Agfa Rodinal “New” vs “Old” question

[Ira Rush]

OK people, calm down, calm down!

This is not one of those rumor posts that have Agfa like the Phoenix rising from the ashes; this is a question about Rodinal developing times.

Also, if this question has been posted previously, I honestly do not want to waste the forums time, but I can’t find the question & answer that I am looking for.

I recently came across some bottles of Rodinal, (which are old, perhaps from the 1980’s. (The data sheet says © 1982 and indicates that Agfa is located in Teterboro, NJ).

The developing times are as follows:

1:25 Dilution

Agfapan 25 @ 4 min
Agfapan 100 @ 5 min
Agfapan 400 @ 7 min


A newer bottle of Rodinal that I have (no ©, but Agfa is now out of Ridgefield Park, NJ) lists the developing times as follows:


1:25 Dilution

Agfapan APX 25 @ 6 min
Agfapan APX 100 @ 8 min
Agfapan APX 400 @ 7 min

Various Agfa data sheets that I found in PDF format, are even more confusing, with each revision, the times likewise change. Anyway, big difference in times!

My question is this, is the change in development times due to a change in the chemistry of Rodinal, or a change in the emulsion of the film?

A second question arises then, regardless of whether the answer is a change in chemistry or film emulsion. Rather than trying to date Agfa chemistry, film or even paper by the address at any one given time or some © notice, did Agfa ever, ever date code the products, even in the most rudimentary way?


Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

[ath]

The APX films and the the non APX are different emulsions. AFAIK in the recent decades nothing was changed on Rodinal what affected the development times.
Note: I'm talking abot the bottles from AGFA and A&O (who took over the chemical part from Agfa Photo), not J&C, not Foma, not ADOX, not ORWO, not "original Rodinal" (whatever this is).

[PHOTOTONE]

As stated above, the Agfa films DID change over the years, requiring a revision of the developing times.

[john_s]

As stated above, the Agfa films DID change over the years, requiring a revision of the developing times.

This pdf file is an excerpt from an Agfa Australia newsletter from approx 1978.

[Ira Rush]

Thanks to all who responded!

I kind of thought that it was indeed a change of emulsion, after all the box of APX with the big bold "New Emulsion" logo on it, kind of gave it away, but I just wanted to be sure.


As for the other question I raised, did Agfa ever date code the items (chemistry, paper, etc.) in any way?

Once again, thanks