RE: [AV Media Matters] dying film

[e.ha.zwaneveld@nfb.ca]

Greetings,

Joe Salerno reported that he had some 8mm film in bad shape. The
degradation of this 8mm film sounds indeed pretty bad. I would
suggest that Joe ask Arnold Schieman of Restoration House Film Group
Inc. in Belleville, Ontario, to have a look at it to determine which
treatment it needs to become printable again. Arnold, who retired
from the National Film Board's Tech. R&D several decades ago, and
also is a member of AMIA, has considerable experience with degrading
film materials and their restoration. You can reach him at: Tel:
(613) 966-4076, or by Fax: (613) 966-8431.

Best regards,

Ed H. Zwaneveld,
Technological Research and Development
National Film Board of Canada
Tel: (514) 283-9143

-----Original Message-----
From: joe salerno [mailto:salernoj@swbell.net]
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 12:04 PM
To: AV Media Matters
Subject: [AV Media Matters] dying film

I just came into possession of some additional family footage on regular
8MM. Some of it is sad and appears beyond repair to me. The outer layers are
wrinkled, curved, barreled. Just about any kind of film distortion you can
think of it is. Is there any process for restoring it to projectable
condition so it can be transferred?

It's all vinegar-y, and there is at least one reel that is broken down so
bad that I don't have any hopes for it. It is a light brown color, has white
flaky specs on it like severe dandruff. I've never seen film this
deteriorated, but now I understand how a can can be opened and literally
nothing remains on the reel save for some dust.

Yes, I know, if it isn't too late, get it off the metal reels and out of the
metal cans that it has been stored in for over 50 years.

Sorry for the cross posting, some of you will get this twice.

Joe Salerno
Video Works! Is it working for you?
PO Box 273405 - Houston TX 77277-3405
http://joe.salerno.com
joe@salerno.com
Fax: 603-415-7616