Re: [ARSCLIST] shellac and acidity

[Steven Smolian <smolians@xxxxxxxxx>]

This reflects my own experience as well.

Convincing archivists fresh out of school, paper trained, is another matter.

Steve Smolian
=========================
Steven Smolian    301-694-5134
Smolian Sound Studios
---------------------------------------------------
CDs made from old recordings,
Five or one or lifetime hoardings,
Made at home or concert hall,
Text and pics explain it all.
at www.soundsaver.com
=========================
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kurt Nauck" <nauck@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] shellac and acidity


> I have inspected hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of records over
> the last 20 years.
>
> I cannot identify a single instance where shellac was negatively affected
> by acid content in sleeves.
>
> Off-gassing by inks, yes. Mold growth and/or graininess from dampness in
> the paper, yes. Brittle sleeves crumbling to dust, yes. Acid damage to
> records, no.
>
> In fact, I haven't even seen what I would call acid damage to record
> labels. (With the possible exception of labels on certain instantaneous
> discs.)
>
> In my experience, vintage disc recordings seem to be impervious to the
> effects of acid contained within paper. In fact, I have very often
> witnessed the situation that Alain Carou describes: sleeves or newspaper
> used to separate records can be totally disintegrated around the edges,
but
> the paper pressed between the records is intact and much less brittle. Not
> only does the paper protect the discs, the records protect the paper - a
> symbiotic relationship, it would seem!
>
> This is why - in my opinion - spending 3-4 times as much for acid-free
> sleeves is a waste of archival funds, and why I decided not to sell
> Disc-O-Files made from acid-free stock. If a record can survive unscathed
> for 70 years in a cheap paper sleeve in a barn, attic or basement, then
> that same record will do just fine in a new, not completely acid-free
> sleeve on a shelf in an archive or music room.
>
> In my opinion, the real problem with old sleeves is two-fold:
>
> 1)  Dirt and mold (which is why we do not store clean records in old
sleeves).
> 2)  Paper porosity. Sleeves with high rag content (am I using this term
> correctly?) will trap moisture, and moisture is definitely detrimental to
> shellac. The old green stock sleeves are good examples of this. Stored
> indoors in a dry environment, no problem. But left exposed to high
> humidity, porous sleeves tend to hold water, causing mildew and
graininess.
>
> I am open to opposing opinions, and invite comment.
>
> Kurt & Diane Nauck
>
> c/o Nauck's Vintage Records
> 22004 Sherrod Ln.
> Spring, TX  77389
>
> Website: www.78rpm.com
> E-Mail: nauck@xxxxxxxxx
>
> Phone: (281) 288-7826
> Fax: (425) 930-6862