SOVIET BLOC USE OF WESTERN-PRODUCED PHOTOGELATIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00865R000100060002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 8, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 14, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000100060002-5
14 February 1955
SOVIET BLOC USE OF WESTERN-PRODUCED PHOTOGELATIN
Photogelatin is a highly strategic commodity, for which the
Soviet Bloc is almost totally dependent on Western sources of
supply. Principal Western suppliers are Belgium,, France, the
Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and West Germany,
Annual shipments to the Bloc total only some 350-4OO tons. Since
the gelatin is packed in standard 100-pound gunny sacks, it can be
transported by truck, train or ship. Western-origin gelatin has
been shipped to East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and
the USSR, with most of it going to East Germany Purity and clarity
of the gelatin are so vital to the production of high-quality film
that testing for these characteristics is an almost constant process.
Samples from each incoming bag are tested, and any shipments vh ich
do not moat production specifications are blended with-a higher-
quality gelatin to produce the desired grade. The gelatin is tested
again after blending and before coating. Emulsion batches range from
10 pounds to 25-30 pounds, depending on the kind of film being pro-
duced, and the gelatin content of the finished emulsion is between'
95% and 99%, again depending on the kind of production,
A. Importance? Supply and Characteristics of Photogelatin
.1. Importance
Photogelatin is a highly strategic commodity which determines the quality
of photographic film for military operations such as reconnaissance, map
making, gun cameras and guided missiles. Its shipment to the Soviet Bloc
is not restricted by international agreement because it is in plentiful
supply in the Free World. Photographic gelatin is the highest grade of
gelatin, and within this grade emulsion gelatin is the purest quality.
2. Soviet Dependence on Western Su Dies
Although some photographic gelatin is produced in the USSR and in East
Germany,, its quality has been low; therefore dependence on Western sources
has been almost total. Because improvement of quality of the Soviet Bloc
product is a matter principally of employing more exact control techniques,
probably the quality standard has been raised. However, Soviet Bloc supplies
of the highest quality product are still insufficient.
3. aracterietica
i'sYy YnRVY ' RV Y/a1i
The equipment used in the manufacture of photographic gelatin is
relatively simple, although duality production requires exact control pro-
cedures as well as high grade raw materials. The finished gelatin is quit9_
stable and 'can be stored for long periods of time without deterioration,
Any impurities which the gelatin might pick up during storage can be quite
easily refined out, given a sufficiently high quality product to begin with.
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B. Western luriopean Suppliers of Photogelatin to the Bloc
1. Countries Which Ship Photogelatin to the Bloc
Supplies of photogelatin have been shipped to the Soviet Bloc from
Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and West
Germany. It has not been established definitely that shipments will continue
from all these countries, but in the absence of international restrictions
on such trade it is unlikely that they will abstain from it, A list of the
plants from which gelatin has been shipped is found in Appendix to
2. Amounts Supplied
These firms ship about 350.400 tons of photogelatin annually to the
Soviet Bloc. No estimates of 1955 shipments are available, but they vi 11
probably continue at present levels, since requirements are steady. In 1951,
the following country breakdown of shipments to East Germany was recorded:
France 180 tons
Netherlands 80 tone
Belgium 30 tons
West Germany
320 tons`
3. Trams , or'b` tipa_ cat: aGla'tin
In production, puttied gelatin is usually poured in sheets, and sn
set these sheets are broken up for packing, In some large plants the liquid
gelatin may be poured onto a drum mold and when set flaked off 'dlschi icaily,
as is commercial edible gelatin. However, broken sheet is the more usual
forma The gelatin is packed in standard 100-p6und gunny sacks and can be
transported by track, train or ship. It is probably shipped in carload lots,
about 8 tons each.
Routes of gelatin shipments are not known definitely, That from the
principal West German supplier, Deutsche Gelatinefabrik in Goppingen,'has
been pouted through Switzerland, while some of the gelatin fro, 'rance enters
`through Prolestzelleo Some has bcen transshipped via the ' United.Kingdo>'.and
the Net'herlands0 Whether these routes will continue to be used is not known.
No information is available regarding financing of these shipments.
4. Soviet Bloc Countries Receiving Western-Produced Gelatin
Gelatin from the West is known to have been shipped to Czechoslovakia,
East Germany, Hungary, Poland and the USSR, With the great majority of it
to East Germany;. The only East Bloc plants knotgz to have received
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shipments are listed in Appendix 2p Their storage capacities are not knovp,
but sinco photogelatin is in short supply in the East it is doubtful that
they maintain anything more than normal working inventories, :;about 140 tons.
0. Technical Aspects , of Use of Gelatin
1. Fume of Testi3
Purity and clarity of photographic gelatin are of utmost importance in
the manufacture of high-quality film. Other characteristics which must be
carefully controlled are moisture content, swelling and presence of ions. 'So
closely must these factors be controlled that testing of the gelatin is an.
almost continuous process,
2. proguen of Testini
To assure uniform quality, test samples are taken from each bag in a/
shipment of gelatin. If teats demonstrate that the quality of the incoming
gelatin is too low, it is blended t .th gelatin of a known higher quality to
bring the resultant blend up to apeoificationsp The blended gelatin must be
aged for about a week before use, In addition to testing on arrival, the
gelatin is tested after blending and before coating0 The size of test samples
taken from incoming shipments varies from onehalf to one kilo; samples of
blended gelatin tested are approximately one-half kilo.
3. Emulsion Batches
The size of emulsion batches varies with the kind of film being.produced.
It may range from 10-pound batches for small film to batches of 25-30 pounds.
The gelatin content of the finished emulsion also varies according to kind of
prbductiio!, but is usually between 95% and 99%.
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