> > Got a question for you experts about photo preservation. > > > > Have recently acquired a family photo album where most of the > > pictures are almost 100 years old. They are on the heavy card stock > > and in one of those padded velvet albums, but the album itself is > > falling apart. I intend to scan all these so that I can share them > > with various family members. But when I take them out of the album > > it may tear the pages slightly. Am I better off to put them back in > > this album and keep them that way or should I put them in protective > > covers and store in a different notebook? Some of them are tin > > types. What is the best way to preserve them? > > > > Patricia Kantzer > > If the album is falling apart anyway maybe you should consider > getting it rebound. Consult a bookbinder. He may be able to take > it apart safely and then rebind it when you've scanned them. > > Tin types - dunno. It sounds like a question for a specialist > conservator. > > Ian Goddard at goddai01@hotmail.co.uk If the cardstock is falling apart (as you say it is), check it for its Ph value. To do so requires an ACID TEST pen. My guess is that the album itself was made of very poor quality paper (with high acid content). If the test comes back positive, DO NOT USE that album as it WILL cause irrepairable damage to the photos. You are much better off obtaining an archival quality photo album as it will preserve these priceless images far longer than an acid based paper product will. Regards, Arnold <><><><><><><><><><><> Arrowhead Images <surveyor999 AT a-znet.com> <><><><><><><><><><><> "There are two lasting bequests we can give our children; one is roots, the other is wings." (Hodding Carter, Jr.) AE Palmer <surveyor999@a-znet.com>

> > > Got a question for you experts about photo preservation. > > > > > > Have recently acquired a family photo album where most of the > > > pictures are almost 100 years old. They are on the heavy card stock > > > and in one of those padded velvet albums, but the album itself is > > > falling apart. I intend to scan all these so that I can share them > > > with various family members. But when I take them out of the album > > > it may tear the pages slightly. Am I better off to put them back in > > > this album and keep them that way or should I put them in protective > > > covers and store in a different notebook? Some of them are tin > > > types. What is the best way to preserve them? > > > > > > Patricia Kantzer > > > > If the album is falling apart anyway maybe you should consider > > getting it rebound. Consult a bookbinder. He may be able to take > > it apart safely and then rebind it when you've scanned them. > > > > Tin types - dunno. It sounds like a question for a specialist > > conservator. > > > > Ian Goddard at goddai01@hotmail.co.uk > > If the cardstock is falling apart (as you say it is), check it for > its Ph value. To do so requires an ACID TEST pen. My guess is that > the album itself was made of very poor quality paper (with high acid > content). If the test comes back positive, DO NOT USE that album as > it WILL cause irrepairable damage to the photos. You are much > better off obtaining an archival quality photo album as it will > preserve these priceless images far longer than an acid based paper > product will. > > AE Palmer <surveyor999@a-znet.com> My guess is that someone in the family has attempted to take some of the photos out to see if there is anything is written on the back. And in the process have torn some of the bottom flaps that hold the pictures in place. I can tape those back in place. But if I have to take the pictures out of the album in order to scan them. in that process more of the album may be torn apart. Where do I find an acid test pen? a Photo Shop? I want to get my ducks all in a row before I destroy anything. Pat "Patricia Kantzer" <mkdoc@roadrunner.com>