Lumière’s New Fixer Revolutionizes Photography

Date of use : France

This document is an informational and promotional notice issued by the France-based company A. Lumière et ses Fils (A. Lumière & Sons), concerning a new chemical product developed for photographic use: the "Nouveau Fixateur" (New Fixer). It is believed to date from the late 19th or early 20th century. Below, you will find both an explanation and a translation of the document.

General Information about the Document:

• Company: A. Lumière et ses Fils

• Field: Production of photographic plates and papers

• Subject: Introduction of a newly developed fixer based on acidic and anhydrous sodium hyposulfite

• Location: Lyon-Monplaisir, France

• Product Purpose: To provide a more effective alternative to traditional sodium hyposulfite used in photographic fixing baths

• Advantages: Fast dissolution, same effect with less quantity, no color deterioration, no washing required — practical and time-saving benefits

• Prices: 1.25 francs per kilogram, 110 francs for 100 kilograms

• Additional Note: Pre-mixed solutions are available upon customer request

The company Lumière & Sons, based at their steam-powered factories in Lyon-Monplaisir, presents a newly developed photographic fixer. This product is intended to replace the traditional crystallized sodium hyposulfite used in fixing baths and offers several notable advantages over previous formulations.

First and foremost, this new compound dissolves instantly in water. While it contains the same amount of active substance, its weight is nearly half that of conventional products, thus allowing the same fixing power with a significantly reduced quantity. Moreover, thanks to its acidic reaction, the fixer can stabilize even negatives that have not been sufficiently washed after development—without causing discoloration. As is well known, ordinary hyposulfite, especially when used with certain organic developers, often leads to yellowing of the image over time.

This new formula, however, takes advantage of its acidic nature to prevent such chemical reactions and ensures the stability of the photographic result. What is more, this product makes it possible to fix plates or photographic papers directly, without the need for washing after development. This provides a considerable saving in both time and effort. During the fixing process, it also slightly hardens the gelatin layer, which proves particularly beneficial when working at higher temperatures.

According to the company's recommendation, to prepare a fixing bath, one should mix 1,000 grams of water with 80 grams of anhydrous acidic sodium hyposulfite. The product is priced at 1.25 francs per kilogram, or 110 francs for 100 kilograms. Furthermore, the company offers pre-measured doses for preparing 1, 2, 3, 4, or even 10 liters of fixer, ready for immediate use.

This document stands as further testament to the Lumière family's pioneering spirit—not only in image production but also in the ongoing development of photographic chemistry.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.

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