Thread: How contagious is cell rot

Thanks for that valuable info Neil, surly this will put some of our minds at ease. I only wish I had the courage to perform your experiment.

I always knew/suspected celluloid rot was not contagious as far as "triggering" accelerated decay in other nearby celluloid.

Yes Neil but if I'm reading you correctly you had it in an open topped ice cream container. So the gas vented. Most people keep their razors in a closed box. Try sealing the box completely and then let us know what happens.

Back in March I bought a barber's case containing seven razors and several scissors.
One of the razors was heavily decayed by cel rot. Also inside the case were several
barber's licenses. The most recent being issued in 1954. I assume that all of these
razors had been in that box for the past fifty years, tightly closed and latched. I
immediately tossed the stricken razor after photographing it. Yet, none of the other
razors had any sign of cel rot. That should indicate that this condition may not be as
contagious as we once believed.

Regards - Walt

Rotted razor:




Its companions for fifty years: