Swearer recordings

[NW Mailing List]

Aargh! That was completely unnecessary. The master tapes could most likely have been restored. Old recording tape from the ‘50s and ‘60s had chemical issues that made them absorb water. That caused the iron oxide magnetic layer to flake, but the tapes can be saved by carefully baking them to expel the water. There are companies that specialize in tape restoration. He should have donated the tapes to the Smithsonian or another institution that has a media restoration lab. 

 

Rob Doorack  

 

From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List
Sent: Friday, February 1, 2019 8:21 AM
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Cc: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Re: Swearer recordings

 

Bud said that he had to destroy the field tapes became they were deteriorating.  So without doubt, they're gone.  He apparently made "master" cassette tapes from the field tapes under "one last pass" pressure.  Some of them broke in the process and had to be repaired to finish the copy cassette.  He then made his commercially available cassettes from the copies.  These haven't been found either.  So... I'm afraid you're correct.  All that remains are the copies he sold.

 

Dave Stephenson

 

 

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