benzotriazole 60 mls
> Water to make 1 liter
>
> If you have trouble dissolving the Sodium Sulfite use warm water . . .
> however, do not mix in the Amidol into the warm solution as it oxidizes
> rapidly.
>
> Use the developer immediately . . it doesn't keep well. You can
preserve
> it slightly by adding 5-10 grams of Citric Acid. However, this will reduce
> the activity of the developer somewhat.
>
> Amidol developers are interesting in that they can be diluted without
> changing the color of the print (most developers will print more brown
than
> black when diluted). Also, if one wishes, extended development time can
aid
> greatly with troubling negatives which need contrast in the print. One's
> safelight ought to be checked. If fogging of the paper edges occurs with,
> say, a 4-5 minute development time, add a bit more Potassium Bromide.
>
> The Benzotriazole in Weston's time was made by Haloid (he also used
their
> paper) and was called, BB Compound. There is a Benzotrizole formula still
> made by Edwal called 'Liquid Orthazite.' It does contain stuff other than
> the Benzotrizole but is primarily a fog restrainer like Pot. Bromide.
>
> Jack
>
>
>
> > Wasn't Weston a big fan of the Azo - Amidol combination?
> >
> > Azo it might not be a *modern* paper, but you can buy
> > it at the store and the scale is pretty long. I
> > knocking out some contact prints over the weekend and
> > with a 15 watt enlarger bulb, printing times are at
> > least a few minutes.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 10 September 2002, lrryr@attbi.com wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Wrap some tape around the bulb, leaving a smaller and
> >> smaller area open untill you get what you want. At
> > 7.5
> >> watts heat shouldnt be an issue.
> >>
> >> Larry
> >> > My excuse for asking this question is that we
> >> discussed a month or so
> >> > ago the fact that Weston printed with a light
> > bulb.
> >> It was suggested
> >> > that you could do this nowadays by using a 7 1/2
> > watt
> >> bulb and
> >> > regular silver gelatin paper. I did that today,
> >> somewhat
> >> > successfully, but the printing times were really
> >> short, like 8
> >> > seconds. The light bulb is about 40" above
> > the paper,
> >> as high as I
> >> > can reach. IT's an unfrosted bulb. I had a
> > reflector
> >> on it but that
> >> > caused hot spots, so I took it off. How can I
> > slow
> >> these times down
> >> > to have more time to manipulate the print? These
> >> modern papers are
> >> > shockingly fast! And their scale is shockingly
> > short!
> >> >
> >> > The other burning question is: would Weston have
> > used
> >> Swiffers to
> >> > clean his negatives?
> >> >
> >> > --shannon
> >> > --
>
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