[GreenKeys] Lost in history ? How was paper tape oiled ? ...

[Jones, Douglas W]

On Aug 12, 2015, at 1:08 PM, Richard Knoppow wrote:

>      I don't know what this stuff looks like but is it possible it was waxed?   There are all sorts of applicators for wax.  It was common to wax at least the edges of motion picture film.  

No, it is definitely oil.  When a roll of oiled paper tape is left for decades in one orientation, the oil settles somewhat to the lower side and tends to wet the cardboard carton the tape came in. (I have several cartons of oiled black tape in this state.  I ought to turn them periodically in order to even out the oil.)

The smell of the cartons I have is not horribly different from the smell of new motor oil.

		Doug Jones
		jones at cs.uiowa.edu