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Warm Tone Developer, circa 1945

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EarlJam:
As the war in Europe wound down in Spring, 1945, my dad had time on his hands and started experimenting with warm tone developers for B+W prints. I came across his notebook this week and found his notes on the basic formula and modifications, along with sample prints, which I'll detail in subsequent posts.

In brief, it appears that this formula divides the silver in such a way that it absorbs blue and reflects green and red light. My dad used to talk about another developer he had made that gave a light green tone to the print, apparently reflecting only that part of the spectrum, but I haven't been able to find any notes on that formulation.

If you'd like a PDF of this post, PM me with your email address.

EarlJam:
22 April 1945
WARM TONE DEVELOPER
Original and Basic Formula

Sodium Sulphite, anhy                      40 grains
Hydroquinone                                   7 grains
Potassium Bromide (K Br)                 4 grains
Sodium Carbonate, mono                ¼ ounce
Water to                                       10 ounces

Use Type 1 paper, give about 8 times the normal exposure and develop for about 3 minutes. Average negatives on contrast 2, without a ground glass in the printer, require about 16 seconds exposure.

EarlJam:
5 May 1945
BROWN TONE DEVELOPER – Modification 1
Sodium Sulphite, anhy             27 grains
Hydroquinone                         14 grains
Potassium Bromide (K Br)          4 grains
Sodium Carbonate, mono         60 grains
Water to                                 10 ounces

Use Type 1 paper, contrast 4, and develop for 3 minutes.

EarlJam:
5 May 1945
BROWN TONE DEVELOPER – Modification 2
 
Sodium Sulphite, anhy               27 grains
Hydroquinone                           14 grains
Potassium Bromide (K Br)            4 grains
Sodium Carbonate, mono           60 grains
Ammonium Chloride                  14 grains
Water to                                   10 ounces

EarlJam:
5 May 1945
BROWN TONE DEVELOPER – Modification 3
Sodium Sulphite, anhy               27 grains
Hydroquinone                           14 grains
Potassium Bromide (K Br)            4 grains
Sodium Carbonate, mono           60 grains
Ammonium Chloride                 28 grains
Water to                                  10 ounces

Use Type 1 paper, contrast 4; developing time is less than 3 minutes
NOTE: Developers of this sort containing ammonium chloride give a beautiful yellow tone when wet, but turn to chocolate brown when dry. More dilution, however, might produce other colors.

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