Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: "FilmGuard Vinegar Syndrome Protection" (eBay)

This is topic "FilmGuard Vinegar Syndrome Protection" (eBay) in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 03-08-2007, 01:26 PM:

Just saw this thing called

"Prevent VINGAR SYNDROME with FILMGUARD" (eBay auction)

[Confused]

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 03-08-2007, 02:41 PM:

I don't know what is in these things, but the word 'prevent' just flies in the face of all we know about the process of deacetylation in diacetate/propionate/triacetate film base. Even a molecular sieve won't 'prevent' VS - it'll just slow it down.

VS can be slowed down by a number of methods, but it can't be arrested or reversed.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-08-2007, 03:16 PM:

It's bullshit. As Leo already pointed out there is no such thing as a cure for VS. Sure there are many products out there that claim to slow it down, but nothing stops it.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 03-08-2007, 04:52 PM:

It almost makes it sound like it uses FilmGuard or has some association with it. Although technically it could be called A Film Guard.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-08-2007, 05:14 PM:

Brad, I hope your sharks (lawyers) are sending out snotty cease and desist letters to those people cashing in on YOUR namesake. You've already been thru all that with CPI!

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 03-09-2007, 01:42 AM:

I posted a link to this on the AMIA email list for them all to giggle at. According to one reply, this is possibly a rebadged product, the active ingredient of which is a copper compound, designed to inhibit oxidisation (i.e. rusting) of metals. Apparently they're used extensively in the long-term storage of still photographs (b/w paper prints) to keep the silver in the emulsion stable, and are of proven effectiveness for this application.

They've also been sold to consumers as a 'preservative' for factory pressed CDs and DVDs, the idea being to inhibit oxidisation of the substrate. Needless to say, it's open to question whether or not this has any meaningful effect.

But of course, as Brad said, the claim that it can have any effect on VS is BS. We're talking about two completely separate chemical processes.

Posted by Paul Burt (Member # 3743) on 03-09-2007, 11:53 AM:

I don't see anything about Filmguard on the page. Am I missing someting? They're not exactly overpriced at $1.98, but of course by the time you find out they don't work, these guys will be long gone.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-09-2007, 12:02 PM:

looks like something may have been said to the person who posted that Ebay item. It did original use the filmguard name in it's content.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-09-2007, 12:27 PM:

(If you notice in the header text in the body of the post, the light blue "revised" is shown meaning that he went back to his post and rewrote it to remove FG out of the text..)

Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 03-10-2007, 07:46 AM:

Yeah, the FilmGuard name has been deleted. Look under momentcatcherproductions.com, the seller's e-shop page, the same product is now called

FilmHealth Movie Film Protectant - Vinegar Syndrome Eliminator

It must be improved because now it doesn't just prevent , it eliminates VS! Oh, well... [Roll Eyes]