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Author
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Topic: The Vinegar Room
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Charles Watkins
Junior
Posts: 12
From: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted June 28, 2011 05:09 PM
For the more serious and avid film collector of today, the encountering of prints which are infected with vinegar syndrome, is likely a growing occurance. The usuall trend by many is to treat the infected prints like that of a Typhoid-Mary, and exile them to the trash dumpster without delay. In most cases the films are likely common in their production and can be sought after later and replaced.
As we embark further into the crossroads of time however, where more and more acetate prints are maturing within the time frame for more readily developing VS, some of these prints may become substantally shorter in numbers. It may become less of a practical option for some collectors to discarding their films, esspecially if they may have become the best surviving copy in existance. At which point, a collector may want to try and save his film.
Traditionally the best practice for storing infected films has been with freezing them which temporarily stops the cycle. This is not always an affordable option on a large scale for some collectors, as I myself have come to experience. My modest feezer space has become quite limited over time. Therfore I've been looking into alternative ways towards managing growing supply of infected prints. I've used film conditioners and camphor with some level of benefit, but even use of the conditioners on a large scale can be somewhat of a pricey option
It was forum members Wayne Tuell and Dan Lail that prompted my attention into giving an open-air-storage more consideration. While it is generally vaugh as to what extent of an open air exposure with infected films might worsen the degenerative cycle in others, I was worried that it might act against slowing the rate process of decay within a comfortable time span. After many months however of keeping a room indoors dedicated specifically for an open air environment with infected films and allowing them to breath out their gasses freely, and I think I'm now seeing much of what Tuell and Lail were talking about. The rate of decay with the films seems to relax well enough within reasonable comfort and I've even noticed many of the films now even barely emitt a vinegar odor.
My confidence is growing with this method of storage and I'm even contemplating on perhaps removing some of my lesser degraded films from the freezer and transferring them to what I am now calling the "Vinegar Room". Where as reserving the gainedfreezer space for only the more dire and rarest of prints at hand. I understand how the cycle of vinegar syndrome isn't stopped with the open-air storage, but it seems apparently that it can be slowed down enough to make for a significant difference.
I'm wondering how some of you have about about with keeping some infected films and how their rate of degradement had advanced. Granting already that nothing replaces having an infected film duplicated. It alone is still not reason for the outright trashing of an original master print or a rare first release copy.
Thanks in advance to everyone for your time in reading and for any input that you might contribute. Charles
[ July 03, 2011, 01:17 AM: Message edited by: Charles Watkins ]
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I will edit profusely.
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