It is a dilemma for me whether it is best to continue to act with stability as a long term individual tiny consumer of commodity C41 film, or whether to valiantly try in a miniscule way to support a particular business. I like using film but there is no way I can be a stakeholder.
I take comfort seeing that the in the residual market for consumables like Edison wax cylinders, vacuum tubes, DC motor brushes, performance carburetors, crystal set parts, vinyl discs, audio tapes etc, the quality is fairly close to the last state of the art.
here is a bit about reel-to reel audio tapes
Reel-to-reel audio tape recording - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quote:
Tape
When Ampex broke apart in the 1990s, Quantegy Inc. was formed, later becoming Quantegy Recording Solutions in 2004. Quantegy (and formerly Ampex) led the field in reel-to-reel technology, and Quantegy was the only company left making reel-to-reel tape in the world for a period of two years. In 2007, Reel Deal Pro Audio purchased the majority of Quantegy's reel to reel audio tape and accessories and began to sell it on their web site.[7]
In 2006, Recorded Media Group International (RMGI) in the Netherlands began manufacturing EMTEC specification tape in Oosterhout and was then the only open reel tape manufacturer in the world. In January 2012 Pyral SAS in France bought out the manufacturing equipment and intellectual property of RMGI with the intent to manufacture the tape in France.
RMG International: The Masters of Tape - Recordable Media Group The RMGI plant at Oosterhout was closed in April 2012.
RMG International: The Masters of Tape - Recordable Media Group
ATR Magnetics LLC began manufacturing analog open reel tape in 2006 and is now in full production of all sizes of professional open reel recording tape.
Jai Electronic Industries in India are currently making audio tape in 6.35 mm(1/4") and 12.7 mm(1/2") width, and perforated 16 mm and 35 mm audio tape for the film industry.[8]
Pyral in France are making perforated 16 mm, 17.5 mm and 35 mm audio tape.[9]