8mm Forum: Films stored in sealed boxes

This is topic Films stored in sealed boxes - a gamble? in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Jason Schmidt (Member # 4526) on November 08, 2015, 10:11 PM:

If a film has been stored on a shelf in the original shrink by a collector as memorabilia, is it still a gamble on the colors being faded? Specifically, how do Ken Films from the 70s tend to hold up color-wise?

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if fading happens more or less when the film is in a sealed container and never been opened/watched. Or is it a total crapshoot?

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on November 09, 2015, 09:56 AM:

Well, as your post title says, it can be a bit of a gamble.
Shrink wrapping isn't always airtight, so fading could already happen.
On top of that, if the film has been stored in a room that's not particularly cool and dry, the plastic wrap could act as a cooking wrap with the film suffering from acetate breakdown (i.e. VS, if the stock is acetate).
Most of Ken Films from the 70s tend to fade unfortunately as low-fade stock was only introduced in the early 80s.

Posted by Luis Caramelo (Member # 2430) on November 09, 2015, 10:57 AM:

hi! Janson the beter way t store colr films it,s in the colest place you can get.i gt all my color films in a fridge,i got no fade films,even my ken ones,

best:
luis caramelo

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 09, 2015, 12:00 PM:

Yep, risky, let em breathe a little.

Even with my stored films in the fridge, (the non low fade Eastman prints), I regularly open the bags for that very reason. Well, they get pulled out projected anyhow.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 09, 2015, 02:48 PM:

I assume that Funchal is warm all the year round.

Posted by Luis Caramelo (Member # 2430) on November 09, 2015, 03:42 PM:

youare right Maurice.this,s tropical climate,with also with some humity,some parts of the Island it.s more hot than others,but like i said before,that.s why i got my color movies in a fridge,they are wraped in aluminium paper and when ,i.ll take them off,24hours,before i running them,not a singleproblem untill now,,,

best;

luis caramelo

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on November 09, 2015, 04:56 PM:

Shrink-wrap came along some twenty years ago, I've seen many a box being palmed off as new - Before all that, a film would come cellophaned, and you can instantly tell the difference, as it is light to the touch and the film box will be gem-mint - - As to colors fading, I opened one of my old cellophaned-sealed CASTLE Travelogues and the color was vibrant, as if 1st run - Fading will happen with much exposure, handling and storage - Keep the films in cardboard however, as metal seems to add towards age and odor - Shorty

Posted by Jack Cleveland (Member # 4485) on November 09, 2015, 06:56 PM:

My print of GWTW from Derann was still shrink wrapped when I received it- And the LPP color is gorgeous. A great print, with no color fade.

Posted by Joseph Randall (Member # 4906) on November 09, 2015, 08:12 PM:

For both films and vinyl records, it is a crapshoot. I'd rather have a tested film or record in near-mint condition. For records, it's warping that could be an issue. For film, not only color, but other defects -- un-synchronized sound, bad soundtrack, too-light or too-dark printings, etc.

Keep in mind that films never projected need a good lubrication before projecting -- I usually do this for all films I obtain, regardless of used or not.

Some films were never shrink-wrapped when new -- e.g. Blackhawks.

Posted by Jason Schmidt (Member # 4526) on November 09, 2015, 08:46 PM:

How do you lubricate a film before projecting? What is the product/process to accomplish this?

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on November 10, 2015, 05:07 AM:

Doesn't shrink wrap need high heat to be applied to shrink it? Not the best treatment for the film inside. Or do people really mean cling film?

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on November 10, 2015, 10:53 AM:

Well again, shrink-wrap wasn't used years back, any film came cellophane-sealed (look at your Aurora Model Kits, as example) - I have purchased Cellophaned 8mm Blackhawk shorts (pained me to open them, but when I did, the results were a banquet for the senses) - Two-Guys would have a bargain close-out, all those films had cellophane - Nothing wrong with the latter invention, but sometimes a used film can be "sealed" in this manner and situated as "new", when technically it isn't - ALWAYS clean your films as you would vinyl (not with the same ingredients) - Books, comics, gum cards and yoys have to be dusted and maintained accordingly - So much for Shorty

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