Possible bad batches of Kodak black and white 120 film?

[ChrisR]

I've seen a couple of posts about bad batches of Kodak TMax 100, TMax 400 and Tri-X 120 film, in the past few days.

First @ianbarber on the Black and White forum: http://www.digitalmonochromeforum.co.uk/threads/bad-batch-of-kodak-120-roll-film.1023/

Then The Online Photographer: http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2016/05/film-and-lf-news.html

Among other things, I wondered if this was related to the short supply problems that @ianbarber mentioned on here a while ago.

I have a recently bought unopened suspect batch of Tri-X. I asked Calumet about it, and they denied all knowledge, so I've replied with the two pointers above.

 

[ChrisR]

Just to add, this is the information about the suspect batch numbers:

Emulsion numbers that may exhibit the above problem only in Kodak 120 format roll film:
(Emulsion numbers can be found on the film box, the foil wrapper, and printed on the clear edge of processed film near frame number 11.)

Kodak T-Max 400
Emulsion 0148 004 through 0152

Kodak T-Max 100
Emulsion 0961 through 0981

Kodak Tri-X
Emulsion 0871 though 0931​

​

Mine was Tri-X batch 0931. Calumet replied saying they still don't know anything about it:

All these items will go through their own quality control team and as we've stated, there is no details given to us form Kodak that there is any cause for alarm. If there does seem to be problems with this film afterwards, please do let us know but we don't anticipate there to be any reason to be alarmed.

So I should tell them if one of my films is ruined... OK, I never thought of doing that! :banghead:

 

[Asha]

Assuming there is definite issue with the film produced with those batch numbers, then request Calumet offer à refund or exchange.
If they refuse......shop elsewhere next time.
If you are then stuck with said film but don't want to shoot it, contact Kodak. They may help with à replacement.
If not then use the film....perhaps not on seriously important photos in case it is faulty, and put it all down to experiene happy in the knowledge that the retailer who sold it to you, the same who offered poor after sales service, won't receive any more of your hard earned cash!

 

[TheGreatSoprendo]

I have an unopened box of the TMax 100 from the above batch...though I must have bought it well over a year ago and haven't a clue where!!

 

[excalibur2]

h'mmm tricky one...are Calumet lying when they say don't know anything about it. Anyway I can't see how Calument would lose out, as a quite large of supplier of Kodak film, and any bad batch would be replaced free by Kodak.