Re: [ARSCLIST] boxes for 1/4 reel-to-reel

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

I think that is a good choice. I first saw "poly" in the company's name and
I went to make sure they were selling paper-based boxes.

I am not sure and don't have the experience or funds or time to fully test
a hypothesis, but it seems that at least with acetate tapes, the cardboard
box may be acting in a way similar to a molecular sieve and absorbing any
acidic products emitted by the tapes.

The good news is that while the box deteriorates and looks like highly acid
paper (and it may have been high-acid to begin with), it is saving the
contents.

We recall that the worst cases of "vinegar syndrome" in magnetic records is
in wide-format, thick (perhaps trapping the products and having more
basefilm to begin with) sprocketed mag reels stored in sealed steel
containers (the steel may act as a catalyst).

I would be concerned about storing acetate tapes in sealed plastic boxes or
especially sealed metal cans.

Cheers,

Richard

At 09:26 AM 12/15/2004 -0600, Rob Sevier wrote:
> Try Polyline Corp.
> 1-800-701-7689
> http://www.polylinecorp.com/
>
> Select: Empty Reels And Boxes
>
>
> Any suggestions for types (cardboard, plastic) and sources of storage
> containers for 1/4 inch tape on 7 inch reels?
> We need to do some rehousing/reboxing.
>
> Thanks,
> anselm h.
>
> Anselm Huelsbergen
> University Archives
> University of Missouri-Columbia