8mm Forum: Mag Tracks Decomposition

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Topic: Mag Tracks Decomposition

Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 27, 2006 09:13 PM

I read somewhere recently that magnetic soundtracks on film eventually deteriorate and accelerate film decomposition. Anyone know of this happening to their precious film? Oh no, my beautiful CASTLE/BLACKHAWK sound titles (boo-hoo).

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John Whittle
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 791
From: Northridge, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 28, 2006 12:43 AM

Well that's one theory since many magnetic editing tracks were found to be suffering from VS and the theory was that the mag stripe cause the problems.

Here are a few differences. In those cases the film was 35mm and either full coat or three stripe which covered either all or most of the film. Second many of these tracks were made on what we called "rewashed" stock. That was film base from bad prints that was run thru a processing machine with very hot water to remove the emulsion.

Third, many of these stripes were made with "home brew" striping material.

Most of the commercial 8mm prints (and probably all of the Super8 prints) were made on stock which was pre-striped by the film manufacturer. That's changed in recent years since the film has been discontinued and many prints are made with laminated stripe which is basically magnetic sound tape which is glued to the edge of the film

There are lots of variable that go into VS, the one thing we know for sure is that once it starts you can't reverse it (although there are some that make claims for chemical treatments). It is possible to slow it down.

Bottom line, you can't believe everything you read.

John

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Kevin Faulkner
Film God

Posts: 4071
From: Essex UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 28, 2006 09:19 AM

I think John's right about believeing everything you read. My oldest of super8 sound films are still ok and I have to say I have never heard this said about the mag stripe causing VS.

Kev.

[ July 09, 2006, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: Kevin Faulkner ]

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David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted July 09, 2006 12:52 AM

An interesting topic that I missed originally........

I have had a good deal of my 70mm and mag/op 35mm prints ruined with VS. Certainly there is something to be said about the accelerated VS with the larger formats that have magnetic tracks. Having said that, I have not lost one of my Std 8 mm sound prints from the same era. I have some Walton prints and others that are still excellent both in track and picture without a whiff of Vinegar.

I do have some later Super 8 silent prints with and without mag tracks that now smell of vinegar. Interestingly they are mostly IE International prints from Italy and MGM. I put this down to both companies supplying their films in air-tight containers. IE with the solid plastic cassette type and MGM with their plastic picture clam-shell style units.

Lack of circulating air around film (ability to breath) is almost certain to bring on VS, more so than the fact that they have magnetic tracks.

David

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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted July 12, 2006 11:08 PM

I had once purchased a 16mm film
that had mag fullcoat as the
film leader.

At first, I had thought that the
film was emmitting a vinegar odor.
After careful inspection, I removed
the mag leader, to find that it was
the leader that was turning bad.

Michael

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