Re: [ARSCLIST] Vinegar syndrome audio tapes

[Robert Hodge <rjhodge@xxxxxxx>]

If it is vinegar syndrome, as I suspect it is, MOLECULAR SIEVES can be put in the containers to help absorb the acetic acid and consequently slow the despersal of the artifact chemical reaction . I've encountered   VS in film and tape , and they are extremely similar in odor. 

Film gives off more vinegar, but I've equated this with the fact that film is several times the thickness of even 1.5 mil audiotape.

George Eastman House , many other film collectors and  I have used these sieves in vinegar syndrome 16  and 35 mm  acetate film prints to absorb the vinegar.

Best !

Bob Hodge

Robert Hodge,
Senior Engineer
Belfer Audio Archive
Syracuse University
222 Waverly Ave .
Syracuse N.Y. 13244-2010

315-443- 7971
FAX-315-443-4866

>>> dlennick@xxxxxxxxxxxx 1/17/2006 2:50 PM >>>
I wonder if it has to do with the vintage of the tape? As mentioned, I was
given a batch of tapes stored in film cans recently. All are vinegary, and all
were recorded around 1951-2. And all are Scotch 111.

dl

"Casey, Michael T" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> We have just found a collection of Scotch 111 tapes with vinegar
> syndrome. The tapes test between the 1 to 1.5 levels using the IPI A-D
> strips (the color reference provided with the strips does not seem very
> accurate and it is difficult to be precise). This is below the
> autocatalytic point and below the critically endangered level, but the
> tapes clearly have the problem nonetheless. The collection consists of
> 76 tapes recorded by ethnomusicologist Alan Merriam in 1951 in the Congo
> and accessioned here in 1966. The tapes have been stored in Scotch 111
> cardboard boxes, no plastic bags, in the ATM vault which maintains
> temperatures around 68F with 45% RH. These levels have become more
> consistent over the past few years--for the previous 30 years I can't
> say, but I think storage conditions were close to this although less
> consistent. Before the 1985 move into our present space conditions were
> probably not very good. We have tested 8 reels and they all show roughly
> the same level of VS. We have transferred around 35 reels so far--all
> smell like vinegar, but all are playing back fine with a little edge
> curling on a few of them. We are taking a few precautions--the playback
> machine (Studer 810) is situated by itself away from other things in the
> studio, we are wiping down the entire machine periodically, and we are
> careful about putting our MRL tape up on the machine even though it is
> polyester. ATM staff are meeting today to talk about how to store the
> collection.
>
> We have over 2,300 reels of 111 at the ATM and don't know how many of
> those are a problem, but I'll probably put together a survey. We've
> transferred many tapes on 111 over the past few years and haven't
> noticed VS until now. We have considered it stable and it has not given
> us many problems.
>
> The Music Library at IU has collections of Sarkes Tarzian tape
> exhibiting vinegar syndrome as well, with some tapes testing around 1
> but others testing at about 1.5. We also have this tape brand and
> suspect that it has VS.
>
> I would appreciate hearing from anyone else who has encountered vinegar
> syndrome problems with audio tape.
>
> Mike
>
> ---------
> Mike Casey
> Associate Director for Recording Services
> Archives of Traditional Music
> Indiana University
>
> (812) 855-8090
> micasey@xxxxxxxxxxx 
>
> Co-chair, ARSC Technical Committee