Re: [photo-3d] Cleaning of old stereo slides

["John A. Rupkalvis" <stereoscope@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <Project3D@xxxxxxx>
To: <photo-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: [photo-3d] Cleaning of old stereo slides


> In a message dated 11/04/01 23:35:41 GMT Daylight Time,
> Rory.Hinnen@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> << Wayne Brewster wrote:
>  >
>  > I have about 50 stereo slides taken in the early/mid 50's from an
>  > aircraft carrier showing take-offs & landings of fighters etc. The
>  > slides are dirty and have some mold. Any tip on cleaning w/o
>  > destroying would be appreciated. I am going to re-mount in RBT mounts.
>  >  thanks, Wayne Brewster
>
> And Rory Hinnen followed up with:

> Like you, I didn't dare to separate the glass - these slides have been
> constantly projected over the last 40 years...
>
> So, I'm scanning them at 4000 DPI (Polaroid Sprintscan 4000) and then
doing
> the "cleaning" on the digital files. So far, I've been surprisingly
effective
> at removing the dark brown mould spots and other imperfections. I've even
> been able to remove some scratches that must have been on the film before
Pat
> mounted them...
>
> I am _not_ able to _exactly_ match the colours of the originals, but
(based
> on the assumption that some fading will have occurred) the dupes are
actually
> coming out bright and shiny - just like new :-)

A very good approach.  There is one thing you might want to consider, now
that you have successfully restored these slides.  That is going back to the
originals and attempt removing the glass and manually cleaning one or two of
these.  You really don't have much to lose, since you have the restoration,
and if you just leave them the mold will continue to grow, eventually
destroying them completely.

If you are successful in this effort, you then would have the confidence to
try to "save" the originals, which then in turn could be used for future
restorations when the restoration process is even further improved.  Sort of
like Disney and a few other studios have done, whereby they restore an old
film, and then restore it again when the technology for doing so improves.

I recall seeing something in a Kodak publication on removing mold and
cleaning film, as while as in the Photo Lab Index, as well as other books
and periodicals.

JR


 

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