Re: News from Bostick & Sullivan

Richard: I'll throw in my request for albumen. Coming to Sante Fe soon.
You can bet I try to find B&S. Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Sullivan" <richsul@earthlink.net>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 12:38 PM
Subject: News from Bostick & Sullivan

> I've been quite busy the past few months so I haven't been very active in
> this region of the Internet.
>
> First off I'd like to thank Sandy King for the excellent article on carbon
> printing in the latest issue of View Camera magazine. Due to no fault of
> his the sample pictures in all of the copies I saw were atrociously bad as
> far as their reproductions went. I also understand that the article was
> condensed and therefore butchered in the process leaving out some critical
> information.
>
> That being said the good news is that for the first time in over a quarter
> of a century carbon tissue is back on the market. I've spent the better
> part of 3 years developing a coating machine, procedures, and formulations
> for the manufacture of modern carbon tissue, all done in B+S's new annex
> building which brings our total square footage up to 4300 sq feet. (We're
> out of space already.)
>
> Reports from early testers are that the tissue performs admirably. I have
> made a few improvements over the classical tissue, one being it is on a
> polypropylene backing which provides for much faster drying time and does
> not need a stabilizing for multiple printing. Colors are limited at this
> time however.
>
> I am now working on "improving" the classical carbon printing techniques.
I
> made a nearly successful Ozotype on my first go-round two days ago.
>
> With the coating machine I am looking at other coated products like oil
> paper, collotype film, albumen, etc. Comments welcome.
>
> Dr Howard Efner has done some more research and has revamped his paper on
> sodium chloroplatinate, Na2PtCl6, as a contrast enhancement in platinum
> printing. It is by far the best chemical treatise on platinum printing in
> general ever done.
>
> We are now just filing the forms for our 501(c)3 federal tax exemption for
> the Center for Photographic History and Technology. This grew out of Dusan
> Stulik's (Chief Scientist, Getty Conservation Institute) talk at APIS last
> July. Dr. Stulik noted that photographic technology was often neglected by
> conservators and with the rapidly accelerating move to digital, he feared
> much would be lost. This in turn would impact conservation in the future.
>
> Plans for the Center include republication of rare photographic technology
> books, a study center, research grants, seminars including APIS. Other
> seminars and symposia will be aimed enriching at curators, photo
> historians, and conservators on aspects of historical photographic
> technology. Last but not least, a real photographic technology journal. In
> the beginning we'll begin with occasional papers and over time graduate to
> a professional peer reviewed publication.
>
> Ok, it's all a dream at this point but with support from the alt photo
> community it can be done. Melody and I will in the future will be passing
> the torch to our two sons to handle the day-to-day activities of B+S
>
> Lastly the Semi-Annual Platypus Party will be held on July 3rd.
(alternates
> with APIS) This event has been going on since 1985. It is an informal
> gathering of alt process workers including free chili and beer and print
> showing throughout the day. One year we had participants from Alaska and
> Puerto Rico. Two years ago one man flew in from Taiwan for the event. All
> are invited. Call B+S at 505-474-0890 for details.
>
> Comments welcome and encouraged.
>
> --Dick Sullivan
>
>
>
Received on Sat Mar 6 21:32:01 2004