[78-L] question on tape baking

[David Lennick]

Robert M. Bratcher Jr. wrote:
> At 11:07 AM 8/21/2009, you wrote:
>> Robert M. Bratcher Jr. wrote:
>>> At 09:44 AM 8/21/2009, you wrote:
>>>> 641 should have no problems. I've never encountered any, nor 
>> with 631, Scotch
>>>> 176/77 or any of the standard (non-backcoated) brands.
>>>>
>>>> dl
>>> Good, that means my 4 track mono 3.75 ips old time radio tapes will
>>> be ok in the future.......
>>>
>> The stuff done on Shamrock or other white-box brands from the same source may
>> not be okay though, and often that stuff doesn't respond to baking. 
>> It actually
>> needs to be played from inside a fridge..think I'm kidding?
>>
>> dl
> 
> No, I've never heard of freezing or cooling down a tape to make it play..... 
> 
> _______________

There are a couple of professional restoration guys who use this technique. 
Obviously it calls for a fair sized refrigerator (and a very tolerant wife) in 
which you put the tape player, and the tape has to be kept cool for twelve 
hours or something like that. Shiny black Shamrock tape, and possibly Ampex 
291, seems to require this treatment because it also turns sticky but doesn't 
respond to baking.

One of the joys of purchasing OTR on tape was getting it from guys who stole it 
from the other providers or whose hearing was so bad that they couldn't hear 
the squeal they were copying.

dl