Video Tape problems with ageing Video tapes are made from an extremely thin ribbon of polyester that is then coated with magnetic particles. These images carry the image and sound information that allow the video to be viewed. As they age, the polyester can weaken, making a stretch or break of the tape more likely. The magnetic particles that carry the image can lose strength over the years - and much more quickly if place near any source of magnetism. Another problem seen in some tapes is a whitish covering on the tapes (visible through the plastic window). This is considered to be mould and can contaminate a VCR player. Fot that reason we don’t accept such tapes - but there are specialists around that will provide a cleaning service - at a cost. There appears to be no consistency in how these tapes have stood the test of time with some lasting well and others not - even from the same manufacturer and even when stored together. In our experience, the majority of tapes have managed to stand the test of time quite well - but not all. We have seen some tapes where some of the video is partially lost, and others where the polyester tape itself has become so fragile that it was impossible to repair. No tape can be expected to last indefinitely. To keep them at their best for the longest period, they should always be stored in a cool (not cold) and dry place, and away from dust. An attic or garage is definitely not ideal! Cine Film problems with ageing Cine film is basically a reel of transparent plastic that is covered on one side with gelatin emulsion. Extremely small light-sensitive silver halide crystals are embedded onto this emulsion and it these crystals that form images when a cine camera lens focuses light on the film as it runs through the camera. Our experience indicates that the plastic film tends to be made of stronger materials than video tapes. However, considering the long path that the film takes through any projector at the rate of 16/18 frames every second, it does tend to suffer a little physically with every projection. The film is pulled forward with the projectors teeth in the films sprocket holes and paused for one sixteenth of a second for the image to be projected before being moved on again - quite an ordeal! Physical problems that may be present with the film would be evidence of scratching, burn out and wear/damage to the sprocket holes. However, the most common issue we see is that the colour of the emulsion in some films has faded - and more rarely, the image itself has faded. As ever, correct storage is as important to cine film as it it to video tapes.