"rubber" preservation

From: Douglas H. Quebbeman <dquebbeman_at_acm.org>
Date: Mon Apr 8 09:10:11 2002

> >This reminds me, these acoustic couplers may need some periodic
> >maintenance, such as putting some talcum powder on the rubber pieces
> >that hold the telephone handset.
>
> I've also seen it recommended for refrigerator door gaskets.
> What talcum would do to protect rubberized plastic from
> deteriorating is a mystery to me. Are we talking about
> actual latex in any of these situations? I think not.
>
> I would guess these rubbers harden or goo-ify over time
> due to something other than lack of talc, such as long-term
> exposure to UV or ozone or absorption of volatiles from
> other plastics.
>
> I have an old Anderson-Jacobsen 300 baud modem in a wooden
> box that needs a new home, I think...

The wooden ones are the original, 1st generation AJ's, IIRC...

I have the second-generation plastic shell that assembles
with an aluminum "waistband" and allenhead screws. The
third generation used thinner plastic clamshells and no
waistband, just some tapered Philips-head screws. The
3rd generation was also limited to 300 baud, while my
2nd generation could do 450 & 600 using the 300 standard
(Bell 101?).

-dq


-Douglas Hurst Quebbeman (DougQ at ixnayamspayIgLou.com) [Call me "Doug"]
  Surgically excise the pig-latin from my e-mail address in order to reply
  "The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away." -Tom Waits
Received on Mon Apr 08 2002 - 09:10:11 BST