I encountered this once on a couple reels of 456. I went about it pretty much as Richard describes,
and I agree with all of his warnings. I took a further precaution of running the dehydrator in the
garage (it was early fall, so the ambient temp wasn't that different from inside), and then opening
the doors for a couple hours the next day to air the space out. I think I did a careful wipe on the
outside of the tape pack with isopropynol before baking, and I think that took off most of the
little chunks like shown in Richard's photo. After baking, I ran the tape through my no-headblock
wind-off transport gently pinching a pelon wipe to the tape. The wipe did end up with a good bit of
crud on it, I changed which part of it was touching tape often. The tapes then transferred just
fine.

The stuff on the tapes I dealt with was more crystalline powder than gooey or fuzzy mold-type crud.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard L. Hess" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 5:38 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] White spores on Ampex 456


>I generally only handle 1/4 inch tape with mold and other crud and do that in my garage wearing a
>NIOSH certified respirator (cartridge type), but I make NO GUARANTEES that is safe. I'm still alive
>and my airways are doing better now that I'm out of LA and getting more sleep.
>
> Please be careful. None of this stuff is really good for you.
>
> Also be careful pulling apart a tape that needs baking (like 456) before you bake it as you can
> pull the mag coat off in some instances.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
>
>
> On 2015-05-20 5:17 PM, analogue alec wrote:
>> Thank you Richard,
>>
>> I knew there had been some discussion over the years and possibly most
>> recently on cassettes. The mess on your picture looks terrible... can you
>> remember how it turned out?
>>
>> Ive now found some 2" that has more and on the oxide too. I'll probably be
>> taking these apart so will pass on anything out of the norm.
>>
>> I was wondering about health concerns over breathing any of this in once it
>> starts rewinding etc.
>>
>> All the best,
>> alex.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 20 May 2015 at 21:52, Richard L. Hess <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, Alex,
>>>
>>> Peter Brothers's response to my 2005 query on ARSCLIST is here:
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/arsclist/2005/12/msg00073.html
>>>
>>> My image is back up where it was, but because people had been hot-linking
>>> my images, you'll need to copy the URL and paste it into your browser. It
>>> didn't click for me from the cool website. Pasting the link into the
>>> browser should allow you to see the image.
>>>
>>> http://www.richardhess.com/tape/tape_crystal.jpg
>>>
>>> Good luck!
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Richard
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 2015-05-20 3:42 PM, analogue alec wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello all,
>>>>
>>>> I've received 3 reels of Ampex 456 1/4" that have some white growth that
>>>> seems more 'salty' than 'mouldy' and wondering if anyone has some ideas on
>>>> whats going on here?
>>>>
>>>> I have posted a picture of tape on the reel here:
>>>>
>>>> https://plus.google.com/101414541131106448556/posts/5jXceWGa9nm
>>>>
>>>> The tapes were recorded in Dallas in 1977 and have been (i believe)
>>>> non-environmentally controlled storage ever since. The boxes are the old
>>>> 406 type and dont have any growths at all.
>>>>
>>>> I look forward to reading your comments.
>>>>
>>>> Many thanks,
>>>> alex.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>> Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
>>> Aurora, Ontario, Canada 647 479 2800
>>> http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
>>> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
>>>
>>
> --
> Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada 647 479 2800
> http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
>
>