wm (07/23/82)
A few months back I submitted a plea for help salvaging some records that got wet in a flood. Many different suggestions were offered (aren't nets wonderful?) and the one that I ended up trying is working out wonderfully. I sent away for the "Williamson Record Care Kit" that was described in the 4th quarter 1981 Audio Amateur magazine. I won't go into prices since this in not an ad, but the kit was CHEAP compared to some other record care deals, but it does require some mixing on the user's part. The kit contains two treatments, an anti-static solution and a disk facial. Except for about 20% of the records which had cheap paper inner liners which partially dissolved into the record grooves, the anti-static solution has been enough to restore the disks to essentially new condition. I highly recommend it, and have even started using it on the records that didn't get wet, with fantastic results. My only warning is that this treatment is so successful at loosening junk from the record grooves that the first time you play the record after treating it you will have to clean the record stylus several times per side. But the second time you play it, most of the surface noise you have gotten used to hearing on all your favorite records will be permanently GONE. Lest you be worried, there is absolutely no damage to the record itself. I haven't tried the disk facial yet, I am waiting until I have enough of the uncleanable records to make mixing up a batch of the gunk worthwhile. If you want more information you can write Old Colony, who sell the kit, at Box 243, Peterborough NH, 03458, or call them at 603/924-6526. You can also order either treatment by itself. One bottle of the anti-static liquid is enough to treat 1000 (one thousand!) records, and it lasts forever. Well worth it, especially since applying it is about the same effort as cleaning your record with a regular record brush. Wm Leler