Re: [ARSCLIST] Cleaning Procedures: Wire Recordings

[George Brock-Nannestad <pattac@xxxxxxxx>]

From: Patent Tactics, George Brock-Nannestad

Hello,

there were four kinds of wire for wire recorders:

 - a carbon steel wire (like an e-string for a violin) pre- WorldWar2 - this 
had a smooth surface but was prone to corrosion. Vaseline or other anti- 
corrosive treatment would keep it sound

 - a stainless steel wire predominantly used by the military

 - a brass wire with a plated magnetic layer - this did not have a smooth 
surface but would also not corrode

 - a pure nickel wire: smooth (this was available in Europe, I do not know 
about the US

 - the bobbins I have seen have been nickeled brass or zinc.

A bit of lubrication was good in all cases.

But like Richard Warren I wonder why a wire needs to be cleaned. There could 
be dust or mud on the wire, and that would obviously wear the head, but that 
would only need wiping like Richard says. Will these wires ever be played? Or 
is it for exhibition purposes? In the latter case, an ultrasound bath with 
freon (or a modern substitute) would be better, because you would not risk 
entanglement. 

Kind regards,


George

-----------------------------------------


> Hello,
> 
> I have cleaned a couple of reels of pre stainless steel recording wire
> which were rusted with an ink eraser. 
> A couple of passes and turns of the eraser to supply a new face as the
> wire cut into the eraser worked beautifully.
> Gentle tension, of course.
> 
> Bob Hodge
> 
> Robert Hodge,
> Senior Engineer
> Belfer Audio Archive
> Syracuse University
> 222 Waverly Ave .
> Syracuse N.Y. 13244-2010
> 
> 315-443- 7971
> FAX-315-443-4866
> 
> >>> richard.warren@xxxxxxxx 4/3/2007 4:34 PM >>>
> Hello,
> 
> That's an interesting question. I've dealt with only several dozen 
> wire recordings here and have never seen any with a need for 
> cleaning. At least supposedly recording wire is stainless steel; so 
> under reasonably normal circumstances, it should only suffer from 
> dirt and dust, which could be cleaned off by winding in each 
> direction with some such nonwoven fabric as Pellon, which can be used 
> for cleaning audiotapes and which should not shed or cause problems
> itself.
> 
> Sincerely, Richard
> 
> 03:47 PM 4/3/2007, you wrote:
> >Greetings... I am looking for information about appropriate cleaning 
> >procedures/products for wire recordings. When you have encountered 
> >wire recordings, what kinds of cleaning issues have you had to face? 
> >What have you used that works? What would you warn someone away from?
> >
> >I am attempting to assemble a guide as part of a class assignment 
> >(due April 17), so any information or pointers thereto would be 
> >greatly appreciated. Please email me offlist at 
> >susanhk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I will post the results of whatever I 
> >collect to the list.
> >
> >Thanks very much,
> >Susan Harwood Kaczmarczik
> >Master's Candidate
> >School of Information, the University of Texas at Austin