Does Anyone Know What These Marks Are On This Print?

[Ken Souza]

Hello,

I recently received a network print of I Love Lucy. When projected there are these wierd orange spots that are in the print. There is no VS Smell, no warpage and the print looks brand new. But it's an original nice B&W.

My print of Bonnie Scotland with L&H has some of these marks in the second reel. I am keeping these prints far away from my other prints just in case it will cause the same to other prints.

I have cleaned each print and the marks still appear. Other than the marks both prints run and sound fine.

By chance does anyone know what has caused these marks and if this would be harmful to other prints? Any information would be helpful.

Thanks Ken

[Steve Lee]

Hi Ken,
The marks look like fixing stains from the last stage of the processing. If the fix hasn't been thoroughly wash off after the last stage of processing, over time it will start to turn yellow then orange as the years progress. The same thing can happen to photographs.
Sadly there is nothing that can be done to remedy this, but fortunately it is not contagious to other prints.
Steve

[Ken Souza]

Hi Steve,

Thank you for the information. I did not know that about the fix not being properly washed off. Excellent to know that it will not harm any other print. The orange isn't too bad. At least the I Love Lucy is a network print with all original commercials. I will keep it

Have a good week.
Ken

[Winbert Hutahaean]

Just curios to know, is this printed on color stock? They don't look quite B/W to me. More like brownish.

[Brian Fretwell]

I think the colour is the result of the problem with the fixer. I have had that with some home processed B&W still film.

[Mike Newell]

It is a problem in the film processing from the lab. Nothing clears it up and it gets progressive worse over the years.

[Ken Souza]

Thank you to everybody that has replied to my post.

I too have been researching what the orange spots are, and I also got a hold of a couple film archives that told me the exact same things that you have all mentioned.

I’ve been told that the film finishing developer was not properly washed off when the print was made and that is what is causing the orange spots. And that it is not harmful to any other prints in my collection. That was a relief because we know how that’s what we all fear

It is kind of odd that the opening of the print with the Philip Morris logo and where they say call for Philip Morris is really bad with the orange spots and then it clears up to what you see. All in all I will keep the print.

Got to love this hobby and keep it going!

Ken