Page 25 - The Wellington photographic handbook

THE WELLINGTON BORAX-M.Q. DEVELOPER.

The following metol-hydrokinone developer in which borax
replaces the usual alkali will be found of great value. Probably
no developer is capable of giving negatives of such fine grain or
more completely free from fog or stain. Its advantages are most
marked in the development of very small negatives of the Verascope
type, positives from which are generally produced by enlargement
or viewed by magnification. In such cases the almost grainless
quality of the original image is of the highest value. Borax-M.Q.
gives negatives of delicate, rather than strong gradation, and of
beautiful photographic quality. It works best with plates which
have been fully exposed.
Borax-M.Q*
Metol 20 grains 1 gramme
Hydrokinone ... 50 „ 2-5 grammes
Sodium Sulphite (cryst.) 200 „ 10
Borax (powdered) 200 „ 10
Water (hot) 20 ounces 500 c.c.
Dissolve in the order given, allowing each chemical to be in complete
solution before adding the next. This developer keeps almost indefinitely
in well-stoppered bottles.
N.B.—All metol-hydrokinone developers should be used at a temperature
of from 60° to 65° Fahr. Below 60° Fahr. hydrokinone rapidly loses its
developing power and at very low temperatures becomes practically inert.
DEVELOPING.
The plate should not be soaked in water before developing.
The developer should be mixed in a cup or measure with a wide
mouth and poured over the plate with an even sweep, not splashed
on. With some waters a slight scum forms when water is added to
the Pyro developer, and if left standing in the cup this scum will rise
to the surface and may adhere to the plate when it is poured on,
giving rise to marks for which there will be no remedy. In places
where this is noticed the two solutions must only be mixed the
moment before use. After developing a plate with pyro-soda the
developer should be thrown away. When metol-hydrokinone is
used the same solution may be made to serve for two or more
negatives developed in succession, but it must be remembered
that with each plate developed the solution loses activity.
It is
* Before making up any formula, read the notes on pages 125, 126 and 134.
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