We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
Film Vaults : Construction and Use*
BY JOHN G. BRADLEY
MOTION PICTURE CONSULTANT FOR THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, WASHINGTON, D. C., ON FURLOUGH STATUS
Summary — The presently accepted type of film-storage vaults and the standards governing their use are reviewed. The discussion is made in terms of vent area per film load and the resulting pressures; horizontal versus vertical arrangement of film cans; open rack, shelf, and cabinet storage; units of risk for material of high subject-matter values; air conditioning; and related problems. Special mention is made of an insulating retractor belt for shelf storage.
INTRODUCTION
THE RECENT ADVENT of a new safety film base, l intended to replace some of the present film bases, merits preliminary comment in connection with this discussion. Substantial claims are made for its projection life as compared to the acetate safety film, for its safety characteristics as compared to the nitrate film, and for its chemical stability. It is hoped that before many years its superiority in all respects will have been demonstrated and that at least the use of the highly inflammable and chemically unstable nitrate film no longer will be necessary.
This long-range solution of the problem does not, however, account for the vast accumulations of nitrate film, much of which should be copied immediately, or for which added protection should be provided. Because a transfer of accumulated nitrate film to a safety base is expensive, beyond the current budgets of many film custodians, it appears that a nitrate-film-storage problem still exists and will continue to exist for many years to come. For the further reason that serious losses continue under present standards of vault construction and use, a review of the entire problem seems to be in order at this time. While this discussion emphasizes the hazards of nitrate film, it does not ignore the need for adequate protection of other types of record material of high value.
THE GENERAL PROBLEM STATED Proper film storage (aside from the protection it should give the
* Presented October 25, 1948, at the SMPE Convention in Washington.
AUGUST, 1949 JOURNAL OF THE SMPE VOLUME 53 193