Vinegar Syndrome presentation at Calella festival.

[Cliff Perriam]

At the Calella festival, Francisco Nicolas gave a very clear presentation of the effects of vinegar syndrome on acetate film.
Two films were passed round for the audience to examine. The first, a super 8 print, was defined as stage one effect and showed no physical deterioration, but smelt like a bag of hot fish and chips doused in vinegar -and then some! The second example was a 16mm print at stage two, where the film was warped to a great degree but little or no vinegar smell.
The solution presented after questions was as follows:-
A film identified with stage one decomposition must be removed from its can and kept in air for a period of 6 months. Then the film must be cleaned. The explanation was that the fungus that causes vinegar syndrome will not be able to get into the film because of the wax left on the film by the cleaner.
Now(as Max Miller used to say) here's a funny thing; I have never noticed vinegar syndrome on 9.5 film. Have I just been lucky?

[Dominique De Bast]

I have never noticed vinegar syndrome on 9.5 film. Have I just been lucky?

Same for me. I wonder why.

Thanks for having written written this post, it saves me the trouble to do it (I havn't find the time to relisten to the records I made during the lecture to write a post). If I may add some points I remember...Francisco is a chemist and he is a film collector, so I tend to think he knows what he's talking about. There have been several discussions wheter VS is "contageous" or not. The advice is clear : a contaminated film must be removed from a collection until it's "cured". Francisco says that all the films (we're talking about acetate films, not polyester ones) should be stored outside cans, to let them breath. As Cliff says, it was advice to use a product that lets wax on it. Good news : I asked specifically if Filmguard would do the job and the answer that it's a good product for that purpose as well. Franciso also said that there is another good way to extend the life of films, but that it's not realistic for the random collector to be able to achieve it : films should be kept between -5° and 5 ° (Celsius, of course, that would be something like 23° and 41 ° Farenheit), a little bit cold for a flat or a house..., the humidity should be around 40 %, definitely a professional thing. Francisco said that just by storing the films outside cans and applying something like Filmguard, the life of films can be extended for many years(he said more than 10 if you use one precaution, so that would be more than 20 if you use both, and if you store your films at the right temperature and humidity, you can add another minimum 10 years extension).

[Ken Finch]

I have a few hundred 9.5 mm films and so far none have suffered from vinegar syndrome. Most are in tins and were treated with Thermofilm back in the day from Larry Pearce. Many of the containers also have blotting paper humidifier pads. I think our cooler climate has also helped. How much longer this will be the case depends on what the powers that be do about the climate change! They are mostly in a purpose built cupboard in my garage which is attached to the house against the inside wall so it stays quite cool. Ken Finch.😊

[Ty Reynolds]

This is the first I've heard of vinegar syndrome being caused by a fungus. I thought it was simply the chemical breakdown of the film itself.

[Brian Fretwell]

Maybe the conditions that enable the fungus to grow well are the same as those that aid the chemical breakdown of the film base.