At the end of World War 2, photographic materials were in very short supply for amateur photography. At that time, the Government possessed a huge amount of black and white printing paper, most of which was manufactured for use during the war. Subsequently, it was surplus to requirements, and enterprising photographic dealers purchased vast quantities at greatly discounted rates to sell onto amateur photographers.

Martin's Photographic Service, at 120 Forest Road, Hackney, was one of those dealers and these price list pages show some of the variety of Bromide and Contact printing papers, in many contrast grades, that were for sale in August 1949.

The Government surplus paper 'not waterproofed', see page ref.No.55, was stamped with small images of crowns on their reverse and the paper was often known as 'crown marked' (see 1950 postcard print below). The cheaper Government surplus Bromide paper 'waterproofed on the back' was for very rapid processing and was an early version of 'resin coated' paper', see page ref.No.57.

The Kodak BG2 and BG4 3½ x 4¾ inch is likely to have been sold in the original Kodak boxes, the code of BG meaning Bromide Glossy.

Martin's Photographic Service became Frank Martin's Photographic Supplies in the 1960s, with a new address at 526 Kingsland Road, London E8.

A.W. Young price lists.

These three price lists originated from A.W. Young, Photographic and Cine Dealers, 159 Chatsworth Road, Clapton, London E5. As well as being photographic dealers, A.W. Young also sold surplus and out-dated photographic goods and equipment, which included vast quantities of out-dated ex-Government black and white photographic paper, plus other makes of photographic paper, such as the American "Haloid", "Barnet", and repacked Kodak paper.

In 1967 Ilford introduced "Ilfobrom", a photographic enlarging Bromide paper to replace their well known Ilford Bromide paper. From 1967 onwards, Ilford sold huge quantities of Ilford Bromide paper to most photographic dealers who specialised in selling out-dated black and white photographic paper. A.W. Young was one of the dealers who took up this option from Ilford, as can be seen on the price list below, right.

These price lists show the enormous variations of sizes, quantities and contrast grades that were offered for sale at discounted prices. The 1969 lists (below) give prices in £.s.d, the third list dates from 1973 and prices are in decimal currency, £.p

"Soft" contrast grade paper was usually offered at lower cost than the "Normal" or "Hard" grades of paper. The reason for this was that almost all photographers and black and white printers rarely made use of "soft" grade paper; the vast majority of negatives would print well on normal and hard grades. Another reason for the much discounted price of soft grade was Ilford grade 1 soft (B1.1P) gave a print at least one grade softer than the equivalent Kodak grade 1 soft paper (WSG 1S).

The Ilford Bromide paper contrast grade system was at least one grade softer than the equivalent Kodak contrast grade up and including Ilford Grade 3 (B3.1P). Ilford Grade 5, Ultra Hard (B5.1P), was offered at almost the same price as the soft grade for the same reason, i.e. the grade gave an extremely contrasty result, so that grade 5 Bromide paper was rarely needed

To the right is an attempt to compare contrast grades of Ilfobrom, Ilford Bromide, and Kodak UK bromide papers. This is based on a chart in the 1968 British Journal of Photo Annual (BJPA) review of Ilfobrom paper in the “New Goods” section. The old Ilford Bromide paper had a gap in contrast grades between Grade 3 Hard and Grade 4 Extra Hard.

Table of the comparison of contrast grades of Ilfobrom paper and Ilford Bromide paper from the review in the “New Goods” section on Ilfobrom paper in the British Journal of Photography Annual of 1968. The Kodak Bromide U.K. made paper grades have been added for interest. All grade comparisons are approximate and depend on type of enlarger used and print developer.

The contrast grades 0, 4, and 5 were in most cases made only in a glossy surface. In the late 1960s Kodak UK manufactured a gloss surface paper in “Special Contrast”, which was mid way between Kodak Grade 1 and Kodak Grade 2. All bromide papers deteriorate over time, and buying from a “surplus stock” photographic dealer meant that paper advertised as Grade 2 Normal might have produced prints which resembled a Grade 1 Soft paper depending on how old the paper was.

To the right are shown two boxes of 'surplus stock' re-packed, American made, 'contact' paper in contrast grades 'Soft' and 'Vigorous'. Both boxes originally held 100 sheets of Glossy, Single Weight, paper of size 3½ x 2½ inches (suited to contact printing negatives from '8 on 120' or '8 on 620' film).

In 1969 the author (Michael Talbert) purchased a box of re-packed Kodak Bromide paper in Grade 3, Hard, from A.W.Young by mail order. That paper was also labelled 'DELOP' and the sealing labels were similar to the labels on these two boxes.

The age of these boxes is uncertain, but the printing of the black and green vertical lines has a resemblance to the red and black vertical lines printed onto the Kodak photographic paper boxes and packets of the 1940s and 1950s. The Grade 3 box is termed 'Vigorous' rather than 'Hard', giving the impression that the paper dates from the 1950s. As the sealing labels (shown here) are alike to the labels used on A.W.Young Bromide paper, there is a possibility that the boxes (shown here) were sold by A.W.Young.