Vintage Film Gallery-Film Preservation
My thoughts on Collaboration-
following a presentation on 28mm preservation at Sacile in October 2005
Any feedback would be most interesting
This is an example of nitrate decomposition from a 1926 Fitzpatrick
"silent" musical on the life of Mozart. The globules of bubbling nitrate
base are clearly seen oozing from the middle of the roll. Once this has
begun, there is nothing that can be done to stop the process. The unaffected
footage should be removed to prevent it being affected by the acrid fumes.
The decomposition shown above also affects the film container.
Decomposition is not confined to just nitrate film stock. Tri-acetate
base can suffer from the disastrous "vinegar" syndrome. Although this example
comes from 1940 safety stock ( Dufaycolor was always made on safety stock),
it still exhibits the decomposition associated with much later years. This
is a reel from "Alice Is Switzerland". Although not clearly visible in
this rather poor photo, the film is severely buckling and has becom very
soft and thin. The emulsion has become detached from the support and a
pungent acrid vapour of vinegar is given off.
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Last updated 25th July 2006
