Ilford Recording Paper ‘B.P.1 Unperforated’ Empty Cardboard Box c.1922-1945

This is a highly unusual box that originally contained a reel of recording paper by Ilford Limited of London.

The box is made from brown card. The top retains the original black and white paper label, which reads ‘OPEN IN DARKROOM ONLY ILFORD RECORDING PAPER B.P.1 UNPERFORATED’. In addition to this, it includes the dimensions of the contents as ‘LENGTH 100FT WIDTH 2 ½ INS. CORE ½ IN. INTERNAL. WINDING FACE OUT. BATCH NO. 840AH-D’. The bottom of the label is printed with ‘ILFORD LIMITED. ILFORD. ENGLAND’.

The logo shown at the top of the label was in use from 1922 to 1945. More information about the various logos used can be found HERE.

One side of the box is handwritten in pencil with the words ‘TEST RUN’.

I believe that the ‘B.P’ may have stood for ‘Bromide Paper’, which is one of the types of paper that Ilford produced at that time.

The box has a maximum height of approximately 9.3cm, with a width across the front of about 11.1cm and a depth of 9.7cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 70g.

It is in fair condition for its age, with wear around the edges, and some of the corners have split. This is to be expected from something as ‘throw away’ as an empty box of this age, which is a remarkable survivor.