Old VHS, VHS-C and other videotapes that have been stored for years in basements, attics or damp areas can sometimes develop mold. In many cases, that does not mean the memories on the tape are lost.
At Tommy Productions, we use a specialized videotape cleaning process to carefully remove mold and contamination from the tape before attempting playback or digital transfer.
The photo shown here is an actual tape being cleaned. You can see the white mold buildup on the tape pack. The tape is carefully processed so that contamination can be removed before it passes through professional playback equipment.
Why is cleaning important?
Playing a heavily contaminated tape without first cleaning it can cause playback problems and can spread debris inside the VCR or video deck. Mold and residue can also interfere with the tape-to-head contact needed to produce the best possible picture.
After cleaning, we can evaluate the tape and, when possible, transfer the recovered video to a modern digital format.
With more than 40 years of experience working with videotape and professional video formats, Tommy Productions has worked with tapes in many different conditions. Every damaged or mold-contaminated tape is different, so recovery cannot be guaranteed, but many tapes that customers thought were unusable can still contain important family memories worth preserving.
If you discover an old videotape with white spots, fuzzy material, mold or other contamination, do not automatically throw it away.
Contact Tommy Productions before attempting to play it.
Tommy Productions
Professional Video Transfer & Restoration
TommyProductions.com
