[ARSCLIST] Ampex 456 - tip of the iceberg...chemistry

[Marlan Green <margre@xxxxxxx>]

Tom et al, 
 
I haven't contributed much to this list. I like to "listen" rather than talk since I'm not an Audio Engineer. In response to your message below I couldn't agree more. I want to point out to the list that the Library of Congress Preservation Directorate is making the research of this very topic and other audiovisual materials a high priority and eagerly looks forward to working with members of this list, members of ARSC, audiovisual archives, and other institutions. Recently a new Chief of Research and Testing was hired. His press release is attached or can be found at http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2006/06-079.html. Part of the press release emphasizes the plan to research sticky shed syndrome. LOC is just now ramping up its research facility to address audiovisual materials (previously attention was placed on paper and leather). I expect there will be more information made available in the coming months and I will forward that information to the list.  
 
 
Marlan Green 
 
 
 
Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
You know, there should be a special ARSC meeting on this, maybe in conjunction with the AES. Let's  
get the authors of these papers and books if they can be persuaded. Let's get some good Chem 101  
professor to explain all this in layman's terms and let's see if some of the big holders of tapes  
with a lot on the line (ie the record companies and such large institutions as the LOC) can put up  
some $$$ to fund some tape-specific research. I also think if one asked in the context of getting to  
the bottom of this, the folks that Quantegy might share the recipes for the sticky tapes (I  
understand they bought all of 3M's recipes so they must have documentation on hand). I can't  
understand why, all these years after this problem has been discovered, that there are all these  
questions. It seems like the answers are known but the dots aren't connected. Richard Hess has done  
the most dot connecting of anyone who I know of who seems willing to share the information. He's got  
a studio to run and he doesn't own a chemistry lab. So it seems like there would be vested interest  
of the owners of all these valuable sticky tapes to step up and make the answers clearer. Maybe  
there's a political issue I'm not seeing? 
 
 

Marlan Green
Audiovisual Preservation Specialist
Conservation Division
Preservation Directorate
Library of Congress

202-707-1541