ARSC Archival Cylinder Box

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is pleased to announce the ARSC Archival Cylinder Box. The ARSC Archival Cylinder Box is the highest-quality, safest, and densest housing available today for the long-term storage of historical cylinder recordings. The Archival Cylinder Box (ACB) was originally developed by ARSC under contract with the Library of Congress. It was designed by ARSC member and cylinder expert Bill Klinger of Klinger Engineering Services.

The ARSC Archival Cylinder Box body and top are injection molded of Polycarbonate Lexan 940A-116, a stable, inert, and flame-retardant plastic resin rated UL-94 V0. The foam cushions are BF-1000 silicone foam, formulated for soft and lasting cushion and die cut to +/- .032-inch tolerances. ACB dimensions are 5 inches in height, 2 5/8 inches in width.

• The ACB safely protects every type of standard (4-inch) cylinder in impact-resistant, flame-retardant, archivally appropriate housing.
• The ACB secures each cylinder with a peg (as early Edison boxes did) to protect the recorded surface against abrasion.
• The ACB prevents accidental scraping of the recorded surface during insertion and removal.
• The ACB allows air to circulate, and off-gasses to ventilate, to keep the recorded surface healthy.
• The ACB cushions wax cylinders against impacts and breakage during normal handling.
• The ACB offers the densest storage solution of any archival cylinder housing available today (22/sq. ft).

The ARSC Archival Cylinder Box for Celluloid Cylinders securely protects its contents with a locking lid.
The ARSC Archival Cylinder Box for Wax Cylinders adds foam cushions to protect fragile wax against breakage.