Date:         Fri, 11 Nov 2005 12:10:15 -0500
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         "Richard L. Hess" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Loss of Lubricant and A- and B-winds
Comments: To: AMPEX LIST <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask]
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Ok, an interesting thought occurred to me through an off-list discussion.

In normal practice, as I understand it, the "Lubricant Package" was 
thrown into the coating vat and is coated on the tape along with the oxide.

So, for A-wind tapes, the lubricant theoretically lubricates 
everything - tape passing over guides and heads.

I'm starting to wonder where the stiction occurs in cassettes, since 
they are B-wind, the back of the tape passes over guides (most are 
rotating) but doesn't have any lubrication. I'm wondering if we can 
glean anything from the German Radio B-wind tapes though I know most 
of those are rotating guides as well.

I had assumed (I know that's dangerous) that most of the stiction in 
cassettes was from the heads themselves.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I hypothesize that LoL will become a growing problem - and baking 
exacerbates it.

Cheers,

Richard

Richard L. Hess                   [log in to unmask]
Aurora, Ontario, Canada       http://www.richardhess.com/
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm