By Frank “Smokin” Truatt
I grew up at a time when the music we brought home with us was always on vinyl. You bought either an album or a single on the 45’s. How many of us still have those records? If we still have them, where did we store them all these years? You can almost tell how old a record is by the amount of dust on the jacket, or by that musty old smell that records seem to get over the years. That smell probably came from where we stored them, out of the way, in a box somewhere in the basement. It seems that old records, just like pictures, old clothing and sports trophies all wind up in a place that does not use up our precious living space stored away in a damp area of your home. Those covers, made of paper, will protect from scratches while absorbing moisture and getting that musty smell when stored in a damp basement. I can live with that musty smell, since those who stored their records in attic space have to deal with warpage from the high temperatures of summer. So, what are records made of anyway, and why was proper storage so important? Vinyl records are made from a plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), along with resin, stabilizers and other materials to shape the record and achieve the desired audio quality. One of the concerns with storage of these records is warping. Although they say that the PVC will soften and warp above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, records left in a car or in an attic, shed or garage or with direct exposure to the sun on their black surface may easily exceed that temperature. Stacking the records, even in the proper temperature, can warp and even crack your records. The top records in a stack should be fine, but the odds go down the deeper in the stack you go. Stack and store them vertically like books, not leaning together so that any record can be slid out easily, and always keep them stored in their sleeve. I remember the skill of putting the record on the turntable while touching only the edges or the label, but never the grooves. Having a good turntable will also preserve the record. Unlike the digital world, every time you play vinyl you wear it out a little. The better your turntable cartridge, the longer the life of your record. For those re-thinking about old record storage and for those still buying records today, some of these tips will preserve your collection for decades to come, and as we know, nothing sounds better than a vinyl album of your favorite artist playing on your turntable!
