"I didn't realise T200 wasn't tabular - the name is a bit cheeky in that case."
A small note, the use of T in the names of various films prompted a law suit, or threatened suit, by Kodak in the US, putting the original Foma USA out of the import business at a critical time, and now the film is sold under two new names, one by Patterson and I believe the last time I was in Prague, under the name Foma Creative? 200 or some similar such.
Foma has long danced around straight answers, and passed along various stories about the availability of sheet films in this emulsion, telling me this emulsion is shipped east in sheet film though I can not find any evidence from friends checking out the markets.
You would think they would produce it in 4x5, 5x7 (or 13x18cm), and 8x10 for what I would think would be a substantial niche market in the US.
I have a few boxes of T 200 sheet film that I picked up in Prague. I offered to import and buy in bulk from Foma, but they assumed I was willing to buy in quantity at higher than retail as they based their export price on published Kodak prices rather than their wholesale less tax prices in CR.
They actually asked me where I got my prices and seemed actually shocked when I mentioned their store on Wencelas Square. They had shipped me some 4x5 samples then denied it was available.
My old friend Misha owned Foma USA, and was left holding a lot of film he could not sell.
Bit of a strange history, but he confirmed that they had odd ideas about business.
I am holding out hope some of the old companies stay in production of the classic films for the niche market, which is really where B&W has resided for years.
There is a plant that made some wonderful papers and repackaged some Ukraine films in BRNO, if Roger and friends wish to buy it and reopen?? Neobrom, I still have some of their paper. It may come to that in the near future if we want to have that assured supply of fiber paper and films. ;-)
John |
