Disaster Planning
Priorities for Phonograph Recordings
- Salvage shellac and acetate before vinyl discs
- Freeze or dry enclosures within 48 hours (handle as paper)
Precautions for Phonograph Recordings
- Acetate and shellac discs are sensitive to water. Keep water contact to a minimum.
- Hold discs by their edges. Avoid touching the surfaces
Salvage and Recovery Procedures for Phonograph Recordings
- Remove discs from sleeves and jackets
- If labels have separated, mark the centers of the discs with a grease pencil
- Dry separated labels, jackets, and sleeves as other paper materials
- Wash discs exposed to unclean water in a record cleaning machine, if possible. If not available, wash in trays of distilled water and 1% non-ionic wetting agent (Kodak Photoflo or Lissapol TN450).
- Set discs vertically in a rack to air dry
Courtesy of University of Maryland Disaster Plan for Phonographs
