Jon, If the boxes are totally sealed, that is good.The tapes need to be
separated from the tapes as shellac doesn't do well in the presence of acid
, from the vinegar emitted from the tapes.. However, 78 rpm records,
particularly Victor from the mid twenties to the early thirties and certain
war-time Decca records are particularly susceptible to moisture damage. If
records get cold, it can cause condensation of water on the surface if not
properly sealed. The sleeves, unless they are acid free can cause a problem
when the acid in them is activated by the moisture from condensation. The
result of these effects is microscopic pits in the surface, and in rare
cases, flaking of the record surface. The flaking is more particular to the
Deccas-most likely because they would be pressed from re-cycled shellac.
Mickey Clark


Mickey Clark
710 Westminster Avenue West
Penticton BC
Canada
250-462-7881
V2A 1K8
http://mcproductions.ca
1-250-462-7881

-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Samuels
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 1:21 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARSCLIST] storing shellac records, open reel tapes, etc. in very
cold weather

A friend of mine asked me a question I was unable to answer, so I thought
I'd ask if anyone out there has any specific knowledge. He's storing
shellac pressings, open reel tapes, CDRs and DATs in an unheated garage in
the Northeast of the U. S. Temperatures in Winter can go below 0 degrees
Fahrenheit, and are often in the single digits above 0. The materials are
stored in heavy duty, sealed plastic boxes. Will any harm come to any of
the materials by being stored in Winter in that environment? He
currently has no other place to store this material. I'd like to give him
some wise advice, if I can.

Thanks in advance.

Best,

Jon Samuels