cleaning microfiche

harry01562

harry01562

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I recently obtained a large group of microfiche which were poorly stored for some time. They look OK to the naked eye, but are spotted, and, in some cases, dusty and a bit dirty.

I'd appreciate ideas and suggestions on properly cleaning and drying them, including chemicals and equipment that would be needed.

Thanks for reading,

Harry
 
any tips on cleaning microfiche???

any tips on cleaning microfiche???

If I mention that the 'fiche included over a hundred covering Canon lenses from the RF through the New FD... including repair manuals and parts lists for individual lenses, would it make it a more interesting project??

This is a very interesting lot, that seems to date from the mid-70's to the mid 80's in age. I have a portable 'fiche reader, and have used them for some years. There are many more lens 'fiche than camera, which is OK with me :angel:

Searching the web seems to bring up a lot of "disaster" type companies, dealing with the result of fires and floods. I really don't want to pay "experts", I just want some hints on handling the slides, and the proper chemicals and techniques to use to do a first level cleaning.

Harry
 
harry01562 said:
I recently obtained a large group of microfiche which were poorly stored for some time. They look OK to the naked eye, but are spotted, and, in some cases, dusty and a bit dirty.

I'd appreciate ideas and suggestions on properly cleaning and drying them, including chemicals and equipment that would be needed.

Thanks for reading,

Harry
Click to expand...
:bang: I too have the same problem, and have found very little info. on how to clean microfiche. There are plenty of companies willing to clean them FOR ME but little info. about how to do it myself. I have decided to take a chance with a product from Kodak called Photo-Flo 200. Some other form menbers have described it as "soapy water with Jet-Dry" it sounds pretty docile. If you have received anyother info since your last post (from other sources) please let me know.
 
Photo-flo is used to break the surface emulsion of film after it's been washed (after development). I use it all the time and when I'm out I use liquid dishwasher soap. From long ago previous experience re-washing film is a BIG mistake. I seriously doubt Photo-flo will clean dried film. Edwin used to make (I don't know if they still do) a film cleaner that you gently swapped the film with a cotton ball. I had a bottle that I probably bought 20 years ago. To say a little bit goes a long way is an understatement. It smells like embalming fluid. In fact I'm not sure if Edwin is still in business. You need to look for a product labeled as film cleaner. From long ago previous experience re-washing film is a BIG mistake.
 
BTW probably a large per centage of people on this site don't even know what microfinche is. Is it 16mm or 35mm? Do you have a reader? Can you convert it to scanned images?
 
Actually it's Edwal (not Edwin) and Adorama still stocks it
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Edwal Anti-Stat Film Cleaner, for Black & White and Color Films, 4 Oz. Bottle
 
Beemermark said:
BTW probably a large per centage of people on this site don't even know what microfinche is. Is it 16mm or 35mm? Do you have a reader? Can you convert it to scanned images?
Click to expand...

In my case, it's actually sheets. I have a couple of portable readers that will accept the sheets, and move between the pages. The portables don't have the ability to scan an image, however.

I had received basically no help, or even suggestions, until now. I'm glad the thread was re-opened, as this is the best lead I've had so far. I know the company, and will try to find a bottle locally, or order from Adorama.

I have a couple of duplicates of the 'fiche, so I can experiment without losing unrecoverable information. There was a company that had bought the rights(?) to the tech manuals from Canon. At any rate, they were the distributor, and Canon Technical Services in New York forwarded requests to them, a few years ago.

I've left the 'fiche untouched, and will wait until I hear further, or find a bottle of Edwal film cleaner.

I would have thought many people would have handled microfiche, as library newspaper files are on them, in 35mm format. Also many magazines, and the Library of Congress further much historical data in that format. The portable scanners are very handy units. I bought these a number of years ago at an MIT flea market.

Thanks,
Harry
 
Beemermark said:
BTW probably a large per centage of people on this site don't even know what microfinche is. Is it 16mm or 35mm? Do you have a reader? Can you convert it to scanned images?
Click to expand...

Thanks for your info and advice. I will be scraping the Photo Flo idea and trying a film cleaner first. My initial resistance to the film cleaner was the wiping action perhaps scratching the fiche as it loosens a particel of dirt and it continues to the end of the fiche. Using a tray method I was hoping to suspend the dirt and wash it away. I have a local camera store that sells an alcahol based film cleaner. As for the fiche size they are card type about 4" X 6" with each page on the fiche about 1/4" X 3/8". I do have a reader/ projector and have been in contact with some companies willing to convert them for me. The per page price is only a few cents per page, it's the "set up cost" that these companies charge that makes it somewhat costly. The cleaning still needs to be done first and of course the service providers are not willing to tell you how they clean them but are more than willing to do it for you. Again, thanks for your advise.
 
Thanks Gustoe, for the note

Thanks Gustoe, for the note

Just read your reply, and would like to have you report on using the alcohol
based film cleaner. I don't know the formula of the Edwal product. My wife is in rehab after back surgery, and I have been kept rather busier than normal, so no time to do much shopping for items like this.

Back to normal soon, I hope...

