Newsgroups: soc.roots
Date:         Tue, 29 Dec 1992 17:56:50 -0500
Reply-To:     Carol Botteron <botteron@BU-IT.BU.EDU>
From:         Carol Botteron <botteron@BU-IT.BU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Need help with rubbings
Comments: To: ROOTS-L@VM1.NoDak.EDU

OK, here are a couple of articles I saved from a year or two ago, plus
recent articles in this thread.  I hope this helps.

From ROOTS-L@VM1.NoDak.EDU Wed Jul  4 18:32:53 1990
From: Cliff Manis <root%CSOFTEC.CSF.COM@VM1.NoDak.EDU>
Subject:      Tombstone Rubbing INFO

(First of all, I did not write this, but it is good info for the ROOTS-L
 readers)

                          Tombstone Rubbing Hints

 There appears to be two successful ways to read old tombstone
 inscriptions.  These are so successful that there are reports of reading
 inscriptions that have defied older methods.

 The first method is very simple: use shaving cream! First, wet the stone.
 Then cover a section of the stone with the moist cream and then scrape the
 excess cream of with a piece of styrofoam.  The cream goes into the
 inscription making it readable. The cream must be moist to work. Neither
 the styrofoam nor the cream will damage the stone.  This works very well
 when making photographs of a tombstone.  Try to photograph in the early
 morning or late afternoon when the sun's rays are at an angle.

 The second method involves making rubbings.  The following is extracted
 from a message on CompuServe's Genealogy Forum posted by Eleanor Lyon Duke
 74375,645 (thanks Eleanor):

    The Oldstone Enterprises of Boston, Mass. (address was 77 Summer
*   Street, 01110) sells a kit with directions for making rubbings of grave
    stones. Their materials may also be purchased from the Hearthstone
    Bookshop, 8405-H Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Va. 22309.

    The paper you want to use is sometimes referred to as "synthetic rice
    paper" or "print makers paper".  Anything that does not tear easily
    will probably do.  You may also use the nonwoven interfacing or pattern
    materials that are sold at dress fabric stores, such as PELLON
    (non-fusible variety).

    Oldstone sells a crayon that is about the size and shape of a
    bar of hand soap. Carpenter's crayon or Lumberman's crayon may also be
    used, or I suspect a crayon from the thick box of crayolas would do.
    You also need masking tape to hold the paper to the grave stone and an
    old-fashioned fiber scrub brush to clean the stone.  Don't use anything
    that has very stiff bristles. And something to sit on, especially if
    there are chiggers around, or a small stool if knees are stiff.

    There is a man at Winthrop College at Rock Hill, SC who is doing this
    as an art form.  He uses several colors on one rubbing and they are
    really nice. If you find the right kind of paper, no spray or
    protective materials need be used. The rubbings can be stapled to a
    couple of dowels and make nice wall hangings.

    (this textfile was within: cemrub.zip, on a Local BBS)
_
    Standard Disclaimer:  We are not associated with anyone. (PERIOD). (.)

* The 1992 Boston phone book lists the address for Oldstone Enterprises
as 186 Lincoln St., Boston, 617-542-4112. --Carol B.

 From ROOTS-L@VM1.NoDak.EDU Sat Apr 11 20:01:54 1992
From: Will Soule <soule@NCRCOL.COLUMBIASC.NCR.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tombstone Rubbings

>A friend of mine is making a trip to Washington DC this month and
>he has volunteered to make a rubbing of my g-g-grandfathers tombstone
>in Arlington National Cemetery.
>
>What materials should he use?  Neither of us have ever done this
>before!  The stone is in good shape - he has already taken pictures
>of it.

Before he does any etching, he should check with the proper authorities
to see if there is a policy against etching stones.

 I use the sheets from a Efficiency desk pad (#24-001) available at any
stationary store and probably W-Mart, K-Mart.  To make the rubbing, get a
standard lumber crayon from a lumber supply store or hardware store.  To etch,
I tear off a sheet, etch it, then place it in the back of the desk pad, where
it is protected. I have tried both the hard graphite lumber crayon and the
black wax crayon. both are about the same diameter, approx. 1/2 inch. The wax
crayon is of the same material as those you grew up with and it is best suited
for etching. However, it will melt in your hot car in the summertime.
--

From ROOTS-L@VM1.NoDak.EDU Mon Dec 28 09:22:26 1992
From: Dick and Jill Miller <dmiller@IM.LCS.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Help with gravestone rubbing

>1)  Last week I went to my a cemetery that had alot of family in and
>found a few stones that I would like to do rubbings of.  I have never
>done a rubbing and I remembered that there was a recommendation of
>using some type of sewing product to do the rubbings a few months back
>on the news.  What was this product (All I can think of was wonder
>under or some type of self adhering basting paper)

As a sewing-type person, I would recommend any kind of NON-WOVEN, and
NON-KNIT interfacing material, especially the NON-IRON-ON type in a light
weight.  The iron-on type has a heat activated glue on one side which makes
it quite stiff and somewhat bumpy.  If I remember right, Wonder-Under is a
very light (good), iron-on (not-so-good) version of non-woven interfacing.
--Jill


From ROOTS-L@VM1.NoDak.EDU Mon Dec 28 10:14:34 1992
From: STEINER@MUPPET.DNET.GE.COM
Subject:      RE: Need help with rubbings and relation chart.

Heritage Books in VA used to sell a rubbing kit.  I don't have the
address handy but can get it for you.
-Gary
--

From ROOTS-L@VM1.NoDak.EDU Mon Dec 28 19:19:24 1992
From: C R Pennell <hiscrp@NUSCC.NUS.SG>
Subject:      Re: Need help with rubbings and relation chart.

NOw is the moment for arcane information time. What you want is cobbler's
black or cobbler's heel, a thick very hard very black waxy block used by
cobblers. And - if it's  a tombstone which will be rough from being
outside - STRONG paper: lining paper, the stuff you put on walls before
you paint them.

I realise finding a real cobbler might be difficult in USA, I remember
having terrible problems in Boston. Found one eventually - an elderly
Lebanese in a tiny shop just down from the main square in Belmont Mass!
But he was very old. . .

Richard Pennell, History NUS
--

From ROOTS-L@VM1.NoDak.EDU Tue Dec 29 07:11:18 1992
From: Graves-Maureen <MSMAIL.GRAVESM@TSOD.LMIG.COM>
Subject:      gravestone rubbings

I have seen lots of great information on rubbings.  I thought I would add my
comments.  Back in 1970's, gravestone rubbings were very popular in my
hometown, Marblehead, Mass.  In fact, so popular, that the historical
commission became concerned over the damage that was being done to some old
17th century headstones. (crayon markings, and some people had taken it on
themselves to "clean" the stones before rubbing).  Now, you need a permit to
do
a rubbing, and I think they may even supply some type of kit.

My advice is to check with the local historical commission before doing any
rubbings.  It may just be a courtesy, but it may be one that is appreciated.
--
From: jrs@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (John Spencer)
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 19:09:41 GMT
Subject: Re: SPENCER LINE FROM 1385
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA