[78-L] ^what archival really means

[David Lennick]

Lordy but I hate those crappy photo albums. Now, let's take on "organic".

dl

On 2/8/2015 5:30 PM, Rodger Holtin wrote:
>
> Not quite on topic for 78 collectors, but this is a post from a photograph
> preservation view, and there is much crossover here for sleeves, albums,
> catalogs, etc.
>
>
>
> =-=-=-=
>
> http://practicalarchivist.com/what-archival-really-means.html
>
>
>
>
>
> "Archival"
>
>
>
> "Photo-Safe"
>
>
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> "Permanent"
>
>
>
> You've seen these words on photo albums and scrapbook supplies, but I bet
> you didn't know that they are  basically meaningless. Yep. That's right. Sad
> but true. There is no standard legal definition for any of these terms.
> Which means that companies are free use these words to describe any product
> they want to sell -- even products made from materials which are known to
> cause damage to photographs. I have personally seen those notoriously
> damaging sticky magnetic albums sold as archival. I nearly caused a scene in
> the scrapbook store.
>
>
>
> Check out this little-known fact: The term "archival" has been applied so
> loosely and so inappropriately that it's no longer used in International
> Standards for photographic materials.
>
>
>
> But what about acid free?
>
>
>
> Acid free is great. You need to keep your photographs away from acids
> because they act like a very slow fire. If you've ever seen a brown
> burn-like stain left by a newspaper clipping, you know exactly what I'm
> talking about.
>
>
>
> So, yes! Acid free is important, but it's not enough to assure the longest
> possible life for your photographs. If you'd like to check the acidity of
> any paper, there are inexpensive pH testing pens available from most
> archival supply companies. Keep in mind that the lignins that remain after
> trees are turned into paper become acidic over time, so "lignin-free" is
> also important.
>
>
>
> There is only one way to be sure you are getting the highest quality
> archival supplies.
>
>
>
> As always, independent testing gives us the most reliable information.
>
> Thank goodness for the PAT (Photographic Activity Test) -- an International
> Standard (ISO 14523) developed by the Image Permanence Institute. The test
> involves incubating materials in temperature- and humidity-controlled
> chambers to simulate aging. Manufacturers must pay for this test, and it
> takes between four and six weeks.
>
>
>
> The PAT predicts potentially harmful interactions between photographs and
> storage materials such as album pages, covers, and envelopes. It is also
> used to test all the components of storage materials such adhesives, inks,
> paints, labels, and tapes.
>
>
>
> You can find PAT passed materials at an archival supply company such as
> Gaylord and Hollinger Metal Edge.
>
> =-=-=-=
>
>
>
> Are shellac or vinyl records affected by acidic paper?
>
>
>
> Rodger
>
>
>
> For best results use Victor Needles
>
>
>
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>