Developing Old Rolls of Film
When packing to move recently, I found quite a few rolls of film in the basement that have been down there for many years. They are all sizes, 35mm, disc and 110. I've looked on the internet and have found prices that range from $12.00 to over $30.00 a roll to have developed. The basement was very damp and cold. Just wondering if anyone has ever tried getting something like this developed and what was the outcome. My gut feeling is to toss them as I recall years ago getting some old film developed and the color was very washed and the pictures were terrible.
Bessie Cold is not a problem at all, but damp can get to the chemicals on the film and ruin it. It depends an awful lot on how old, but you might try just one single roll and see what happens if they're important. I've seen them survive quite a lot of age, but very little if they actually get wet.
GC 
Noname I can't offer prices but I would get them developed. You never know what's on them. A special memory, even if the color is washed out, would still be special. At worst, you get the film scanned and convert it to black and white. There are lots of free but very good programs on the web.
emaxxman I had a roll of old film developed and the prints were basically different shades of orange, but the subjects were still easily viewable. I would go for it. You may find something or someone very important to you. There's no bad picture of someone you love.
Tanya 
RAD Found two throw away cameras in the trunk of the car that were all exposed.
Took them to Walgreens on 57 there. They all printed out, and the pics were from 8 years ago. Now! Those cameras went through winter and summer for several years.
The print cost was only like 7.00 + change a camera roll.
embryodad 
Caged Animal Thanks embryodad, after looking around it seems that the discs and 110 film is difficult to develop. I will check with Walgreens and see what they take.
The 110 should not be that difficult. They might not advertise it, but the machines that do 35mm were also made to do the 110. The biggest problem when you take it in though is they may not know the machine can do it. It's probably so rare these days they just haven't seen it before.
The disc is not so easy to find, but there are places out there. You might try sending it away to this place near Scranton:
http://www.rapidphoto.net/discfilms.html
My request may not be so easy. Does anyone have a clue where I can have photogravure plates developed? These are etchings on copper plates. I have a few dozen that I am interested in seeing as photos, depending on cost that is.
As I did not know what this process was called, I looked it up on Wiki.
Photogravure is an intaglio printmaking or photo-mechanical process whereby a copper plate is coated with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue which had been exposed to a film positive, and then etched, resulting in a high quality intaglio print that can reproduce the detail and continuous tones of a photograph
Greg Interesting process Greg. I had never heard of it (then again, I'm not familiar with a lot of pre-digital printing methods.)
I found this. I have no idea if they're any good.
http://intaglioeditions.com/fine-art-printmaking-services.html
Walgreens can't process 110 film on site, but they used to send it out to be processed.
Smilingbecs Thanks for posting your question, because it just reminded me I also have a number of undeveloped rolls of film. Fri I was was shocked at the price they want to develop a roll of film! My rolls are at least 10 years old and memories of the kids and vacations I am sure. I have at least 8-10 and a few disposable cameras to develope at $11 each that is quite costly
Just found these links, and I think I'm going with Clark as that is a familiar name once I verify it is still in existence and legitimate.
http://www.clarkcolor.com/Content.aspx?Page=Order+Form+%26+Mailing+Label#.UlGC8VBOOSp
This link lists many photo labs
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum40/116941-list-mail-order-film-labs.html
Good luck
KT Greg - Photo/roto is not a process that really "develops" but "prints" from the plates. You need an old style print shop that isn't 100% digital. You might try Lamb locally, or maybe either Redmond in Denville or Alpha Graphics in Parsippany.
Being from New Hampshire and having had an interest in various printing techniques I know these guys do this kind of work and they even describe the entire process in a slide show at http://www.renaissancepress.com/photogravure/the-process-in-photos/
As GC said, you might find someone closer to make prints from the plates you have but I thought you might be interested in seeing the entire process.
GC- Thanks. I think I will contact Lamb.
As an aside, I think Redman was purchased by another printing company. I say this as a friend who owns a company in Denville was looking into buying the building Redman was in.
Rad- Thanks for the link. It is an interesting process for sure. I have about two dozen plates at 5"x7" in size. Hopefully it won't be prohibitive to have them done. Looking at the price list in emaxxman's link has me a bit concerned! LOL.
Thanks folks.
Greg - I used to live right behind Redmond. Someone else may have bought the company, but the property is still in Redmond's name, and their website still lists it as their current address.
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