[ARSCLIST] Camphor and audio tape...

["Richard L. Hess" <arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am in receipt of an acetate tape that spent an unfortunately long period of
time living next to a working wood stove.

Outside of being dried out, the dimensions have changed. The tape has become
narrower by melting back. What is interesting, is that when I shine a light
through it parts are opaque while other parts are the expected translucent. The
good news is that the strands are still separate on the other side and not too
badly fused on the top side.

I think the first step will be to remove some brittleness from the tape.

I have experience with circa 1935 carbonyl iron tape. It started out being like
a steel carpenter's tape measure (cupping and all)--you could hold out almost a
foot of it before it fell over. After my hydration process, it became like a
silk ribbon--soft and pliable. This was done in a high-humidity chamber for a
day.

I have never used camphor with acetate audio tape and would like experiences
from people who have actually done this. I'm wondering if it has any benefits
over the high-humidity hydration.

If I do this successfully -- or even marginally successfully, it will be show up
in photos on my Web site. It's a classic.

Cheers and THANKS!

Richard
--

Richard L. Hess
http://www.richardhess.com/tape/