Since initially uploading this page (October 2008), a better example of a Platona tin has been found by Brian Rees (March 2013). Scroll down the page to view the more legible label on this newer find.

To view an Ilford 1908 instruction leaflet for Platona (also found by Brian Rees), click here.

A contact printing process (from the time when negatives were large enough to make sizeable contact prints) based on the reduction of a ferric salt to ferrous by the action of light. The ferrous salt was used to reduce a platinum compound e.g potassium chloroplatinite, to the platinum metal that then formed the image. Good points were the great permanence of the image and the way it lay on the natural suface of the paper. Very hard negatives were needed. Moreover, platinum is expensive and much goes down the drain with each print. Palladium has been used as a substitute, but even this is expensive.

The Platinotype process is being researched by Constance (Connie) McCabe, Head of Photograph Conservation, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC and in the UK by Dr Mike Ware.
Mike says "I have already found from the last living descendent of William Willis that there are no surviving records of his Platinotype Company, alas, and Willis did not take out a patent on his last and best version of Platinotype paper, so the "secret" died with him. We are trying to re-constitute his formulae and practice, through analysis of platinotypes and unexposed papers. I have already been able to supply Connie myself with a couple of tins of Willis's platinotype paper, which is now being analysed in the USA by a battery of modern techniques, including X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and Raman and infrared spectroscopy."

In the magazine "The Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer" (prior to it becoming "Amateur Photographer") on p409 of Wednesday June 21st 1944 issue, in "Do You Know?", the process which was the fore-runner to Platinotype is said to have been the Kallitype, by W.W.Nicol.

The lid (left) and the label (above) both show the tin to have been sold by The Britannia Works Company Limited of Ilford, London. This dates the tin to around 1899-1900.

PURE PLATINUM PAPER AT POPULAR PRICES.
In two Varieties, ROUGH and SMOOTH.

DIRECTIONS.
TO OPEN -Tear off the narrow strip of tin from lid, and store the paper in an air-tight tube as usual with platinum papers.
PRINTING - Printing frame and pad should be quite dry. Print until all details are faintly visible. Examine in weak light only.