Re: [ARSCLIST] Metal Parts

["Prentice, Will" <Will.Prentice@xxxxx>]

I recently cleaned up an early Gramophone Company stamper of
nickel-plated copper, which had been coated in paraffin wax to prevent
tarnishing. Following able advice from Mark Hogan at the National Film
and Sound Archive in Australia, I placed the stamper in a 50/50 solution
of isopropanol and de-ionised water, bringing it up to a temperature of
70 degrees Celsius. The ridges (negative grooves) were lightly brushed
to loosen the melting wax, and afterwards the disc was rinsed in
isporopanol. 

In consultation with the EMI Archive and others, after use the stamper
wasn't recoated, but placed between acid-free paper in a sealed
container for storage. 

Will

...................................................
Will Prentice
Technical Services
British Library Sound Archive          Tel: +44 (0)20-7412-7443
96 Euston Road                         Fax: +44 (0)20-7412-7416
London NW1 2DB                         http://www.bl.uk 
UK            			         http://cadensa.bl.uk (online
catalogue)


-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Doug Pomeroy
Sent: 17 September 2005 22:58
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Metal Parts

All the Victor/Bluebird, and Decca parts I have transferred (fathers, 
mothers and stampers)
have been nickel-plated copper, the nickel being the recorded surface.

(The film Command Performance says Victor also employed a final plating
of 
platinum(!),
but I find that more than a little hard to believe.)

My experience with parts from the 20's, 30's and 40's is that the nickel

rarely shows any signs
of tarnish. In any case, I use Noxon metal polish and a suitable soft
brush, 
followed by distilled
water and drying with lint-free paper towels. My tests have shown this 
treatment does not degrade
the surface in any audible way.

At the Sony Studios they are doing the same.

Doug Pomeroy





>From: Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Metal Parts
>Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 17:42:11 -0500
>
>Kurt Nauck <nauck@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >Greetings All
> >
> >What is the preferred method of cleaning and storing metal parts?
> >
> >I would think that alcohol would be a safe and effective cleaning
agent.
>
>I believe record companies actually cleaned them with naphtha. Victor
>stored them vertically in large envelopes, or so they showed in the
>promo film "Command Performance"
>
> >Should anything be applied to keep them from corroding (gun oil, 
>perhaps)?
>
>Weren't fathers and stampers usually copper with a nickel backing?
>Gun oil might work; you need something to keep the copper from turning
>green, but removable so that the recording itself is accessible. I
>don't remember what mothers and matrices were made from, or whether
>those are susceptible to corrosion...
>
>Michael Shoshani
>Chicago IL

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