The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi Guys,

I recently acquired a number of records from my neighbor, who is getting ready to sell. Among those records are two binders of 78s. These two binders were in her basement for God knows how long, and bore the brunt of a flood several years ago. Because of this, they are covered in black mold, as well were some of the records. The records I was able to clean, but the binders I don't know how to. Currently I'm quarantining them in my garage.
The reason I want to clean them is because they are the original binders that came with the two albums, one being Glenn Miller and the other being Woody Herman. Does anybody know if there's a way to clean these without ruining them, or do I have to find somebody that would restore them?

Thanks,
Colin

Colin:

Unfortunately I don't believe there's any way to save the covers. By this time the mold, which was only on the surface of the records, and so easily cleaned, is all throughout the cardboard of the binders. The mold mycelia (vegetative part) have probably spread within the paper and cannot be removed. The only means of actually killing the mold would be soaking in bleach, which would obviously have a detrimental effect on the binder. You should also take care about breathing in the mold spores (the black part). Although probably only Aspergillus (very common mold) some people can get serious lung infections from breathing in the spores.

penman

(pen & phonograph collector by night, microbiologist by day)

Thanks Penman. I'll try and find a new one on eBay. I'll still leave it in the garage, because I know that as soon as I toss it or give it away I'll discover a way I could have cleaned it/killed the mold

-Colin

Don't take it the wrong way, you may have personal reasons, but they're not worth restoring at any cost.

Album sets of Glenn Miller and Woody Herman, etc. Are a dollar per pound, very common. Especially Miller, after his death.

Thanks guys, I'll find something to do with them (maybe frame them?). After all, the records are in perfect shape and play great, and that's all I care about.