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Mediums to preserve:
Vinyl
78rpm
Cassette
8-Track
Reel to Reel
CD
Services offered:
Transfers to CD
Sound restoration
Video
Transfers to DVD
Dictionary:
Audio Terms Explained
Email us:
info71@presrec.com
Call us:
1-407-292-1151
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78rpm are made of a wide array of materials.
The one thing they have in common is that
all 78's are very fragile: they will peel,
crack, mold, warp, shatter, and suffer just
about any type of damage due to improper
handling or storage. So the first tip is:
Handle all 78's with EXTREME CARE.
78's should not be stored in their original
packages. Each recording should be rehoused
in acid-free liners made of 35 pound kraft
paper. The original wrapping should probably
be kept for the historical information it
contains. A more sophisticated wrapping consists
of four layers of different materials laminated
together: the exterior layer is kraft paper,
followed by polyethylene, aluminum foil,
and a final layer of polyethylene. The polyethylene
and foil act as vapor barriers, while the
polyethylene inner layer protects the surface
of the record from abrasion and damage.
About cleaning: be very careful what cleaning
solution you use. Most cleaning solutions
that are used for vinyl contain some form
of alcohol (or other solvent) that will dissolve
your 78's! Do not use ANY cleaning solution
that is not specifically made for 78rpm's.
Pure water is also BAD for 78's. I know
of collections that have been ruined
only
after a brief exposure to water (a
flooding,
the records were immediately dried,
but in
time they were all destroyed).
Mold, mildew and fungus KILL 78's. The damage
is irreparable (the little fungus fellers
actually eat the grooves. The record
becomes
whitish, and you can't feel the grooves
any
more because. . . they ain't there!
They
have been eaten). Therefore, you must
avoid
conditions that favor mold, mildew
and fungus:
heat and humidity. you must store your
precious
78rpm's in a climate and humidity controlled
room.
Be very careful what needle and weight you
are using. There are many types of
78rpm's
and what may work for one type of record
may not work very well for another.
Do your
homework and find out what works for
your
specific record. Otherwise, even one
play
with the wrong needle can create irreparable
damage to the record.
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