We used to use a special device containing radioisotopes to control  
static on film dubbers. Can't remember who manufactured it right off  
hand, but it definitely helped in wintertime. Never tried it on tape  
transports, but in theory it should help.

We also had to crank up the humidity in the projection booth to help  
with static on the film projectors.

Scott D. Smith
Chicago Audio Works, Inc.

Quoting Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>:

> Hi Richard:
>
> 40% for acetate and early polyester too? I thought low humidity only
> for known sticky-shed formulations??
>
> My experience with early-era brown-oxide tapes is that they curl/warp
> less and get brittle less if kept at more typical Northeastern US
> humidity levels. Tapes I've handled that were kept in very dry
> environments were sometimes very brittle and in extreme cases would
> shed oxide as they moved thru a transport. Splices also tend to dry out
> and fail at low humidity for these era tapes.
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard L. Hess"
> <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 7:10 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] static noise
>
>
>> Shai,
>>
>> Thank you for passing this along. Sadly, the author, John Pytlak,   
>> passed a few years ago, as you may recall. He was one of the real   
>> bright lights on the AMIA list. Several others are also gone.
>>
>> I would caution about handling magnetic tape long-term at 50-60 %   
>> RH as it might increase hydrolysis. The general recommendation for   
>> tape is 40%.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard
>>
>> On 2011-02-09 5:55 AM, Shai Drori wrote:
>>> Dear members
>>> I received the following link through the AMIA list. I was about   
>>> vitalizing film but turns out Kodak has a few suggestions about   
>>> controlling static build up. Worth reading.
>>> Shai
>>> static   
>>> <http://www.kodak.com/US/plugins/acrobat/en/motion/newsletters/archived/pytlak/booth.pdf>
>>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Richard L. Hess                   email: [log in to unmask]
>> Aurora, Ontario, Canada           (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
>> http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
>> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
>>