Printing Vintage Negatives

Yesterday was a good day.  I spent four or five hours in the darkroom.  I printed several copies each of two negatives.  My wife said you only printed two pictures, and, I said I am rather slow.  I have found that rushing in the darkroom wastes paper and time.  

The large variety of sizes vintage negatives come in sometimes causes a problem.  In the early days film sizes weren't standardized like they are today.  For my Omega D2 I have a 35mm, 2 1/4 inch square, 6x9cm and 4x5 film holders.  Problem was I wanted to print two negatives that are 4 1/2 x 3 5/8 inches in size.  They are too large for the 6x9 cm film holder and two small for the 4x5 film holder.  My solution was to take two worthless 4x5 negatives, tape them together and then to cut a hole that was 1/8 inch smaller than the negative.  You sandwich the negative between the two cut 4x5 negatives and insert into the 4x5 film holder.  Not perfect but adequate for the job at hand.  The negative is placed in the film holder upside down, so, the image will be right side up on the enlarging easel.
 
The first negative I printed was of my father in law on a wagon in a pond or creek.  These negatives are 80+ years old and have been stored in envelopes and boxes in closets for most of those years.  Based on my experience, if it was a good negative when it was made, it is still a good negative these many years later.  So far I have scanned about 100 negatives and am in the process of printing some of the best. 

The next negative is a mystery.  My father in law is the third man from the left with the amused expression on his face.  No idea where it was taken or who the other men are.  I find the picture rather amusing.  Reminds me of the famous picture of a bunch of men sitting on a steel girder eating lunch in New York city. 

Both of these photos were printed on Ilford postcard paper.  Earlier today I developed two rolls of color film which should be dry by now.  I have one roll of color film left.  When that is exposed I will be at the end of color film taking.  I intend to concentrate on black and white and use the digital camera for color images.