How do I develop negative from Late 1800's/Early 1900's?

I have an old black & white negative from the late 1800's or early 1900's.

Does anyone know where I can go to get it developed? I went to a neighborhood

pharmacy photo joint and the woman there told me that they do not have the

equipment anymore to process such a negative.

 

What is odd is that the negative is large, about 5" x 7". It's an aerial

photograph of my ancestor's farm in Ireland and it would mean a lot to get an

actual photograph out of it.

 

I'd be very grateful for anyone's guidance or assistance!

 

John W.

Do you just want a print of a negative that has already been developed or do you have an undeveloped negative that needs developing?

 

If it is the first, it should be easy to find a photo studio that can make you a print, or scan it.

 

If it is an aerial it isn't likely to have more information on it than a flat bed scanner can resolve.

You mean to make a print, not to develop. The negative has already been developed. 5 by 7 is not odd at all. Back in those days, cameras were big and used large-sized negatives. People still use 5 by 7 negatives. There are experts in providing photographs from old negatives and old original prints. I would think a pro lab would work with it. Check your yellow pages or the internet for a pro lab.

 

You can also do it yourself if you have a scanner and image processing software, such as photoshop.

 

It's things like this that make people appreciate the archival attributes of film. A hundred years from now, will anyone be able to make prints from digital files created from today's digital cameras? Well of course, we will never know!!!

 

Good luck with your endeavor.

A 5x7 negative would be easy to contact print as well, if you have a b/w enthusiast somewhere nearby.

 

Where are you? If you were local to meh (northwest Ohio), I'd do it just because it sounds interesting. It's not difficult, but you won't find any drugstore photo lab that will touch it. They just don't have the gear for film bigger than 35mm. Many custom labs will go up to 120-size film, but not bigger.

 

A scanner with a backlight could scan it, and you could print it digitally.

 

Aerial? Likely wouldn't be the 1800s, then. Although some aeriel photography was done before airplanes, with balloons and kites and such.

<i>"I went to a neighborhood pharmacy photo joint and the woman there told me that they do not have the equipment anymore to process such a negative."</i><P>

 

I doubt that the neighborhood pharmacy EVER had the equipment to print from a 5x7 negative. :-)<P>

Find a pro lab that prints (or scans) large format negatives. They should be able to help you.

<< It's things like this that make people appreciate the archival attributes of film. A hundred years from now, will anyone be able to make prints from digital files created from today's digital cameras?>>>

 

That's why I shoot my family photos on film.

 

OTOH, will anybody have a scanner that will scan negs in 100 years?

 

Or will they have to find an artist who works with film to get it printed?

Thank you everybody...Since I know so little about photography, I am grateful.

You could get this scanner but if you just have 1 negative it would not be worth it. However if you have a lot more it is a thought.

 

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=63060806

 

Larry

John,

 

If you want the negative Contact printed I can do that for you. If you would like it scanned and enlarged that way I could also do that for you.

I operate a full service wet lab and digital lab. So I would be happy to help you out in anyway that you would like. Unfortunantly I can't enlarge 5x7's in the wet process, the largest I go is 4x5's. But I can do it digitally. I can however contact print it in the wet process along with a digital scan and large Ink Print enlargment.

If you are intersted email me and let me know.

 

Luke.

I want to see the results now, please post when they arrive!

OH. Thanks for the link to that scanner. I'm kind of in the market for one and didn't know exactly which to choose.

No problem I am getting on for my birthday next month I already use a 3170.

 

Larry

I went to that link, its for the 4490, thats what I scan with, very good scanner! I have had really awsome results with mine since I have had it. For the money, it is a GREAT scanner! If you have any ?'s about it, let me know, I have been using the 4490 for about a year now.

Thanks Luke I figure for $109.00 I can't go wrong since I already use a 3170 that cost me $99.00 a few years ago. from the same place.

 

Larry

You may have considerable trouble getting a good scan of this negative unless you want to

make the big step up in price and pay for drum scanning -- flatbed scanners usually have

terrible Newton-ring problems with negatives larger than 4x5 inches, because they sag

and so must be placed directly on the scanner's glass bed. If you decide to pay the $50-

$70 a drum scan would cost you can try Nancyscans, I've seen a lot of their work and it's

good. Then you'll need to have a digital print made.

 

Another contributor offered to contact print this for you. I have an 8x10 enlarger and

could make an enlargement on traditional black-and-white enlarging paper if you want

that, but it would be fairly expensive, probably about the price of getting a drum scan and

a digital print made. Get in touch if you decide you want this, and I'll see what I can do for

you.