Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012
posted June 16, 2018 04:59 PM
I have tried in vain to resurrect an original post of mine on this subject, but just wanted to update my findings. Some months ago I experimented with a mixture of Camphor oil and powdered moth balls (Napthalene) applied to a 16mm film that was in the early stages of VS. I have today cleaned off the application by using a cloth soaked with my own mixture of film cleaner while rewinding and there is no detectable vs smell, no strong smell of Camphor or Napthalene and no perceptible damage to the film. It just remains to see whether the treatment remains effective, but early indications are positive. It was a film otherwise destined for the bin, so no downside whatsoever and hopefully a worthwhile experiment and a good result.
posted June 18, 2018 11:19 AM
Experimented with baking soda and that also cured a 200' subject I had wanted to keep - Glad to see we're both in the same laboratory - Cheers, Shorty
Posts: 160
From: Canton, OH, USA
Registered: May 2014
posted June 19, 2018 10:35 AM
Hi Terry, curious to know if you are testing with A-D strips (as the nose can be deceiving - can get rid of the smell, but still have vinegar).
Posts: 543
From: Herne Bay, Kent. U.K.
Registered: Oct 2011
posted June 30, 2018 10:57 AM
I do think Terry is on the right track. Many years ago, I treated my collection of 9.5mm prints with "thermofilm" (supplied by the late Larry Pearce}, and then also added "humidifier" on a bit of blotting paper to the box or can containing the film None of the films treated have developed v.s. As Maurice stated in the earlier link, the humidifer a Kodak product, contained camphor oil. I have read that all acetate safety film will suffer from v.s.over time but the two worst factors that accelerate it are heat and moisture. Keeping film in a cool dry place for long term storage helps a lot. We are quite fortunate here in the U.K having a temperate climate and it is not too difficult to keep our films within a suitable temperature range. I have also read that some of the film cleaners and scratch removal fluids used caused the film to develop v.s. quite quickly. We live and learn!!! Ken Finch.
Posts: 543
From: Herne Bay, Kent. U.K.
Registered: Oct 2011
posted July 14, 2018 02:20 PM
I have been giving this topic a little further thought. I have a large collection of 9.5mm Pathescope prints acquired over the past 70 years and none of them have ever suffered from V.S. Some prints have become brittle but that is down to the fact that some of the film stock used for printing in the 1940's was "Newsreel" and not intended for long term use. Could the lack of V.S. be due to the fact that Pathe manufactured the film stocks. Incidentally I have not had any 9.5mm reversal stock I have used be it Kodak, Agfa, Gevaert, Ferrania or Fuji, suffer from colour fade or V.S. Ken Finch.