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Register of Experience/Expertise
During Stage One of the Cellulose Acetate Project, the
National Library became aware that some participants had developed expertise in
various aspects of dealing with deteriorating cellulose acetate materials.
These people very kindly offered to be registered as available to offer advice
to others about their work in this field. Those listed here are willing to be
contacted about the work they are doing.
Australian War Memorial
Copying and digitisation of sheet
film
The Australian War Memorial reports that they are reaching
the end of their nitrate and cellulose acetate copying program. The program
commenced in the late 1970's and when complete will have completed assessing
and copying a selection of their entire nitrate and cellulose acetate
collection.
Bill Fogarty is happy to talk with people about the AWM
preservation program, which includes high resolution digitisation of their
images for public access as well as producing preservation negatives.
Contact: Ian Fulton, email:
Ian.Fulton@awm.gov.au, Ph: (02)
6243 4426.
National Library of Australia
Bibliography
As part of the Cellulose Acetate Project, the National
Library of Australia has conducted a literature review of papers about
cellulose acetate and the management of deteriorating collections. It has also
compiled an annotated bibliography of references. Both these resources are
available to other institutions dealing with cellulose acetate collections.
Contact: Hilary Berthon, email:
hberthon@nla.gov.au, Ph: (02) 6262
1642.
Reel-to-reel Sound
preservation
The Digital & Audio Preservation Resources (DAPR) area
of Preservation Services at the National Library is willing to offer guidance
to other institutions transferring cellulose acetate reel-to-reel sound
material.
Contact: Shelly Grant, email:
sgrant@nla.gov.au. Ph: (02) 6262
1655.
Powerhouse Museum Archives
Cool storage using fridges
The PowerHouse Museum Archives are preserving all their
colour still and motion picture film, and vinegar acetate in (separate)
domestic frost-free fridges. They have been running a 5 fridge system for
around 3 years. The Archives holdings are small and this seems to work. All
material is held in double thickness corrugated card boxes within a
polyethylene sleeve. Each fridge is monitored using small electronic max/min
hygrotherm, and each box has a small S&M humidity card showing through the
polyethylene. Advice can be given on how to choose the best brand of fridge for
this purpose.
Environmental conditions inside the fridges are 25% ±
3% RH at around 5°C. With magnetic material, tapes and film sound tracks
etc, the fridge is kept above 10°C.
Contact: James Elwing, email:
jamese@phm.gov.au, Ph: (02) 9217
0273.
ScreenSound Australia
ScreenSound Australia provides support for institutions
dealing with cellulose acetate motion picture film collections through its
Distributed National Collection program. It will provide:
- Informal advice for short answer queries (eg.
over-the-phone);
- On-line technical terms glossary and archival advice
help desk (coming to the ScreenSound Australia website soon);
- Conservation advice for motion picture, audio and video
collections. ScreenSound Australia offers the following fee-for-service
items;
- Advice on audio visual media collection management as a
paid consultancy (collection survey, development of preservation policies etc);
- Training in audio visual media management and
preservation (either via the SSA/Charles Sturt University internet based course
or by individually contracted services);
- Conservation services for motion picture, audio and
video collections (examination and condition reporting, cleaning, repair etc;
subject to internal priorities);
- Duplication of motion picture film (B&W only at the
moment), audio and video. Also digital restoration of audio components (film
sound, or video sound tracks included; subject to internal priorities);
- reformatting of film, audio and video materials onto
more stable media or more commercially saleable formats; subject to internal
priorities.
Contact: Mick Newnham, Engineering & Research Group,
email: mick_newnham@screensound.gov.au,
Ph: (02) 6248 2118.
Copying film to video
The Archives Office of Tasmania has been involved in
telecine copying 16mm motion picture film to video for access purposes as part
of their preservation activities. This has been done on a small scale and they
are happy to answer queries from others who are interested in this aspect of
preserving cellulose acetate materials.
Contact Bill Taylor: email:
bill.taylor@education.tas.gov.au,
Ph: (03) 6249 9013.
State Library of South Australia
Discussion list
The State Library of South Australia also hosts the
MICROLINK preservation
microfilming discussion list which it offers as a forum for discussing key
issues surrounding cellulose acetate microfilm deterioration.
Polarizing test for polyester
Library staff have experience in using the polarizing test
to identify acetate/polyester microfilms in their collection and are willing to
talk to others about this test.
Use of A-D test strips
The State Library staff have experience in testing their
film collections using IPI A-D Strips and are currently investigating storage
storage options for degrading film in the light of their current building
redevelopment.
They are happy to be contacted by others to discuss their
projects.
Contact: Heather Brown re microfilming issues, email:
brown.heather@slsa.sa.gov.au,
Ph: (08) 8207 7317, or Beth Robertson re Film and sound, email:
robertson.beth@slsa.sa.gov.au,
Ph:(08) 8207 7625.
The State Library of Victoria will be building a cold store
within the next 5 years for their cellulose acetate and nitrate negative
collection. In order to provide specifications to planning engineers, a
literature search of current best practice was carried out. Other institutions
were also surveyed as to their experience and insight. These references are
kept in the Conservation Studio library.
The State Library has experience in identifying nitrate and
cellulose acetate sheet film, and prioritising it for duplication based on its
stage of deterioration. The badly deteriorated material has been sent off site
for cool storage until it can be duplicated.
All potential new acquisitions of flexible based negatives
are tested to identify acetate and its condition, which will have some bearing
on whether it is to be acquired. Examination includes edge printing, dating
information and notch codes and physical characteristics. Tests commonly used
are the Diphenylamine, Float Test, Burn Test the IPI A-D Strips.
Contact: Jane Hinwood, email:
jhinwood@slv.vic.gov.au, Ph (03)
9669 9049
Commercial Treatment Options
The most common treatment method is emulsion
stripping in which the emulsion is separated from the cellulose acetate
material, creases flattened and the image duplicated. For a more comprehensive
discussion of treatment options see p 33 of http://www.nla.gov.au/anica/cellulose.doc.
The American commercial firm The Chicago Albumen
Works can provide emulsion stripping, duplicating and scanning services
for deteriorated films. For a description of the process and contact
information see http://www.albumenworks.com/Detacetatefilms.html.
ScreenSoundAustralia has also been experimenting with
emulsion stripping. The institution will give advice and discuss the treatment
but is unable to carry out work on a commercial basis. Contact
mick.newnham@screensound.gov.au
.
Disclaimer: While the
information contained on this website has been prepared with due care and
skill, findings and best practices in relation to Cellulose Acetate are likely
to change over time. Accordingly, the information contained on this website is
for general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for
advice of a qualified conservator. While every effort has been made to present
information which is accurate, the National Library accepts no responsibility
for any damage or liability whatsoever for any damage or loss that is incurred
as a result of the information presented on this website.
Page last updated 22 April 2003
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