[Dialogue] undeteriorated Oprah tape?

[W. J.]

I thought that subject line would get your attention, folks. This request is in response to Gordon Harper's suggestion. We're looking for a "close to pristine" copy of the 5th City movie on VHS. So if you have a copy, read on.
   
  I'd like your professional opinion on the state of your copy of the 5th City videotape. 
   
  When you last ran the tape, were there any visible signal "glitches" or "dropouts" on your copy that could have arisen from physical creasing, shedding/flaking of the magnetic layer, or stretching of the base layer (possibly with a tape edge frilled like a lasagna noodle)? 
   
  Has there been any evidence of "wear" or slight degradation of the image/sound over time from a high number of plays? 
   
  Is there any element of "cooking" or overheating that could affect signal quality or the primary integrity of the tape? 
   
  Is it a professionally produced copy with a duplicator's name on it? (I'd love to get that info!)
   
  Any evidence that it was a "copy of a copy" or homemade copy of a professionally produced copy? Like no duplicator's ID, no date, no printed label, handwriting, or a brand label like "Scotch".
   
  Any physical deterioration or cracking of the plastic cassette shell?
   
  Any previous physical examination of the tape itself by you or others?
   
  If you're gonna unlock and open the cassette's tape path cover to look at the tape, handle with cotton gloves, don't leave fingerprints on the tape itself, and don't play with it any more than necessary!
   
  Thanks for your evaluation. I'd say treat your copy with loving care, and store it away from heat sources and high humidity. Whatever you do, eventually it will crumble into fragments and dust.
   
  Marshall Jones
   
  P.S. Please reply off-list!
   
  

Gordon Harper <gharper1 at gmail.com> wrote:
  Marshall --

There was a time--early 90s--when ICA USA staff used that video in its Group Facilitation Methods courses as the basis for the demo of the Focused Conversation method.  There may still be copies (better or worse) in the hands of folks like Wiegel, Oylers, Dennis Jennings.  My copy is certainly available if nothing better surfaces. 

Also wondering about people like Troxel, who is in the video and worked with the community about as long as anyone, I think.  Or Mary Laura?

Perhaps a note on Dialogue or OE just might turn up a treasure -- 

Gordon

  On 9/11/07, W. J. <synergi at yahoo.com> wrote:    Gordon, the very latest bad news is that all our efforts to locate the 5th City master tape have come to naught, and the window of opportunity is now closed. But at least I feel better about it knowing somebody checked the shelf while he still could. 
   
  So our fallback position is to locate the best possible VHS copy we can, and yours is a candidate! 
   
  We will professionally transfer the analog video signal to digital DVD, controlling for video noise, oversaturation, and audio hum. So it will at least look as good as your VHS tape, and probably sound better. 
   
  Do you have any other ideas or sources?
   
  I'm still gonna try to locate a third party filmmaker in the Chicago area who may have info, but it's a very long shot.
   
  Marshall
   

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