03-19-2018, 11:47 AM
No, unfortunately they are not common. Many others have been damaged over the years or destroyed when someone tries to ship one. So there is more demand than supply for good ones.
As for the smell, it's not going to go away. Periodic cleaning will help keep it down, but it will always come back. Seems to be worse when it's hot and humid. The screen is made from acetate butyrate (Tenite) and it slowly out gasses, fogs over, shrinks and warps. You may have noticed the same odor on screwdriver handles. It's tough and durable and is still made but they now incorporate an odor shield compound in the plastic formulation.
Every few years there is some talk about pooling resources and getting modern reproductions made from polycarbonate or something similar. Strong but no odor. It's not going to be cheap though. The initial cost to have a mold made would be $1,000s.
As for the smell, it's not going to go away. Periodic cleaning will help keep it down, but it will always come back. Seems to be worse when it's hot and humid. The screen is made from acetate butyrate (Tenite) and it slowly out gasses, fogs over, shrinks and warps. You may have noticed the same odor on screwdriver handles. It's tough and durable and is still made but they now incorporate an odor shield compound in the plastic formulation.
Every few years there is some talk about pooling resources and getting modern reproductions made from polycarbonate or something similar. Strong but no odor. It's not going to be cheap though. The initial cost to have a mold made would be $1,000s.
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