Storage of phonograph discs

Susan Roberts-Manganelli <skrm<-a t->leland< . >stanford< . >edu>, on behalf of
Phillip Prodger <pbp20<-a t->cus< . >cam< . >ac< . >uk>, writes

>    ... some 20 pieces of antique recordings on 6" 78 RPM
>    gramophone discs (1920s vintage). They are on thick, brittle,
>    bakelite-type plastic.  Have you ever had any experience storing
>    this type of object?  Do you know if any of the archival
>    materials people in the States sell anything purpose built?

1st, I've never seen a 6-inch disc, whether 78rpm, Lp, 45, et al.,
although some of my colleagues here at the Library of Congress say
they have heard that such exist. I would be interested in learning
more about these 20 discs.

Concerning the storage question: the most reliable information on
packaging, shelving, furniture, et al., of this type of recording
still comes from Pickett and Lemcoe's Preservation and Storage of
Sound Recordings (Washington, D.C.; 1959), reprinted by the
Association for Recorded Sound Collections in the 1980s (available
from ARSC P.O. Box 543; Annapolis, MD 21403-0543 USA).  P&L, though
old, was reviewed by a number of sound archivists five+ years ago
and it was agreed that the information provided is still valid.

Concerning actual sleeves or containers: A firm in Louisiana

    Shield Pack
    2301 Downing Pines Rd.
    West Monroe, LA 71291

has made custom sleeves for the LC record collection for many years.
The sleeves are based on the P&L design and can be structured for
any size of disc.

Gerald D. Gibson
Audio and Moving-image Preservation Specialist
Preservation Research and Testing Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540-4560
202-707-1055
Fax: 202-707-6449

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:84
                  Distributed: Friday, March 28, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-10-84-002
                                  ***