Some film preservation questions!

[Jim Exley]

Hello All,

I just wanted to throw a couple of questions out here...not tremendously significant and feel free to tell me I'm overlooking the obvious.

There has been a lot of talk lately about damaged film such as the Morecambe and Wise print so I'm wondering why, although I've come across lots of 8mm and 16mm amateur films going back to the thirties, which have usually been stored in less than ideal conditions, I've yet to encounter one that has been unusable. Just the luck of the draw?

On the subject of 1930s amateur film I do have some first-generation Kodachrome that has suffered serious fading, as though the yellow dye has all but disappeared. I know this is typical for the type of stock but what I was wondering was if anyone has successfully restored any. There doesn't seem to be anything documented that I have been able to find.

Thanks!
Jim

[garygraham]

Acetate film can suffer from something called the vinegar syndrome. As Peter said, a hot environment isn't good. There could be other factors: type of film, poor processing leaving chemicals in the film, other materials producing gases within the can such as tape splices, plastic leader, or soundtrack if stored in the same can. Perhaps other external pollution which triggers a reaction.

On the subject of tape slices, those in my 16mm films from the 1980s, on workprints and 16mm separate magnetic soundtracks, are now oozing adhesive. As this was "professional" splicing tape I should think the same think is happening in archives across the land?