Harry
 
Chuck Albertson said:
Use a very small knife to cut off the head and gut them, and tweezers to remove the bones.
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🙄Okay, okay, It's good humor...........I'm a little embarased to admit it but I had to think for a second and re- read it. My first thought was you acidently loged on the wrong thread.............but then it hit me:bang:😀
 
harry01562 said:
Just read your reply, and would like to have you report on using the alcohol
based film cleaner. I don't know the formula of the Edwal product. My wife is in rehab after back surgery, and I have been kept rather busier than normal, so no time to do much shopping for items like this.

Back to normal soon, I hope...

Harry
Click to expand...

Harry, Hope your wife is getting better. I've had some back problems off and on most of my adult life but never had to result to surgery. I wish her the best.
As for the cleaning of microfiche, I finally found someone who would talk to me. I had to make over 40 contacts (some by phone, some e-mail) before I got an answer to my question. What was suggested to me was the use of any lens cleaning soulution approved for eyeglasses. It was not suggested to spray directly on the fische. Here is the procedure I used with excellent results.
1. Took my lens cleaning brush to the fiche and removed any dust or abrasives that would willingly come off.
2. Purchesed from Wal Marts vission center, premoistened eyeglass towelletts. Guaranteed not to scratch and to be lint free.
3. Laid the fiche on a clean paper and wiped side one with the towelltte but only one stroke from one end to the other. Then turned the towellette to an unused area to stroke another area of the same side, continuing from left to right until side one was finished. I set the fiche aside and wiped with the paper with the used towellette to remove any junk that may have come loose from the dirty side of the fiche. Dispose of towellette.
4. Repeat step 3 on the other side of your fiche with a fresh towellette.

Things that I noticed while cleaning................ The towelletts did not state on the box if they were alcohol based or not. They did smell of alcohol when I opened them. There was very little moisture on the towelletts and when wiping the fiche, evaporation was instantainous. I can not tell you what material my fiche are made of except that they are dated between the years 1984 and 2001. I suggest that you (as I did) pick a fiche that you could "live without" for testing purposes The results on my fiche were excellent. There was no streaking and any "chunks" of stuff left over after the first cleaning I took a fresh towellette and rubbed the area until I felt the chunk loosen.

Good luck and let me know how things turn out.
 
Sounds logical and sensible.. not always a good pairing. The product is easy to get, about 4 miles away.
Unfortunately, my wife had a setback and is back in the hospital tonight from the rehab. Will be seeing the surgeon, who is an excellent one, tomorrow morning. Gad, hospitals work slower than grass growing.
It seems the industry around the cleaning of 'fiche doesn't want to give out ANY information, just provide their service, for a small fee.
I do have a couple of duplicate 'fiche that I can perfect a technique with, so that simplifies matters. Just have to go into more debt on the towelettes, as I need enough to clean almost 100 'fiche, at a guess.
What I have is almost a complete set of the Canon service and repair manuals from the RF period through the New F-1, including the lenses (not as complete) and the accessories. Many are fine, but there are a bunch that did get more or less grunge. Nice project for a few cold evenings.

Your help has really been great. I wouldn't have known where to start looking, and I did check around, including classic camera sites. Microfiche aren't that obscure, as they are used by libraries and colleges, and by most camera manufacturers, plus the auto industry, etc.

Of we go to Walmart.....

Harry
 
I do have a reader/ projector and have been in contact with some companies willing to convert them for me. The per page price is only a few cents per page, it's the "set up cost" that these companies charge that makes it somewhat costly. [/quote]

Well my last company still had the readers with the printer attached. Left them about a year ago or I would offer to print them for you. It is time consuming to print them and even tougher to have the print come out evenly spaced and straight on a page. This is a long shot but do you know anyone who works at a nuclear power plant. Every plant used to have dozens, most have scanned the images to pdf and scrapped the machines but a lot of plant have kept a couple of machines and not bothered to scan everything.
 
Not only do many libraries still use microforms, but most large university libraries have a "preservation department" with staff who should be able to provide you some bits of advice on how to clean fiche.

I would give one or two of them a call...

good luck!
rt
 
rtphotos said:
Not only do many libraries still use microforms, but most large university libraries have a "preservation department" with staff who should be able to provide you some bits of advice on how to clean fiche.

I would give one or two of them a call...

good luck!
rt
Click to expand...

rt, Good suggestion! I had thought of and tried some of the libraries . I did find a viewer/copier (to paper) but I would be looking to scan these to a CD or thumb drive. Your larger university idea is great. Seems like most of the larger universities would have a lot more money to work with and could very well have scanners. I'll check it out and let you know, Thanks Again.
 
Beemermark said:
I do have a reader/ projector and have been in contact with some companies willing to convert them for me. The per page price is only a few cents per page, it's the "set up cost" that these companies charge that makes it somewhat costly.
Click to expand...

Well my last company still had the readers with the printer attached. Left them about a year ago or I would offer to print them for you. It is time consuming to print them and even tougher to have the print come out evenly spaced and straight on a page. This is a long shot but do you know anyone who works at a nuclear power plant. Every plant used to have dozens, most have scanned the images to pdf and scrapped the machines but a lot of plant have kept a couple of machines and not bothered to scan everything.[/quote]

Hello Beemermark...Hay, Nothing wrong with long shots!!! You never know,sometimes the answer is right there in front of you. I just spent several days researchig the cleaning of fiche, looking and calling all over the US and my best information came from a small "mom and pop" fiche maker just a few miles from me. Thanks for the tip, who knows, the next holiday party I go to I might find someone who works at nuclear power plant!!!
 
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