Ilford Multigrade RC paper

[desf]

Hi,

Last night, when clearing out a cupboard, I found two boxes of Multigrade RC paper (and the filter set). One box each of 5x7 and 8x10.
The box seals are broken so I must have used some but from the weight they seem pretty full.

Now these must be over 20 years old , what's the chance they are still useable?

I still have all the darkroom kit so I should get the finger out, get some new chemicals and try it but I'm a lazy sod really!

 

[Peter B]

I believe the current Multigrade is version 5, although they may have stopped numbering them after version 1V. Does the label say which it is?

 

[desf]

Labels just says MGRC, no numbers.

I can't remember if I've used my enlarger in this house and we moved here in late 2002..

 

[Peter B]

The 2019 article at the link says Multigrade IV was released 25 years earlier, which would have been 1994. I reckon that would be what yours is?

NEW PRODUCTS ANNOUNCED PRODUCTS INCLUDING 5TH GENERATION ILFORD MULTIGRADE RC PAPER & ILFORD ORTHO FILM IN 135 AND 120 FORMATS

in 2019, as we celebrate our 140th anniversary, we are pleased to announce the 5th generation of our best-selling MULTIGRADE RC Papers.

www.ilfordphoto.com

 

[dmb]

Last print I made, last week, was on Kentmere fibre based paper from many years before Harman acquired them. I was given it in 1974 by the professional photographer at the research laboratories my father worked at because it was out of date. Printed fine.

 

[Asha]

I still have all the darkroom kit

Barring the red safelight cos I av it ! Lol

and yes you really could do to get your fingers dabbled in the darkroom again

 

[Asha]

As for paper, I’ve used a mix of all sorts of paper from donkeys years ago that I kindly received from a very good friend.
I believe the boxes ( many opened) were refrigerated but nonetheless they all have been fine.

 

[desf]

Thanks all, I’ll give it a go in the New Year (next lockdown).

@Asha , I still kept one safelight, just in case….

 

[joxby]

So I was given a 50 sheet box of 10x8 RC glossy 10 years ood, the guy who gave it to me told me it was from a pack of 100 he'd been using, bought new along with a 100 box of satin.
Anyway the long and short of it was, when he finally got around to using it the satin was fogged to hell and fit only for the bin but the glossy was perfect, and apart from a couple of sheets I can confirm it was fine.
Both boxes new, the same exp date and "lost" in the same place for 10 years.
Can't imagine glossy keeps any better than satin, but....who knows...