The HTV Wales archive is a significant record of Welsh popular culture, politics and history captured on both film and video and it constitutes a large part of the Screen and Sound Archive. An archive of that size and age will have an assortment of conservation challenges, especially in the area of restoration. By far the most common problem with old tape is Sticky-shed syndrome (SSS) or hydrolysis. SSS is symptomatic of the breakdown of the tapes’ polyester binder due to absorption of moisture.
The tell-tale squealing of the tape as it passes over the playhead and the accumulation of dirty deposits upon the guide and playhead indicate a tape has SSS. A tape with SSS will, amongst other issues, exhibit ‘crabbing’, i.e. the moving from side to side of the moving image, and if not treated continued playback could further damage the tape.
So how do we restore that believed lost episode of ‘Gwesty Gwirion’? The answer may surprise you! The standard practice is to bake the tape at low temperatures for relatively long periods of time, such as 130 °F to 140 °F (54 to 60 °C). Strictly speaking we don’t ’bake’ our tapes but instead use a commercial food dehydrator that removes all moisture from the tape pack. How long we do this to the tape will depend on the severity of the SSS; up to a week we’ve discovered is time enough. We have been successful with the majority of the tapes that have undergone the process, with many lost gems brought back from the brink of oblivion. You can see some of them on the ITV Wales YouTube channel or view them at the Library.
How much influence do you think songs have on our behaviour? The Road Safety Council, in 1960, were concerned that the “morbid and corrupt’ song ‘Tell Laura I Love her’ could encourage teens to drive irresponsibly. In this clip teens are interviewed on whether they feel these concerns are justified.
The ITV Cymru/Wales Archive is based at the National Library Of Wales
In this daring clip from ‘In the News’ we find out why women enjoy wearing shorter skirts, and men get a chance to comment on the shorter hem lines too!
All Archive material remains the copyright of ITV Cymru/Wales. All rights reserved.
For more information on how to access the Archive Catalogue, please visit www.archif.com.
In this clip from the magazine program ‘In The News’ from 1960 the people of Cardiff and Pontypridd are interviewed on whether they think Christmas has become too commercialised.
The ITV Cymru/Wales Archive is based at the National Library Of Wales.
In 1980 the Rhyl Sun Centre was opened, it featured Europe’s only indoor wave machine. Tourists from all over the World came in their thousands to enjoy this newest attraction in Rhyl. In this edited clip from ‘Tref Ar Y Tywod’, broadcast in 1983, we see the Sun Centre in its eighties heyday. In 2016 Sun Centre was closed.
The ITV Cymru/Wales Archive is based at the National Library Of Waless
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nssaw
Facebook – ‘Archif Sgrin a Sain Cymru’
Tommy Cooper, from Caerphilly, is still regarded as one of the most
influential comedians of all times. Despite his incredible performances
he was a private man and interviews with him are very rare. We’ve just
unearthed this classic from December 1981.
The ITV Cymru/Wales Archive is based at the National Library Of Wales.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nssaw
Facebook – ‘Archif Sgrin a Sain Cymru’
American handball is in the Rio Olympics but did you know that a more older, Gaelic version of the game, is still played in Nelson in the Rhymney Valley. In Nelson teams play in what is considered to be the oldest three sided court in the UK Could Wales be medal favourites if Gaelic handball were reintroduced to a future Olympics?
The ITV Cymru/Wales Archive is based at the National Library Of Wales.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nssaw
Facebook – ‘Archif Sgrin a Sain Cymru’
With the Rio Olympics now underway we look at Quoits one of many traditional Welsh sporting pastimes that could appear if Wales were to host a future Olympics.
The ITV Cymru/Wales Archive is based at the National Library Of Wales.
English: http://www.twitter.com/nssaw
Facebook – ‘Archif Sgrin a Sain Cymru’
2016 marks the 500th anniversary of the Royal Mail. In this clip we see the heyday of the GPO delivering our mail, telegrams and phone calls throughout Wales.
Mae’r hawlfraint i’r archif yn berchen i ITV Cymru/Wales. Cedwir pob hawl // All Archive material remains the copyright of ITV Cymru/Wales. All rights reserved.
Mae Archif ITV Cymru / Wales wedi ei leoli yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru.
The ITV Cymru/Wales Archive is based at the National Library Of Wales.
English: http://www.twitter.com/nssaw
Facebook – ‘Archif Sgrin a Sain Cymru’
Today marks 50 years since the boat disaster in the small village of Penmaenpool, near Dolgellau. The ‘Prince of Wales’ ferry was transporting forty-two passengers from Barmouth to Penmaenpool itself. As it arrived in the village, the boat collided with the toll bridge and sank. Fifteen people drowned.
Mae heddiw yn nodi 50 mlynedd ers trychineb cwch ym mhentref bach Penmaenpool, ger Dolgellau. Roedd y fferi ‘Prince of Wales’ yn cludo pedwar deg dau o deithwyr o’r Bermo i Benmaenpool ei hun. Wrth iddo gyrraedd y pentref, tarodd y fferi mewn i’r bont a suddodd yn syth. Boddwyd pymtheg o bobl.
A blog about the work and collections of the National Library of Wales.
Due to the more personal nature of blogs it is the Library's policy to publish postings in the original language only. An equal number of blog posts are published in both Welsh and English, but they are not the same postings. For a translation of the blog readers may wish to try facilities such as Google Translate.
