Keep your memories fresh!

[FJ and G]

Many of my old photos, slides and negatives have faded and with each passing year, they slowly deteriorate.

This weekend, I discovered how to preserve them forever (or until the world ends). I’d like to share my findings with you.

I purchased an Epson RX700 that scans photos, slides, negatives and prints them or transfers them to a flash card, memory stick and a host of other devices which you can then transfer to your computer.

I’m not advocating my Epson, as I’m sure there are similar brands that do similar things, but for under $200, this was a great buy.

I already saved money by printing 8X10s that I’ve entered for a photo contest in Garden RR magazine, and the quality is so much better than the machine does at Wal-Mart.

I was amazed at the great quality of the photos scanned from color negatives. When you use PhotoShop or similar program, you can remove some of the yellowing that develops over time.

There’s literally thousands of old photos, slides and negatives that I’ll be scanning over the coming months, many of them trains from the fallen flag era of 60s and 70s.

Here’s a small sampling of Kodak instamatic shots, scanned from badly fading square format photos:

Ah, Camp Lejeune in the early 1970s. Open squadbay and “Starchies”.



Guarding an armory in Camp Lejeune, early 1970s, from Communist forces that might at any moment land on the North Carolina coast.



One of my favorite railways was this private quarry line in the Rotterdam, NY area near the old NYC, which once ran on the south shore of the Mohawk





The Penn Central in 1971 normally ran one E unit and 2 coaches between NY and Chicago. Here it is passing thru Fonda



And another passing thru Colonie (near Albany)



My second car, a ’67 Malibu (1st was a Ford Country Sedan). This is North Carolina near my base in 1976.

[Greg T.]

Great pics Dave!  And great advice.  Where are you stationed now?

Greg

[FJ and G]

thanks, Greg.

Retired from USMC 12 years ago & contractor for Army now in Crystal city Va

[Anonymous]

Dave;

Don't forget to back up your pics (and other important stuff)
on CD's! Flashcards and disks can/WILL get "whacked" by
stray magnetic fields. CD's will last just about forever unless
actually physically damaged. Besides, you can make many
backups on CD's and it is cheaper.

Enjoy your pics of Fonda et al, as always. You ought to
publish a photo spread and captions on the FJ&G some
time.

[jefelectric]

Actually there is a lot of controversy about the life of CDs.  Since they have been in widespread use for such a short time nobody is certain just how lone they will last.

A friend who is in the IT department of a large Medical Facility tells me that they back up everything to both tape and Medical Grade CDs (which cost about 10 times the price of normal CDs.

Like anything else the storage conditions will have be a big factor in how long the media last.

Myself, I am not to concerned as I feel that my kids will probably throw out most of my junk when I'm gone anyway.

David, I don't really thing pictures from the 60s & 70s should be that bad.  I have quite a few that still look pretty good.  Also have B&W pictures from as far back as 1911 that look good, some better than others.  Those that got stored away in a HOT attic faired the worst.

[Poppa_Zit]

I had a '67 Malibu, SS 396 3-speed dual quads, ram air, straight pipes. It could pass everything on the road except a gas station.  

[FJ and G]

Myself, I am not to concerned as I feel that my kids will probably throw out most of my junk when I'm gone anyway.

LOL,aint that the truth; my parents' memorabilia disappeared overnight, thanks to some city officials. At least parents at peace with God, and that's what's #1, if ya know what I mean (sorry if this aint PC to say)

[FJ and G]

Z,

Mine had hijacker airshocks in back; mag wheels, etc.

My entire glove compartment was full of tickets. I had licenses from 3 states so would rotate those. Guess I shouldn't bee proud of that but I really loved that Malibu. It eventually rusted from inside out. Best memories of my life! Eventually, I'll post more photos going cross country.