[Bcma-l] Old postcards
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:50:56 -0700
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Larry,
Be sure that the hose end of the ultrasonic humidifier does not drip
condensation onto the objects (don't use a heat setting if the
humidifier has one). Using 'egg crating' (the plastic grate, cheap
to get a piece at a hardware store, comes in 2 x 4' sheets (maybe they
have a broken piece they can donate to you), easily cut to size with
side-cutters) on the bottom of your tray, with a piece of plain white
Reemay (ie: Pelon-- a fused polyester from a fabric store) over the
egg-crating layer, will keep your artifacts off the bottom of the tray
so any condensation that does drip, will go underneath safely). Also,
the polyester webb fabric can be used to lift objects in or out
without handling the relaxed and more fragile paper, one small piece
cut larger than post-card size for example. The postcards can stay on
the polyester sheet once the cards are humidified enough to relax.
Blotter stacks (buffered is not necessary) can then be made with the
humidified cards, they will not be too damp-- don't leave them that
long at all, and add to the blotter stack. If you have access to a
couple pieces of thick plate glass or thick pieces of clean plexi,
that can be used as top and bottom of your stack. Sort of like
pressing leaves. Simple weights can be added to the top of the
glass. You could use something else smooth, but avoid plywood or
anything that will add acid to your blotters, which can be used again
and again if dried and kept clean. (if you must use a flat piece of
wood, use a piece of something like clean arborite sheet to protect
the blotters)
Careful with photos. Best to make a plan for those by first knowing
what process you are dealing with. And if anything is old enough to
be an albumen or any of the early processes, you would likely keep
those in your collection.
And don't humidify and leave for a couple days-- there's the risk of
mould, over humidification and delamination or softening of the paper,
maybe inks will run that wouldn't in a shorter time. Heard that story
before-- oops. If you have anything that looks like it could be on
'parchment' or 'vellum' (not thinking modern papers here, but animal
skins), you want to leave that to a conservator.
It's also a good idea to use a clear plexi piece on the top of the
tray because you can at least see what's going on and if anything is
dripping where it should not. Careful not to over humidify, just
enough to relax things and get into a blotter stack. (that has to be
done quite quickly so it doesn't dry too much) Put it in, close the
stack and do another.
Clean hands too. Handling the paper on the pelon is a help. But if a
paper has rips or sharp edges, watch the pelon does not catch-- new
fabric should be ok. (don't get the iron-on pelon of course) You
can simply use a blotter piece instead if you want, then put that
right into the stack with the card.
If a paper object is fragile, careful handling it without support of a
clean sheet of paper or card for transferring the object if fabric is
not rigid enough for larger pieces. A thin paper may seem strong when
dry to pick it up by a corner, but try the same with a damp,
humidified sheet and you can get damage. (same with turning over,
just use a folded piece of paper larger than the object, slip it
inside, then turn the whole thing over, supporting the piece with an
open hand on each side if necessary.
Try with non-objects of similar paper, or use some throw aways first.
But always pay attention, don't be humidifying something and not be
around to watch.
Good luck,
Barbara
On 23-Jun-09, at 12:12 PM, bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca wrote:
> Thanks, I will try that.
>
> 2009/6/23 <bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>
> Hi Larry
> Humidifying the post cards will straighten them.
> We are using a Rubber Maid container hooked up to a humidifier.
> Works well!
>
>
> Frank Neumann
> http://saltspringarchives.com
>
>
>
> http://www.archives.state.al.us/officials/conservhumid02.html
>
>
>> We have some boxes of old postcards, archival photos, that are
>> curled from poor storage.
>> Is there a method of straightening them out and restoring,
>> flattening, ironing etc.?
>> There are many repeats and we would like to put some in our sales
>> gallery, but they are not in good enough condition as they are.
