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MMD > Archives > November 1999 > 1999.11.26 > 04Prev  Next


Dry Chemical Neutralizes Acid in Music Roll Paper
By Kim Bunker

Hi everyone, Kim Bunker here.  I was reading in the last issue about
different methods of preserving those much loved old player piano rolls,
and thought you all could benefit from my findings.

My neighbor, where my old shop use to be located, was a bookbinder.
One day he was over visiting when we had just received a inventory
of old rolls.  Some of them were torn, discolored and falling apart.

My neighbor said that was due to the acid content in the paper, and
then he told me about a product that he uses to preserve old manu-
scripts.  This product comes in paper pouches inside a seal glass jar,
and he gave me some to try.

I put three or four dozen old piano rolls, unraveled a little bit out of
their boxes, into a 55-gallon black garbage bag, along with ten packets
of the dry chemical, and left the bag tied tightly in a closet for about
two weeks.  Well !  A gas is formed, killing all of the acid, and
strengthening the paper almost like new again.

Anyway, go to your local bookbinder company and get some of this
wonderful stuff!  I don't know the name of it but it's great.  Tell
the bookbinder it's to preserve old paper; they should know what
you're talking about.  If not, email me and I'll find out for you.

Happy rolling
Kim Bunker


(Message sent Sat 27 Nov 1999, 02:28:33 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Acid, Chemical, Dry, Music, Neutralizes, Paper, Roll

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