2. analog
  3. 193949-1647

Record Storage Problem

Outer sleeves are a problem. I know that is going to be a contested statement, but it has been my experience over decades of collecting that often as not records stored in outer sleeves develop mold. This was first suggested to me in the early 1970s in Seattle, a Mediterranean Climate, and I thought OK maybe it is a concern in certain regions. Then I encountered it in San Diego, a Semi-Arid Climate. Currently I am sorting through a large estate collection in South Florida, that reportedly has always, ALWAYS, I am assured, been under air conditioning. Most of the records are protected by outer sleeves and most have mold. This is about 8,000 records. So you may wish to rethink your strategy. What is the priority: The vinyl or the jacket?

billstevenson

Showing 2 responses by tony1954

tony1954's avatar
tony1954
1,275 posts
 

I live in the Pacific Northwest and I have never even heard of properly stored records developing mold, regardless of whether they had a sleeve.

I'm thinking that whoever told you that the collection was "always, ALWAYS. . . .  under air conditioning." might be stretching the truth.

Mold needs moisture.

tony1954's avatar
tony1954
1,275 posts
 

I guess I just never had a problem because I always removed the plastic.

However, I always removed the plastic because I was told that the plastic could shrink if it got hot and it might warp the record.  No mention of mold, hence my response.

Thanks, good to know.

 

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