Hi Everyone--- Another way to get an inscription off of a tombstone is to put paper over the stone then rub the paper with a crayon or chalk. It works. Hazel CADIEUX S J wrote: > Terry - > This may not be the exact article you had in mind, but it does explain > the problem. It is found on the following site - The Association for > Gravestone Studies - > > http://www.gravestonestudies.org/preservation.htm > > "Why can't I use shaving cream to highlight inscriptions on difficult to > read stones? > > Our professional conservators tell us it is definitely not a good idea > to use shaving cream on porous gravestones because there are chemicals, > greasy emolients, in shaving cream that are sticky and very difficult to > remove from the stone with a simple washing. Indeed, even with vigorous > scrubbing and lots of rinsing, the cream fills in the pours of a porous > stone and cannot all be removed. The result of leaving it there is that > in time it may discolor or damage the stone. > Instead, use a mirror to shine sunlight across the face of a stone, > making the lettering stand out. For an explanatory leaflet on this > technique, see Store Directory, Kits, "Photographing Gravestones” and > "Making Photographic Records of Gravestones." They may be ordered > separately from the kits. Always prefer a non-invasive method on > gravestones just as we do on medical tests on our own bodies." > > Sharon > Kingston, Ontario > > Terry wrote: > > > > Somewhere in my association with various Rootsweb mailing lists I have seen > > a mail where it advises us most imploringly to please not touch gravestones > > with even water to help conserve them. Unfortunately I cannot find this > > mail in my folders but I thought it extremely sensible advice even if a bit > > frustrating when we find a gravestone we really want to be able to read. I > > believe there is a site with advise about this too which may be worth trying > > to find before you start spraying stones with shaving cream. My thoughts > > are it would be a better idea to simply spray, lightly with water or wait > > for a shower of rain ~ the stones are easier to read when wet. > > Terry Jackson in Oxfordshire > > > > Researching: > > Lancs: SMITH, HATTON, FISHER,HAYES, > > JACKSON, GOLDSMITH, MCDONNELL > > Ches. MCDONNELL, HOOLEY, GARNER, HUDSON, > > Staffs: GARNER > > Surrey: WILKINSON, PUNTER, PARROTT, > > BINFIELD, LITTLE, FRY, ARNOLD, EARLE, ELKINS, > > > > ==== FreeBMD-Admins Mailing List ==== > > Looking to volunteer? > > http://FreeBMD.RootsWeb.com/Vol_instructions.html > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: alberta callender <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 11:25 AM > > Subject: [IP] Re NAntinan Graveyard Inscriptions > > > > > These are very hard to read. Graveyard researchers > > > might like to know that if they spray the wording with > > > Shaving Cream and then wipe it off - say with a > > > handful of grass - the white will stay in the wording > > > and they can be read. The next shower of rain cleans > > > it away. It really works - try it! Berta Callender > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > > > Do You Yahoo!? > > > Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk > > > or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie > > > > > > > > > ==== IRL-PALATINE Mailing List ==== > > > List Administrator: > > > Susan Laursen Willig > > > [email protected] > > > > > > > ==== IRL-PALATINE Mailing List ==== > > Great minds talk about ideas. Average minds talk about > > events. Small minds talk about people. > > ==== IRL-PALATINE Mailing List ==== > To subscribe or unsubscribe from this list use the following: > [email protected] > Put either the word, subscribe, or unsubscribe in the subject line and body of the message.