Sage advice, Greg, exactly what I would've suggested if I'd gotten to it earlier. Additionally, I was going to mention baking the 78's that did receive warping. I've had great luck with popping them in the oven for a minute or two at 150 degrees (checking them for pliability every 15 seconds or so) as long as they were shellac (no vinyl or 'metrolite' or anything like that, strictly pre-war shellac). Best thing to use is a pair of 16"x16" sheets of glass, one to bake on and one to cool on, both as clean as possible. I was able to get a 2" circular raised spot on an unplayable Caruso G&T to flatten perfectly and play without incident with this method.
Best to all (and stay warm, for pete's sake!), Robert ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Bogantz" <[email protected]> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 12:32 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] [Fwd: [CBI] Wet 78s and broadcast equipment -needrestoration help] > Well, assuming that the 78s weren't exposed to heat from the steam pipe > break and that they have only a water soaking, there's probably nothing > wrong with them except for some potential label damage. Check for obvious > warpage or cracking and dispose of those records. The ones that appear > undamaged otherwise should be removed from any damaged paper sleeves and > rewashed as quickly as possible to remove any wet paper residue while > protecting their labels from the washing. Shellac records (or vinyl or > styrene 45s) are not damaged by washing in water. They should then be > thoroughly rinsed with distilled water, dried, and returned to new record > sleeves. > > The analog audio equipment is another story. About the only thing to > do is to dry it out COMPLETELY, then check each piece carefully for any > signs of water damage. Older equipment that does not contain circuit > boards may well survive with little more than a good drying out, then > maybe a brushing out of any foreign residue from the chassis. Circuit > boards need to be checked for evidence of water stains that can cause > short circuits. These stains can often be cleaned off with alcohol and a > stiff brush. Some of the capacitors might need to be replaced, but that > needs to be determined on an individual basis. Mechanical equipment such > as turntables and tape decks will need to have their mechanics cleaned and > relubricated. But most of this equipment is probably recoverable if there > is interest in doing it. > > Greg Bogantz > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Thatcher Graham" <[email protected]> > To: "Antique Phonograph List" <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 12:58 PM > Subject: [Phono-L] [Fwd: [CBI] Wet 78s and broadcast equipment - > needrestoration help] > > >>A heartbreaking story of damaged 78s in Atlanta. >> If any of you have experience in this matter please let me know. >> >> >> >> -------- Original Message -------- >> Subject: [CBI] Wet 78s and broadcast equipment - need restoration help >> Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:21:38 -0500 >> From: Thomas Shanks <[email protected]> >> Reply-To: College Broadcasters, Inc <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] >> >> >> >> From The Collegiate Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) Listserv>> >> >> Our radio station's storage area was steamed in a sauna from a broken >> steam pipe for probably 7 days before we were informed last week. We >> have a full complement of high-quality used analog studio equipment (an >> entire disassembled old studio) and a few hundred 78s that were too wet >> to handle until today as the room was dried with a dehumidifier. They >> are still damp, so it's time to do what we need to do to save what can be >> saved. >> >> What should we do to save the 78s? >> >> What should we do to save the reel tape? >> >> And the audio equipment? >> >> Thank you for any help you can give, >> >> Thomas Shanks >> Chief Engineer >> WREK Georgia Tech Student Radio >> >> >> -- >> Thatcher Graham >> Senior Field Engineer >> Mediaguide >> 640 Freedom Business Ctr. STE 305 >> King of Prussia, PA 19406 >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Phono-L mailing list >> http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org >
