Evening star., 1937-12-05
By Asnes BrOsCn Trimble.
r YNCLE SANS newest treasure

r YNCLE SANS newest treasure
vaults are in the National
Archives Building and not in
the Federal Treasury. Treas
ures. not of gold and silver, but, of
motion picture films and recordings of
speeches and events!
Here are carefully guarded more
than 100000 feet of World War pic
lures, and also many other films of
deep historical significance. These
pictures are frequently shown in the
specially designed and constructed
auditorium, the acoustic properties of
which are reputed to be the most
perfect in the world
In this little theater" President
Roosevelt recently listened to the re-
cording of his own inaugural address,
Just as in centuries to come thousands
may hear his now famous My friends"
greeting in his fireside chats.
Future generations may listen to the
addresses of every President since
Harding, as well as other important
public speeches. For no longer is
knowledge handed down orally, often
tnaccurately, dependent upon biased
and faulty memory and the cold
printed word! Motion pictures lend
nobility to record history. and sound
recordings convey mans thoughts and
emotions to the ear.
What an inspiration-if in these
ttoublous times We could hear the
voices of our early patriots. such as
Washington, Webster or Patrick Henry!
A MONG the interesting films already
stored here are educational pic
lures from the Department of ivEri-
culture and the Byrd Polar expedition
film. The pictures depicting the tribal
life of the American Indian are ex-
pected most any day now Others
include thrilling pictures of the Coast
Guard, its history activities, and res
cue work in the ice regions.
Here, too, are recordings of primitive
languages and our native folk music
The address by Secretary Hull, Chair
man of the Archives Council, delivered
In the conference room on February
10. 1896, is preserved in the vaults
The whole world is watching the far
reaching experiments of this, the new
est of the Government agencies.
Although but 2 years old, the Division
of Motion Pictures and Sound Record
ings claims its discoveries are still
In the pioneer stage-yet already it
has solved many undresmed-of preser-
vation problems. Through the scien-
tific experiments of the Bureau of
Standards, and the cooperation of
the National Research Council, the
life of films is now prolonged from
Is to at least 500 years and perhaps
permanently.
Little was known of film-testing
methods until these experiments were
worked out on the nitro-cellulose and
cellulose- acetate films. 1t was known
however, that the common commercial
motion picture film, the nitro cellulose
was highly combustible. short lived
and unstable. Tests to determine the
life of this film and suitable storage
conditions presented many seemingly
unsurmountable problems.
The cellulose-acetate film, on the
other hand, was comparatively new
product and its durability unknown.
Various tests were made at the Bu
reau of Standards to ascertain a suit
able container for these two types of
films.
p In one test thousand feet of badly
deterlorated nitrate film was set on
fire and placed in an air-vented can
with the lid securely clamped down
by strong iron bands. Heavy white
smoke issued from the vents but no
damage was done. In another test a
'drier roll of film was placed in the
same can. When this reel was set on
fire, violent flames burst forth noisily
in all directions.
TODAY, as a result of many such
tests, each reel of highly in
fiammable commercial nitrate nitro
cellulose) film is stored in separate
steel fireproof, explosiveproof and gas
tight container-10l2 inches in diam
eter by 2l2 inches deep, designed by
the Division of Motion Pictures. The
container is placed in a fireproof
drewerlike cabinet with air duct in
the back for escaping poisonous gases.
As additional protection the cabinets
are installed in huge cement vaults
8 feet high by Is feet wide.
The celluloSe-acetate or safety film
proved to be fire resistant and more
durable than the inflammable nitrate,
and from the many tests made, it is
believed to be the best material for
permanent records and Implications.
1t is not used for commercial film, as
Its shrinkage qualities are not yet
entirely determined
This film presents fewer storage
problems than the nitrate 1t is. how
ever, placed in round stainless steel
containers, better known as cans .
These cans are designed to allow a
o7-square-inch ventage for breath
ing" when the films are tucked Sc
curely away in the big vaults.
So perfectly has the fire hazard been
solved that d major fire in the main
building is practically impossible. An
added precaution in this isolated mo
mans land" is the automatic sprinkler
system in the vaults and also in the
nearby ofnces. Many brass gadgets
from the sprinkling system dangle
from the ceilings-and should the
temperature rise certain degree above
the maintained 40 degrees in the
vaults, or fire break out, the lead
fuse would melt-open the valves and
the water would pour from the sprin-
klers.
For further safety-in the corridor
end OF the vault is tricky 1sx20-
tnch shutter, held open by an ordinary