August 13, 2020, Filed Under: Conservation, Featured1Preserving fragile phonographs of T. S. Eliot, Paul Bowles, Norman Bel Geddes, and others Recordings of T. S. Eliot, Paul Bowles, Pablo Picasso, and other notable 20th-century figures have been preserved after the Harry Ransom Center recently digitized 2,800 unique sound recordings in a variety of formats (read more here). Unlocking Sound Stories, a project funded in part by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities is preserving and providing access to 2800 recordings (click here for more on the grant ). Among the sound formats preserved were cassette tapes, reel-to-reel audio tapes, and phonograph discs. About 30 of the phonodiscs required development of custom archival housing to prevent further damage during storage. These phonodiscs included recordings of T. S. Eliot reading his poems “The Hollow Men” and “Gerontion,” the N. Y. Producing Association’s 1931 production of “Hamlet,” and Paul Bowles’ operetta “The Wind Remains.” Design An example of a three-layer base for the phonograph. Housing the phonographs in a standard sized enclosure ensured safer, easier storage, and components for all 20 could be cut in batches. During processing, it was discovered that some of the phonographs had previously suffered damage. Senior Preservation Technician Alan Van Dyke designed a housing that would protect each disc from further deterioration when stored or handled. The discs were either intact, cracked, broken or shattered, and all were vulnerable. Each phonograph required a 20” x 20” support, lid, and tuxedo box style wrapper so that each disc had proper space, support, and protection in storage. The completed housing design protects against abrasion as the phonograph sits on a stiff base, is held in place by a small spindle and covered with a lid that does not touch the disc. It can be opened and the phonograph easily removed without any additional pulling or awkward maneuvering. Materials and Process Three layers of conservation corrugated board were cross-grain adhered with PVA adhesive and put under weights for 24 hours to dry flat. This image shows the corrugated board glued together to provide the base support of the box. Weights were placed on the stacks of glued boards while drying. Different materials were tested and a decision was made to use a piece of B-Flute corrugated board for the lid. To create each uniquely sized cut-out, the center of the board was marked and a circle was scored with an oval and circle matte cutter, allowing for a 1/8-inch gap between the edge of the phonograph and the cut-out. An “X” in the center of the square board ensures a perfectly aligned cut with a circular mat cutter. The oval and circle matte cutter that was used to create the custom object housing. Mat Board was originally intended to be used in the lid of the box to encircle the phonograph, but it was too thick to cut evenly. Instead corrugated board was used, as it could easily and neatly cut while providing the same standard of protection. After the triple layer base was dry, the phonograph was placed on the board and marked the center. This mark indicates where a tightly rolled strip of Permalife paper (or “spindle”) will be placed later on to keep the disc securely in place. Detail of the image below. Once centered on the “X”, a shallow hole was cut, 2 layers of the corrugated board deep for the insertion of a tightly rolled piece of Permalife paper. Phonograph pictured is from the Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers collection. D-105, Date: 1931, Description: DR 15, s 1.3 “Hamlet” (job no.162), Composition: Shellac, Diameter: 16”, Brand: RCA-Victor Company, Inc. The center of each phonograph was marked using the “X” produced when finding the center of the board. The phonograph was again placed on the base over the hole and the tightly rolled piece of Permalife paper was inserted and marked for trimming. After it was cut to height, a small amount of PVA adhesive was dabbed into the hole and the spindle was inserted. Completed base with trimmed spindle. Detail of where the spindle was marked to be trimmed. Next, the lid was hinged to the base with an acid free gummed linen tape. The lid consisted of one 20” x 20” B-flute corrugated board glued onto the corresponding phonograph’s cut-out. Composition of the box lid shown here. Preservation Technician Genevieve Pierce applies water to the acid-free, gummed, linen tape with a paste brush. A Teflon folder is used to flatten and secure the tape to the cover. To help the lid stays securely closed, the phonograph housing was wrapped in a 20 point lignin-free paperboard, much like a tux box wrapper. Once the wrapper was adhered and dried under weights, the phonograph was placed inside. The housing was then labeled and placed in storage. An example of a phonograph inside the completed custom archival housing. An example of the completed sink-mat and octagonal tray with Permalife paper covering the phonograph. (Image: Genevieve Pierce) Modifications A modification was made for extremely fragile and/or shattered records which could not be handled. This design was created after consulting Associate Archivist for Recorded Sound Brandon Burke at the Hoover Institution Library and Archives at Stanford. The octagonal tray serves to keep loose pieces secure within a sink mat. The tray can be lifted out of the sink for access, but so the object won’t be touched. Like the other phonographs, the sink mat housing is standard to the intact phonograph so all items can be stored together, preserving the materials for the future. A completed sink-mat and octagonal tray with phonograph revealed. This phonograph is from the Paul Bowles collection and was unable to be digitized. It contains music composed by Paul Bowles for his ballet ‘Pastorela.’ Performed by the C.B.S. Symphony and conducted by Bernard Herrmann. (Paul Bowles Collection, MS-00479, phonograph records, D 9389, 1940s?, Lacquer, glass core, 10”). (Image: Genevieve Pierce) Pressure sensitive tape was previously adhered to the broken photograph at an unknown time. Tape removal can lead to further damage and will require extensive treatment. (Image: Genevieve Pierce) An octagonal tray shown as it is removed from the housing. Shallow tabs provide a seamless lift with both hands. (Image: Genevieve Pierce)
