The ADOX brand for photographic purposes has been used by three different companies since its original conception over one hundred fifty years ago. ADOX was originally a brand name used by the German company, Fotowerke Dr. C. Schleussner GmbH of Frankfurt am Main, the world's first photographic materials manufacturer. In 1962 the Schleussner family sold its photographic holdings to DuPont, an American company. DuPont used the brand for its subsidiary, Sterling Diagnostic Imaging for X-ray films. In 1999, Sterling was bought by the German company Agfa. Agfa did not use the brand and allowed its registration to lapse in 2003. Fotoimpex of Berlin, Germany, a company founded in 1992 to import photographic films and papers from former eastern Europe immediately registered the brand and today ADOX is a brand of black and white films, photographic papers and photochemistry produced by ADOX Fotowerke GmbH based in Bad Saarow near Berlin.
History
Fotowerke Dr. C. Schleussner GmbH (1860 - 1962)
ADOX was originally a brand name used by the German company, Fotowerke Dr. C. Schleussner GmbH of Frankfurt am Main, the world's first photographic materials manufacturer.[1] The company's founder, Dr. Carl Schleussner, did pioneering work on the wet-collodion process during the early years of photography, and formed his manufacturing company in 1860. Working with the physicist Wilhelm Röntgen, discoverer of X-rays, Dr. Schleussner invented the first X-ray plate.
The Schleussner firm began marketing cameras under the ADOX brand name in the first third of the 20th century and, recognizing the growing importance of the brand, renamed itself "Adox Fotowerke Dr. C. Schleussner GmbH." In 1952 they introduced a line of very sharp black and white 35 mm films under the ADOX brand.
DuPont & Agfa (1962 - 2003)
In 1962, the Schleussner family sold its photographic holdings to DuPont
Current Products
ADOX Fotowerke GmbH produces a range of black and white films, photographic paper and photochemistry. The company has notably resurrected former ADOX films and AGFA films, paper and chemicals including the entire Agfa B&W chemistry line with the help of its former employees and it now holds the trademark in Europe and USA for the famous (Agfa) Rodinal film developer. It also sells newer more 'eco-friendly products'. Chemistry is produced in house in their factory.
Films
- CMS 20 II – ISO 12/12°. An Agfa-Gevaert orthopanchromatic micro film converted by ADOX offering very high resolution, needing special developer to tame contrast for normal pictures. Format: 135, 120, sheet film
- CHS 100 II – ISO 100/21°. The original ADOX R/KB21 film (Efke KB 100 to 2012) classic 1950s ortho-panchromatic B&W print film. Introduced 2013 as a modern coating on a polyester base, but sold out by 2016. It was not re-introduced until 2018, initially as sheet film. Format: 135, 120, sheet film
- HR-50 – ISO 50/18°. Super-panchromatic ultra fine grain – Agfa-Gevaert Aviphot 80 modified to enhance usability. May also be used as an infra-red film with suitable filtration. Introduced 2018.[9]
Discontinued Products
Produced by ADOX Fotowerke Dr. C. Schleussner GmbH.
Cameras
135 format
6×6 Box
6×6 Folding
6×9
- Adrette, name variant of the Wirgin Edinex
- Adox 300
- Adox 500, prototypes
- Golf I (1964)
- Golf IA
- Golf IIA
- Golf IIIA
- ADOX Polo
- Polo 1S
- Polomat
- Polomatic
See also
- List of photographic films
- List of discontinued photographic films
Sources
- The text of this article has been adapted with permission from information published at Adox Fotowerke, Inc.
External links
References
- - About ADOX - retrieved 2014-07-08^
- Film stock review: Efke KB-25 in 35mm format 9 September 2015^
- - Adox Pan 400 - retrieved 2014-06-01^