Re: [ARSCLIST] Proper way to store 78s

[Clark Johnsen <clarkjohnsen@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have an oddity to offer in this regard. Several years ago I inherited some
"wool moths". I thought I had had done with them, by removing some piles of
carpets etc. But then they reappeared. Only recently did I figure out where
they now live and breed: in my 78s albums!

With some 40,000 discs I am having to live with them, and even worse, they
are immune to most off-the-shelf sprays; even the pros tell me they're hard
to kill off, once imbedded as they are.

Any ideas?

clark

On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 11:52 PM, Steven C. Barr <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Brock-Nannestad" <
> pattac@xxxxxxxx>
>
>> ----- in case of flooding, horizontal storage in a pile is preferential,
>> because then the water only affects the bottom part of the pile, whereas
>> if
>> it is a shelf, the lower part of the full width of the shelf will be
>> affected. With flooding 10 cm (4") above the bottom of the shelf 2 meters
>> (6
>> ft 8") long it would mean affecting 600 records, rather than the bottom 30
>> records in each pile. We shall disregard capillary action in the covers.
>>
>> Keep in mind that the shellac-based compound of which phonorecords
> are made is "hygroscopic" (think I have that word correct!), so that 78's
> exposed to water for any significant time will soak up the water...and
> then swell (at least the exposed portion will!). This in turn causes the
> relevant 78's to be cracked (via the swelling!).
>
> The BEST advice here is "Do NOT store shellac records in places
> where there is ANY possibility of their being INUNDATED!!"
> If you notice some guy with a long beard wandering about in yout
> neighbourhood collecting pairs of fauna...START MOVING
> YOUR 78's UPSTAIRS!!
>
> Steven C. Barr
>