Re: [Leica] Kodachrome Labs

[chucko@siteconnect.com (Chuck Albertson)]

Kodak settled the government's antitrust case against it in 1954 by agreeing
to unbundle processing from the sale of the film. That only applied to the
US market, which is why Kodachrome purchased overseas still has the
processing included. Theoretically, anyone could then process Kodachrome,
but it was such an expensive process (full-time analytical chemist, etc.)
that I don't recall anyone else attempting the K-12 or K-14 process until
the mid-1980's, when A&I, BWC, the New Lab in San Francisco, and maybe a few
others started offering it (the New Lab has since dropped out of that line).

Most of the Kodachrome I have processed these days goes through a K-Lab
processor, which Kodak introduced a few years ago. It automates a lot of the
quality control features of the K-14 process, among other things, and was
intended to make Kodachrome processing more affordable for private labs. I
haven't noticed any difference in the quality of processing by the K-Lab
machines. You can tinker with the processing times with the K-Lab--film can
be pushed or pulled, though this seems to work best with K200.

Chuck Albertson
Seattle, Wash.

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Bergman, Mark A." <mabergm@nppd.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 12:45 PM
Subject: RE: [Leica] Kodachrome Labs


> I was always under the impression that Kodachrome processing was a tightly
> controlled process done with Kodak chemicals and Kodak equipment and
> therefore it shouldn't matter who does the actual processing (since it is
> all identical).  Unlike E6 I don't believe you can overuse the chemicals
or
> change processing times or other variables.  Back in the 60's (50's??)
Kodak
> faced an anti-trust action by the government because only Kodak could
> process the film (you had to buy film and processing together).  The
> solution was for Kodak to sell the equipment and chemicals to other
> companies but maintain strict control over the equipment and chemicals;
they
> also started selling the film without processing.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MicroGrid@aol.com [mailto:MicroGrid@aol.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 1:58 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Kodachrome Labs
>
>
> I am certain no offense, I know there is a Kodak lab in Fairlawn, NJ
(EMAIL
> me if you need the address, I'm in my office now) I know there are others
> out
> there, but don't know addresses.
> Can anyone give George a hand on this one?
>
> Bruce Bowman
> Killingworth CT
>
>
> n a message dated 7/19/00 1:52:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> imagist@concentric.net writes:
>
> << I asked earlier if someone might please recommend the best labs
>  in US for Kodachrome processing. Received no replies. Have I
>  asked a question which offends or??? >>
>