Clamshell Cases and VS

[Paul Adsett]

I have been sniffing all morning! No not a cold or Covid, it started when I noticed a smell of vinegar on one of the shelves of my film collection. So I started opening some of the film boxes and the smell almost bowled me over from some of the reels. So I decided to literally sniff out my collection and the evidence was pretty conclusive. Summed up, all the films stinking of vinegar were from those housed in their original plastic clamshell cases, and they were also limited to Ken digest prints including the Ken MGM releases. The Ken digests of 20th Century Fox prints, which were all in their original CARDBOARD boxes are still fine. So there you have it - Clamshell cases will accelerate vinegar syndrome. Yes those cases are beautiful to look at, but get those films in cardboard boxes now , and just paste the original artwork on the box. Let your films breathe!

[Joseph Banfield]

Yes, good advice there! Myself, I keep no films in tight-fitting plastic or metal cans either to avoid that nasty little problem...cardboard all the way for me!

[Janice Glesser]

Thanks Paul for the info. I only have one film in a clamshell but I am removing it today. It's my condensed copy of African Queen which is still in pretty good shape.

[Ed Gordon]

Store any deteriorating cellulose acetate film in metal or polypropylene plastic cans and isolate it to prevent damage to other titles.

Source: https://www.archives.gov/preservatio...tion/stability

Moving the film from a clamshell to cardboard is a good idea, but you should also isolate VS films from the good ones. If you really value the films with VS, they should be put into cold storage to slow down the deterioration.

You can delay deterioration of cellulose acetate film, but you can't prevent it.

6.1 IPI RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FILM MATERIALS

Temperature and moisture are the two key factors affecting the rate of film deterioration. Fresh acetate film stored at a temperature of 65°F and 50% RH (relative humidity) will last approximately 50 years before the onset of vinegar syndrome. Just reducing the temperature 15°, while keeping the humidity at the same level, delays the first signs by 150 years.2 Low temperature and low relative humidity levels slow chemical decay and increase the stability of motion picture film.

Film Storage.pdf

[Winbert Hutahaean]

....-Clamshell cases will accelerate vinegar syndrome. Yes those cases are beautiful to look at, but get those films in cardboard boxes now , and just paste the original artwork on the box. Let your films breathe!

Hi Paul,

That was exactly I wrote 3 years ago:

I really hate this clamshell case, it destroys film:

https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/vbb/f...-destroys-film

None of my films kept in clamshell without VS now.. that is especially I lived in a hot and humid country which I beliece is the similar situation with Florida, where you live now.

[Shane C. Collins]

I agree, cardboard is the best! All my films are stored this way, and every single one smells fresh! I also use those archival pressure sensitive discs. They adhere to the inside of the cardboard box. The disc is designed to intercept mold, mildew, and off-gassing of film. See photo below!

[Joe Caruso]

Something I have advocated for years, no one has been a more staunch defender of the light cardboard box. These allow air circulation, whereas the clamshell mostly seals, thus preventing this. Plastic will melt, more or less, in heat releasing oxides that affect celluloid. Metal will also react under higher temperatures to film. However, keeping clamshell plastic and metal cans in colder atmosphere, may deter VS, but I still prefer the cardboard box (although I have had two cases of VS within cardboard, then using baking soda, this finally disappeared) Like fine paintings, comic books, records and toys, we all have to use preventative measures...My nickel on it, Shorty

[Mike Newell]

Hot and humid temperatures such as Indonesia and Florida don’t help film preservation. Think the biggest favour Derann ever did collectors was moving super 8 releases to cardboard boxes. Even in dark cold climates virtually all clamshell MGM and Columbia releases have faded or pinked and whilst not vinegar smell have a certain whiff from them. The only MGM release I can think of that has retained it’s colour is North West Passage which was one of the later releases and ironically is slightly soft. Stalwarts like Guns for San Sebastián and Westworld were fading or pink from new. Same as some of the Universal 8 releases like High Plains Drifter.

[Joe Caruso]

Northwest came in a light plastic, which wasn't too bad.

[Dave Bickford]

Thanks Paul for the info. I only have one film in a clamshell but I am removing it today. It's my condensed copy of African Queen which is still in pretty good shape.

My copy has mostly faded to red. I believe it's in a clam shell too.

[Mike Newell]

My copy has mostly faded to red. I believe it's in a clam shell too.

African Queen is a funny one. There are 400 digests that are faded and others that have held up well

Save a feature print. The US prints Halco are totally gone pink but the Derann feature prints are gorgeous.

Presumably down to film stock used.

[Brian Fretwell]

I believe from what Ged has written that Derann only used the clamshell cases because the contract for releasing the UA films insisted on it, Derek didn't really like the extra cost.

[David Kilderry]

Spot on Paul, Winbert, Joe and others, keep spreading the word. I've also been saying this for years, the clamshell cases do not allow air to circulate around the film. Acetate base prints give off acetic acid, that is what smells like vinegar. You need air circulating around the print so these gases can escape. If this doesn't occur, the acid feeds on itself and the film deteriorates at an even faster rate. Cardboard is good, sealed plastic is not. Dust is the least of your problems compared to VS.

The guys at Kodak's Motion Picture research lab were saying this over 25 years ago, but the Super 8 and 16mm hobbies have been slow to catch on. Picture of this 35mm film shows what advanced vinegar syndrome looks like if your film remains sealed up.

[Thomas Dafnides]

I think KODAK knew this in 1972, when I bought some 400ft kodak reels that came with a card board box to store in.

[Paul Adsett]

I trashed six MGM 400ft digests this morning. They were still stinking of vinegar after 3 days sitting opened up outside on the patio. Getting onboard with cardboard!