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July 23, 2008
VHS memories destroyed by tape mould
Fine white dust makes tapes unwatchable
VHS tapes that contain precious footage of weddings, family holidays or even your child's first steps, may be at risk from mould, according to Pinnacle.
The software developer says tape mould coats video tapes in a fine white dust, which makes them unwatchable. And according to restoration expert Chris Fears, the wet summers of the last three years have compounded the problem.
He told The Guardian: "It has got to the stage that we open up all the packages of tapes we are sent in a separate room, away from our playing equipment and then we wash and disinfect our hands, because it is so contagious. If it got on to the tape heads in our machines, it would spread everywhere. It's almost like the measles.”
"We all have those special memories we want to keep hold of. Although we may be in for a rude awakening when we find them covered in the mould's fine white dust and rendered totally unwatchable," said a Pinnacle spokesperson.
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Comments received
Gary said on Thursday, 24 July 2008
So how much does Pinnacle stand to make from this potential disaster and we all have no alternative but to take it seriously. I transfered my precious memories already.
Alex Taylor said on Thursday, 24 July 2008
This is old news to me. I collect old Betamax stuff, and I've had boxes full of tapes with a white powder coating showing on the tape. I chucked them away, I daren't put them anywhere near a machine. Incorrect storage of tapes seems to be to main problem.
Fred said on Friday, 25 July 2008
Oh my word, not the measles!