Re: arsclist Wet & damp records

["George Brock-Nannestad" <pattac@xxxxxxxx>]

From: Patent Tactics, George Brock-Nannestad

Steven Smolian wrote:

> Has there been a study published on the effects of immersion in water
> and of exposure to standing water for shellac and for vinyl records. 
> This includes those on their integrity, cosmetic apperance, audio
> quality, longevity, and commercial value.

----- I had a flood which hit my area, and I was able to apply 
principles of rescue partly learned while attached to the School of 
Conservation in Copenhagen. Also, I had the advantage of having 
the water only to the bottom of a number of record sleeves, where 
capillary action took over, lifting humidity 2 inches above the water 
table. I also had the advantage of a quick-witted son who bought 
the last pump before a professional outlet closed that Friday, so 
the actual contact to liquid water was limited to about 2½ hours. 
That was sufficient to generate work for 24 consecutive hours 
performing immediate drying operations and the discarding of a fair 
number of the traditional heavy carton record sleeves for 78rpm 
records (I was lucky compared to one colleague collector whose 
water table was several feet and for several days - he stopped 
working when the results became uninteresting). About 1200 78s 
and 150 LPs were affected, but only 5 78s records were audibly 
damaged. These had been stored in a plastic bag, which had acted 
like a one-way valve. I made notes and took microphotographs of 
typical damages after the event, intending to make a report for 
publication, but it has never materialised, simply because I want to 
do some controlled experiments (as opposed to sensible rescue 
operations) to supplement my experiences, for which I have not 
had time. However, I would act as a professional witness at any 
time regarding these matters. And who knows, I may still get 
around to publishing the report.

> 
> Most of us know the answer from experience, but I need it from a
> printed source, the more scientific and less anecdotal, the better. 
> Any language is OK.

----- I think that some of the language you will experience in these 
matters contains four-letter words.

I note that nobody else has reacted to your query.

Kind regards,


George


> 
> Steve Smolian
> 
> 
> 
> 



-
For subscription instructions, see the ARSC home page
http://www.arsc-audio.org/arsclist.html
Copyright of individual posting is owned by the author of the posting and
permission to re-transmit or publish a post must be secured
from the author of the post.