Help with old camera smell
Dec 23, 2021 23:06:40 #
I am not a chemist or a mycologist (an expert in different types of fungus), however, I was told by folks who specialize in decontamination of various structures and items that many household cleaners, bleaches, cleaners such as ammonia do not necessarily kill various moulds but sometimes activates them and in certain cases, causes them to spreaders become airborne.
The bad smell in old cameras is usually due to mildew. It attacks leather, wood, and certain animal glues that were used in adhering leather coverings to wooden or metal camera bodies.
The special chemicals and cleansers, such a Mould Control are actually intended for household use in bathrooms, etc., however, on old cameras, radios, etc, I have used it successfully without causing damage, however, I do not spray it on or apply it generously I dab it on with cotton balls and swabs, wipe it off with a clan damp rag, and the dry it carefully. When it is thoroughly dry and the odour is eliminated, I then apply leather waxes or furniture polish to re-lubricate the leather covering or wood.
If I intend to actually use the camera, I make certain that none of these chemicals or polishes get into the mechanism or the lens.
The is a Facebook group of folks who are interested in old Graflex equipment. Many of the members fully restore old Graflex SLRs and equip them with modern or fine vintage lenses. They entirely stip all the old leather coverings and paint and clean and stain the wooden bodies, refurbish the mechanisms, and polish the brass fittings.
If a camera is extremely rare and collectable and has significant value, I wor not attempt to do any of the work on a DIY basis. There are antiquarians and conservators that specialize in the matters and the job would be best done professionally.
Attaced is a picture of me with lots more hair, back in 1979 with an old 8x10 camera that I acquired from a retired photograher who hep it in his cellar fored 50 years. It smells like something from an excavated tomb. I brought the stand and the body to an antique furniture restorer and it came back as good as new. I come upon n old lovely Taylor, Hobson and Cooke 300mm Variable Soft Focus lines and used them on with 8x10 and 5x7 film for years.
Now, I am the "Antique
!
The bad smell in old cameras is usually due to mildew. It attacks leather, wood, and certain animal glues that were used in adhering leather coverings to wooden or metal camera bodies.
The special chemicals and cleansers, such a Mould Control are actually intended for household use in bathrooms, etc., however, on old cameras, radios, etc, I have used it successfully without causing damage, however, I do not spray it on or apply it generously I dab it on with cotton balls and swabs, wipe it off with a clan damp rag, and the dry it carefully. When it is thoroughly dry and the odour is eliminated, I then apply leather waxes or furniture polish to re-lubricate the leather covering or wood.
If I intend to actually use the camera, I make certain that none of these chemicals or polishes get into the mechanism or the lens.
The is a Facebook group of folks who are interested in old Graflex equipment. Many of the members fully restore old Graflex SLRs and equip them with modern or fine vintage lenses. They entirely stip all the old leather coverings and paint and clean and stain the wooden bodies, refurbish the mechanisms, and polish the brass fittings.
If a camera is extremely rare and collectable and has significant value, I wor not attempt to do any of the work on a DIY basis. There are antiquarians and conservators that specialize in the matters and the job would be best done professionally.
Attaced is a picture of me with lots more hair, back in 1979 with an old 8x10 camera that I acquired from a retired photograher who hep it in his cellar fored 50 years. It smells like something from an excavated tomb. I brought the stand and the body to an antique furniture restorer and it came back as good as new. I come upon n old lovely Taylor, Hobson and Cooke 300mm Variable Soft Focus lines and used them on with 8x10 and 5x7 film for years.
Now, I am the "Antique
!
Dec 24, 2021 04:06:11 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
I am not a chemist or a mycologist (an expert in d... (show quote)
I think you are right on there. I do have a background in microbiology and chemistry. I also have used large format cameras and currently own two 4x5" ers. One was a new 1980 vintage Omega View with cloth-plastic bellows. And the other is a vintage Gundlach wooden field camera that already had the bellows replaced with a new leather one. The back bed rail is missing so it does not have it's original bellows extension but I no not really need that for some of the lenses I have. I have modern Schneider and Nikon view camera lenses for it. 90mm, 120mm, 150mm, 210mm, and 127mm copy lens. The original lens (I don't remember the focal length) seems to have a frozen shutter, and from someone else's poor try at a repair has grease on the inside of the glass elements.
Dec 24, 2021 17:28:59 #
Hmmm - I inherited a dozen or so camera bags - mostly canvass (Domke and others I have never heard of). All have an ugly mildew odor. Any thoughts on getting the smell o.u.t.? If it can be done I will offer them for sale here. If not, I guess the dumpster. Some, sadly, were never used. Sorry if this is a hijack of the thread.
Dec 24, 2021 17:54:50 #
billnikon wrote:
Put the camera is a box, open a box of Arm and Hammer baking soda, put it in a couple of bowls filled with Arm and Hammer and place them in the box with the camera, close the box up and seal it. Wait for a week, the more Arm and Hammer you use, the better.
And the longer you wait the better. Decades is better than weeks.
Dec 24, 2021 17:57:38 #
waltnetto wrote:
Hmmm - I inherited a dozen or so camera bags - mostly canvass (Domke and others I have never heard of). All have an ugly mildew odor. Any thoughts on getting the smell o.u.t.? If it can be done I will offer them for sale here. If not, I guess the dumpster. Some, sadly, were never used. Sorry if this is a hijack of the thread.
Bags you can soak in a bucket or tub.
Most people wouldn’t do that with the cameras (but I would, in gasoline ... ).
Jan 10, 2022 05:12:28 #
Phil327
Loc: South Florida
I had a camera bag that was nylon/polyester with closed cell foam for padding. I went through all the sprays and cleaners available to remove the smell. My last attempt was to soak the bag in soap and water and let it dry in the sunshine for a few days. The smell remained - apparently - once nylon/polyester captures a smell - it is there permanently. Sometimes - the dumpster is the final fix.....
Jan 10, 2022 13:05:26 #
User ID and Phil327 (CI?) -
Thank you. I have nothing to lose trying the soak method. If it doesn't work - dumpster :(
Thank you. I have nothing to lose trying the soak method. If it doesn't work - dumpster :(
Jan 10, 2022 15:16:52 #
Phil327
Loc: South Florida
If the bag is canvas - be careful - it might shrink and become unusable. The nylon/polyester does not shrink and I was confident that once dry, the bag would be OK. Also - some bags have a waterproof coating on one side of the fabric, too much agitation and that 'seal' breaks down. Finally - make sure the bag is completely dry before any equipment is placed inside.
Jan 10, 2022 15:24:03 #
Phil327 wrote:
If the bag is canvas - be careful - it might shrink and become unusable. The nylon/polyester does not shrink and I was confident that once dry, the bag would be OK. Also - some bags have a waterproof coating on one side of the fabric, too much agitation and that 'seal' breaks down. Finally - make sure the bag is completely dry before any equipment is placed inside.
Solid advice Phil! Thanks.
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