Leica high sharpness developer

In 1939 Heirich Stockler of Leitz came out with a developer which gave highest possible sharpness without loss of speed

 

Solution A

 

metol 5 gram

sodium sulphite 100 gram

in 1000 cc water

 

Solution B

 

borax 10 gram

in 1000 cc water

 

 

 

develop film in solution A for 2-5 minutes 68 degree F

 

follow by development in solution B for 3 minutes

 

Do not rinse film between baths

 

Source Aaron Sussman The Amateur Photographer's Handbook

Stoeckler test

I wonder how the results of this formulation compare with Rodinal, which was in use at that time, and still fairly widely available.

There's another report on this at

The Stoeckler two-bath film developer

This formula is very close to Divided D-23. I used the divided formula for several years with 35 & 120 films & was very happy with the results, especially using a diffused Omega enlarger with the negs. Current results with my Pyro staining developers (currently Pyrocat HDC) are similar, and much less "trouble". Aloha, Bill

Old developer formulas were made for old films. Some work great to this day. Others, not so much. I think Anchell & Troop had something to say about this. I'd be suspicious of divided developers without reasonable testing. Also, there really isn't any magic formula that gives the best of all worlds. If you develop films to the same gamma, differences in developers tend to be less then people think.

It's a 'surface' developer, which was an innovation at the time when miniature film use was still a novelty.

 

The hype of 1939 can hardly be considered a recommendation against the more sophisticated acutance formulations that came after.

 

WRT comparison with Rodinal - there is none. Rodinal has no pretentions to fine grain or control of tonality. It's basically caustic soda and a developing agent; about as crude a developer as you can get.