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

["Marie Azile O'Connell" <marie.oconnell@xxxxxxx>]

That is great news to read!  I look forward to your findings in the future. 
There are people out there already doing this too, and it may be a good idea if
you check with Richard, as to their availibity and whereabouts.  T%hat might
even save you a few several thousand bucks, which could be put to better use.

Cheers
Marie

Quoting Marlan Green <margre@xxxxxxx>:

> Marie,
> 
> I can assure you that the LOC will share its findings fully. We are dedicated
> to finding a way of understanding what sticky shed is, how it is activated
> and accelerated and how we can measure the level of deterioration (if that is
> what it is) so that we (the audio community) can in fact begin the
> prioritization of reformatting/digitization of the most degraded materials.
> And if we can find a way to reverse the process permanently that will be even
> better, but we're just getting started and my hat off to Richard Hess, who I
> look forward to working with and all the others who have sone so much
> research on the subject. We will be calling on you all for help. 
> 
> Marlan
> 
> Marlan Green
> Audiovisual Preservation Specialist
> Conservation Division
> Preservation Directorate
> Library of Congress
> 
> 202-707-1541
> 
> >>> Marie Azile O'Connell <marie.oconnell@xxxxxxx> 06/20/06 8:26 AM >>>
> I take my hat off to you Tom!  It's about time someone put out a post such
> as
> yours.  I think Richard Hess has done a fine (no pun intended!) job of
> keeping
> everyone on this list, and other lists, informed about the collective
> knowledge
> of the group.  Well done Richard!  Without people like you, the dots would
> be
> far apart, but you have made them closer.  The picture is coming together. 
> 
> So thank you Tom for pointing this out, and I sincerely hope the LOC make
> their
> findings on this issue - findable, and not kept secret like some other
> places
> we are aware of.
> 
> Knowledge is power, and with knowledge you can make informed choices.  To me,
> it
> is also about sharing that knowledge, so others can learn.
> 
> There we go, that is my speech for today!
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Marie
> 
> 
> 
> Quoting 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
> > 
> 
> 
> Marie O'Connell
> Sound Archivist/Sound Engineer/Sound Consultant
> Center for Oral History & Cultural Heritage
> University of Southern Mississippi
> Phone: 601-266-6514
> Mobile: 601-329-6911
> 


Marie O'Connell
Sound Archivist/Sound Engineer/Sound Consultant
Center for Oral History & Cultural Heritage
University of Southern Mississippi
Phone: 601-266-6514
Mobile: 601-329-6911