From: mouse@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.misc
Subject: Re: Newspaper preservation technique
Date: 14 Apr 92 09:02:53 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

This information was originally posted recently in rec.antiques and
it seemed appropriate to post it here as a followup:

> (Source:  "Preserving Paper Heirlooms" by Carla Black, photographer,
> specialty in historic houses and antiques, Westminster, Colorado.)
> 
> "All paper or plastic supplies that come into contact with valued
> paper heirlooms, whether old or new, must be acid-free, as acid
> causes the yellowing and embrittlement responsible for most paper
> deterioration.  Archive-quality, acid-free albums, storage boxes, and
> plastic sleeves are readily available by mail.  However, they may
> be difficult to find in a store.
> 	To protect letters and news clippings from acid attack, use
> Wei T'o.  This revolutionary spray-on product, developed by chemist
> Richard D. Smith, deacidifies paper, enabling it to last up to 400
> years.  The product is easy to use (simply spray-saturate the item
> and let it day flat) and has been approved for exclusive use on
> priceless documents at the National Archives.  Although it cannot 
> restore papers already damaged, Wei T'o prevents further
> deterioration.  One can [of it] will preserve about 100 letter-size
> sheets."
> 

There have been a LOT of inquiries for a source for Wei T'o from
fellow netters, so I'm posting further information here.

I spoke to an archivist at Spencer Research Library here at KU.  It
turns out that he attended a lecture from Richard Smith and had the
chance to talk to him about Wei T'o.

First, (for the purists among us) the product is pronounced like 
either "Wy'-toe" or "Way-toe."  He said Smith used both pronun-
ciations at different times.

Second, he related a long cautionary preface to me (with examples),
the bottom line of which was:
   -  Use discretion; not everything is worth this sort of preser-
      vation attention.  (EX:  Great Aunt Mildred's newspaper article 
      on how she took first prize in the pickle contest is of interest
      to you, but in the long-eyed view of the archivist, this might
      not merit Wei T'o treatment, as newspaper accounts are often
      already available on archive material, i.e. microfilm.)
   -  Test the product on something BEFORE you decied to go ahead.
      (EX:  in the case of a Fraktur document, the paper might have
      a high acid content, but the Wei T'o might have an adverse
      effect on the paint used for decoration.)

Third, finally, here are the sources he gave to me:
   -  Keith Coldsnow Artists Materials (they have an "archive" dept.)
      104 Westport Road
      Kansas City, MO
      (816) 931-6682

   -  TALUS
      213 West 35th Street
      New York, NY  10001-1996
      (212) 736-7744

I often get in to Kansas City, so the next time I'm over at Coldsnow's
(a GREAT art store, by the way), I'll try to get a fact sheet about
this stuff.  And if anyone does use it, I would like to hear about 
your experience.

Nancy

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *
|  N. L. Sliker, Director/Engineering Computing                             |
*  3043 Learned Hall                                                        *
|  University of Kansas            "Everything goes wrong all the time -    |
*  Lawrence, KS  66045                  What you do is fix it."             *
|  mouse@ukanvax.cc.ukans.edu                     -  Gus Pagonis            |
*  (913) 864-3692                                                           *
|  Disclaimer:  My opinions are my own; nobody else is even interested.     |
* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *
-- 

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *
|  N. L. Sliker, Director/Engineering Computing                             |
*  3043 Learned Hall                                                        *
|  University of Kansas            "Everything goes wrong all the time -    |
*  Lawrence, KS  66045                  What you do is fix it."             *
|  mouse@ukanvax.cc.ukans.edu                     -  Gus Pagonis            |
*  (913) 864-3692                                                           *
|  Disclaimer:  My opinions are my own; nobody else is even interested.     |
* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *