8mm Forum: Film Preservative (Humidifying) Solution

This is topic Film Preservative (Humidifying) Solution in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 18, 2012, 02:31 PM:

I thought I would open a new thread which might attract more attention.

In my copy of the BJ (British Journal Photographic) Almanac of 1960 here are details to make up a solution described as "Film Preservaion (or "Humidfying" solution)"

Glycerol..................................1 & 1/2 oz
Distilled water...........................7 oz
Camphor...................................1 oz
Menthol...................................1/2 oz
Ethyl alcohol or other spirits............2 oz
Oil of eucalyptus.........................1 oz
Oil of gaultheria (Wintergreen)...........1/4 oz
Oil of thyme..............................1/4 oz
Oil of baptisia...........................1/4 oz
Oil of mint (garden mint or peppermint)...1/4 oz

Add the glycerol to the distilled water and throroughly mix to make Solution A. Dissolve camphor and menthol in the spirit to make solution B. Mix the oils together and add to B. Add B to A.

Shake well before using. A few drops on the pad of a 400ft humidor can is adequate. Store the film in a cool place.

As mentioned in another thread, such cans were usually aluminium and had a perforated sleeve in the bottom which contained a pad (blotting paper?) which was gently sprinked with a few drops of the liquid.

Being apart from the film and spool, only the vapour reached the film.

Any takers?

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on November 18, 2012, 03:12 PM:

Hi, Film humidifier used to be sold through photographic dealers by Johnsons of Hendon. The instructions for use stated put a few drops, using the eye dropper included in the bottle on blotting paper or the humidifier pad often built into the film can, and then close the lid. It certainly seemed to work well with old film, and did not appear to affect colour film. Ken Finch.

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on November 18, 2012, 08:39 PM:

This is fascinating.

Thanks Maurice.

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on June 27, 2013, 09:28 AM:

Hi Maurice, this same formula appears in my copy of 'Cine Photography for Amateurs' by J.H. Reyner (2nd edition, 1935). It would be interesting to try it. My book says a teaspoon is enough for a 400ft reel. Up until the end of the 60s any chemist would have made it up for you. Now everything is pre-packaged. I wonder how it compares with more recent cleaners and preservers?

Posted by John Romein (Member # 4222) on June 05, 2014, 06:27 PM:

Has anyone tried this? What sort of results? Is this similar to replasticing or redimension processes?

I have a 8mm film that is very dry and shrunken (stored in an attic in the topics for many years).

Posted by Pete Richards (Member # 2203) on June 06, 2014, 01:03 AM:

I actually had good results soaking a shrunken 8mm film in demineralised water.
I wouldn't recommend it as a general thing, but it worked for my film.

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