>>
>> --
>> Larry A. Ewashen
>> Doukhobor Discovery Centre
>> 112 Heritage Way
>> Castlegar BC V1N 4M5
>> www.Doukhobor-Museum.org
>> 250-365-5327
>
>
>
>
> --
> Larry A. Ewashen
> Doukhobor Discovery Centre
> 112 Heritage Way
> Castlegar BC V1N 4M5
> www.Doukhobor-Museum.org
> 250-365-5327
>
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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Larry,<div><br></div><div>Be =
sure that the hose end of the ultrasonic humidifier does not drip =
condensation onto the objects (don't use a heat setting if the =
humidifier has one). Using 'egg crating' (the plastic grate, =
cheap to get a piece at a hardware store, comes in 2 x 4' sheets (maybe =
they have a broken piece they can donate to you), easily cut to size =
with side-cutters) on the bottom of your tray, with a piece of plain =
white Reemay (ie: Pelon-- a fused polyester from a fabric store) over =
the egg-crating layer, will keep your artifacts off the bottom of the =
tray so any condensation that does drip, will go underneath safely). =
Also, the polyester webb fabric can be used to lift objects in or =
out without handling the relaxed and more fragile paper, one small piece =
cut larger than post-card size for example. The postcards can stay =
on the polyester sheet once the cards are humidified enough to relax. =
Blotter stacks (buffered is not necessary) can then be made with =
the humidified cards, they will not be too damp-- don't leave them that =
long at all, and add to the blotter stack. If you have access to a =
couple pieces of thick plate glass or thick pieces of clean plexi, that =
can be used as top and bottom of your stack. Sort of like pressing =
leaves. Simple weights can be added to the top of the glass. =
You could use something else smooth, but avoid plywood or anything =
that will add acid to your blotters, which can be used again and again =
if dried and kept clean. (if you must use a flat piece of wood, =
use a piece of something like clean arborite sheet to protect the =
blotters)</div><div><br></div><div>Careful with photos. Best to =
make a plan for those by first knowing what process you are dealing =
with. And if anything is old enough to be an albumen or any of the =
early processes, you would likely keep those in your =
collection.</div><div><br></div><div>And don't humidify and leave for a =
couple days-- there's the risk of mould, over humidification and =
delamination or softening of the paper, maybe inks will run that =
wouldn't in a shorter time. Heard that story before-- oops. =
If you have anything that looks like it could be on 'parchment' or =
'vellum' (not thinking modern papers here, but animal skins), you want =
to leave that to a conservator. </div><div><br></div><div>It's =
also a good idea to use a clear plexi piece on the top of the tray =
because you can at least see what's going on and if anything is dripping =
where it should not. Careful not to over humidify, just enough to =
relax things and get into a blotter stack. (that has to be done =
quite quickly so it doesn't dry too much) Put it in, close the =
stack and do another. </div><div><br></div><div>Clean hands too. =
Handling the paper on the pelon is a help. But if a paper =
has rips or sharp edges, watch the pelon does not catch-- new fabric =
should be ok. (don't get the iron-on pelon of course) You =
can simply use a blotter piece instead if you want, then put that right =
into the stack with the card.</div><div><br></div><div>If a paper object =
is fragile, careful handling it without support of a clean sheet of =
paper or card for transferring the object if fabric is not rigid enough =
for larger pieces. A thin paper may seem strong when dry to pick =
it up by a corner, but try the same with a damp, humidified sheet and =
you can get damage. (same with turning over, just use a folded =
piece of paper larger than the object, slip it inside, then turn the =
whole thing over, supporting the piece with an open hand on each side if =
necessary.</div><div><br></div><div>Try with non-objects of similar =
paper, or use some throw aways =
first. But always pay attention, don't =
;be humidifying something and not be around&=
nbsp;to watch.</div><div><br></div><div>Good luck, </div><d=
iv><br></div><div>Barbara</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></di=
v><div><div><div>On 23-Jun-09, at 12:12 PM, <a =
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc=
.ca</a> wrote:</div><blockquote type=3D"cite">Thanks, I will try =
that.<br><br> <div class=3D"gmail_quote">2009/6/23 <span =
dir=3D"ltr"><<a =
href=3D"mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca">bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc=
.ca</a>></span><br> <blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" =
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc =
1px solid"> <div> <div>Hi Larry</div> <div>Humidifying the post cards =
will straighten them.</div> <div>We are using a Rubber Maid container =
hooked up to a humidifier.</div> <div>Works well!</div> <div><br></div> =
<div><br></div> <div>Frank Neumann</div> <div><a =
href=3D"http://saltspringarchives.com/" =
target=3D"_blank">http://saltspringarchives.com</a></div> =
<div><br></div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <div><a =
href=3D"http://www.archives.state.al.us/officials/conservhumid02.html" =
target=3D"_blank">http://www.archives.state.al.us/officials/conservhumid02=
.html</a></div> <div> <div></div> <div class=3D"h5"> <div><br></div> =
<div><br></div> <blockquote type=3D"cite">We have some boxes of old =
postcards, archival photos, that are curled from poor =
storage.</blockquote> <blockquote type=3D"cite">Is there a method of =
straightening them out and restoring, flattening, ironing =
etc.?</blockquote> <blockquote type=3D"cite">There are many repeats and =
we would like to put some in our sales gallery, but they are not in good =
enough condition as they are.<br></blockquote> <blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><br>--<br>Larry A. Ewashen<br>Doukhobor Discovery =
Centre<br>112 Heritage Way<br>Castlegar BC V1N 4M5<br><a =
href=3D"http://www.doukhobor-museum.org/" =
target=3D"_blank">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</a><br>250-365-5327</blockquote=
> <div><br></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br><br =
clear=3D"all"> <div></div><br>-- <br>Larry A. Ewashen<br>Doukhobor =
Discovery Centre<br>112 Heritage Way<br>Castlegar BC V1N 4M5<br><a =
href=3D"http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org">www.Doukhobor-Museum.org</a><br>2=
50-365-5327<br><br></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>=
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