Kodak Panchromatic P25 Plates

I was given this unopened box of Kodak quarter plates a few months ago when I went to pick up the Ross projection lens for the Billcliff 12×15 camera. Today I had a quick look to see if they were still of any use. I have no idea of their age.

Here are the paper instructions that came in the box…

And some of the results… well sort of, there are images I suppose.

Having not shot these sort of plates before, I found I had placed them in the holders backwards thus shooting through the antihalation layer.
Theres no ISO as such so I rated it the same as wet plate and shot for 30 seconds at f8 with studio window light.
Developed with whatever was on the shelf. 1 part to 79? stopped with water and fixed again with whatever was on the shelf…

Inverted

Inverted

And a close up of the second plate with a crazy effect. I might have been a little aggressive with the agitation during tray development… or it may well be due to something else.

And after searching for ages for a Kodak No.3 plate holder and eventually getting one for free, I manage to find another six…

The inner septums on most are made of cardboard and easily removed and replaced with some tin corners thus making wet plate easily achievable.