RE:Just the facts, Ma'am, Just the facts... Kodak B&W Paper Discontinued

Quoting BOB KISS <bobkiss@caribsurf.com>:

> DEAR LIST,
> Let's examine the evidence:
> 1) Michael and Paula have not only stocked AZO...they are contracting with a
> manufacturer to produce a top quality chloride contact paper to replace it!
> 2) Kentmere has introduced their own fine art silver/gelatin papers and are
> doing a BIG advertising push. All this while we are hearing of implosions
> from Kodak, Ilford, etc., etc!

I had an interesting phone conversation this morning about the paper situation
in general. Now admittedly, this is third hand information, so please chime in
if you have some actual knowledge or expertise in this area.

The gist of the conversation was that currently there is only one
manufacturing plant in Germany that is coating the baryta on the paper stock
that ALL the paper manufacturers send them for getting their paper base which
they then coat with their particular proprietary gelatin emulsions.
Supposedly, this plant is operating only 1 of 9 lines a few times a month. And
when they decide that this business is just not much of a business, then POOF!
no more factory paper, even if a manufacturer would like to make it. In other
words, the critical factor may have less to do with the market optimism of any
given photo paper maker than with the fate of this baryta coating operation.

Again, this may belong in the urban legend category, but its provenance is
from someone who is very technically astute and very close to the goings-on in
Rochester.

I dunno, something to ponder for sure. And if paper disappears, will there be
any reason to continue making film?

Interesting times,

Eeyore
Received on Wed Jul 13 10:08:03 2005