Re: [ARSCLIST] Fwd: [ARSCLIST] Another little chemistry observation

[David Lennick <dlennick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Don Tait wrote:

>   Richard is correct about Scotch/3M auto-threading reels. They were and are
> a menace. Another bad, apparently untested idea passed off as progress. I used
> a few when they were introduced during the 1960s. Some years later I noticed
> just what Richard mentioned: the tape on the inside of the spools was sticky
> and irremediably damaged. The leaking adhesive had made the coating containing
> the sound glue to the top of the layer wound below. My tapes were Mylar, not
> acetate, but it didn't matter.
>
>   Don Tait

Luckily I used primarily professional tape so those self-threaders didn't come my
way. Besides, there are all sorts of other ways to ruin tape, starting with not
removing the sticky tab (a habit of TV technicians who used 5" reels of tape on Nagra
recorders). Then there are the ones who should be shot and piston for pulling the
last 10 inches of tape down inside the reel, across all the tape layers, causing
lovely dropouts.

dl

>
>
>   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> I just transferred a reel of acetate tape that had been stored on a
> Scotch/3M auto-threading reel. It has solid sides (no windows) and
> three springy clips in the walls near the hubs. From the outside, the
> clips are chrome-ish. From the inside they are green.
>
> There was some starting of blocking (layer-to-layer adhesion) of the
> wraps of tape near the hub.
>
> There was no significant vinegar smell.
>
> The tape/reel had been stored at approx. 21C 43%RH with limited
> swings for the last year, prior to that I don't know, but I think it
> had been in climate controlled storage.
>
> I suspect this odd reel is not allowing the centre of the tape back
> to breathe much and concentrating whatever outgassing of the tape
> pack. Also, another very loose tape pack on the outside (not in the centre).
>
> I'm not sure what this means, but I would think this supports the
> need to at least examine the acetate tapes in your collection and
> also look especially if you have this reel.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
> Richard L. Hess                           email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Vignettes
> Media                           web:   http://www.richardhess.com/tape/
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada             (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
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