How to develop 1940's negatives

January 7, 2009 3:38 PM

Need photography help in the Kansas City Metro area. I have no photog back ground so I need some advice. I have several old black and white negatives from the 1940's. They need to be developed and printed. Then I want to archive them on cd's. The size is 6 1/4 inch by 3 1/2 inch. Any recommendations? Thanks
posted by Upon Further Review to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (9 answers total)

The best option is to check your local business listings for photo stores. (a quick google search revealed many) Most will print and digitize medium format b&w negatives, and it will not be very expensive. Are the negatives made of glass by chance? In that case, you will need a specialy shop, so when calling around, make sure they know you are asking about glass negs.

Old photos are the best, good luck.
posted by rumsey monument at 3:54 PM on January 7, 2009

Best answer: They still need to be developed? The chemistry available at this point may not work with very old undeveloped B/W film, so if you find a good photo shop I'd try just one roll before you commit to developing all of them.

If you have negatives that are already developed, scanning them to CD (with or without making prints) should be easy for any pro lab -- in K.C., Digital Labrador gets good reviews on Yelp.
posted by lisa g at 4:07 PM on January 7, 2009

You may want to try Wolfe's Camera in Topeka. They can probably recommend someone in KC.
posted by luckypozzo at 4:15 PM on January 7, 2009

I wouldn't trust this to any one in town but Custom Color. Good people who have saved my ass more than once (though not recently).
posted by piedmont at 4:45 PM on January 7, 2009

Best answer: Also, If you have undeveloped film, then you need old film developed. If you have actual negatives, you need them printed, not developed. I don't want you getting turned down on the phone.
posted by piedmont at 5:30 PM on January 7, 2009

Also, keep in mind that if they haven't been developed, the exposed film may not be salvagable due to the phenomenon known as film fog (yes, stray radioactivity and cosmic rays continually fog undeveloped photographic film).

I would recommend that you skip all the commercial chains and find a pro lab. Failing that, check with the photgraphy department of your local university. The instructors may be intrigued enough with the subject matter that they may be willing to develop the film for you in exchange for prints or something.



Yes, I still shoot, develop and print b/w film.
posted by Arthur Dent at 5:35 PM on January 7, 2009

Response by poster: Your right, these have been developed- and they need to be printed. Thanks!
posted by Upon Further Review at 5:36 PM on January 7, 2009

If they have already been developed, you can always scan them in and just reverse them in a photo program to get a digital print, if it turns out that professional services are too expensive for what you want. I'm not sure if you can get a scanner negative holder in that size, but I thought I would mention it anyway :)
posted by Joh at 8:50 PM on January 7, 2009

You could try Crick Camera. If they can't do it, they could probably tell you who could.
posted by whatideserve at 10:54 AM on January 8, 2009