If you are just visiting and found the information you were looking for please contribute to the running costs by making a donation.	Forums : : Register : : Log In : : Log Out : : Help : : Calendar : : Search
	My Setup : : Member List : : Contact Admin : : Today's Posts

All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Cleaning and Repairing >> Dug Paper Label?

Page: [1]

Login Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>

Dug Paper Label? - 3/24/2006 5:14:21 PM    swizzle   Posts: 1325 Joined: 3/2/2005 From: Upstate NY Status: offline How do I go about cleaning and then preserving a dug bottle with full or partial paper label? I tried to use puzzle saver but even brushing it on lightly will peel off parts of the label. I had a 120 year old dug bottle with a label yesterday and it seemed like just putting it in water was destroying it?!? I ended up losing it and could make out indidvidual letters but no full words so I couldn't make a positive ID on the bottle. Jason Post #: 1

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/24/2006 5:19:21 PM    BottleArchaeologist   Posts: 296 Joined: 6/30/2005 From: San Marcos, Ca Status: offline At work we use a paper preservative that is acid free to cover our labels on the bottles we find. It is available at most office supply stores but I cant remember what it is called. As for cleaning them? I let the bottle dry out completely and then I use a soft brush to remove dirt. I never wash them. Scott (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 2

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/24/2006 5:39:54 PM    swizzle   Posts: 1325 Joined: 3/2/2005 From: Upstate NY Status: offline I would really appreciate it if you can get me the name of that stuff. I bought a can of spray preservative stuff? Its suppose to be for preserving documents and maps and such. Is this this same stuff? Jason (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 3

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/24/2006 6:02:21 PM    capsoda Posts: 7930 Joined: 11/15/2005 From: Seminole,Alabama, USA Status: online Some diggers use clear lacquer. Let the label dry out and clean it like Scott said and clean the surrounding glass and spray it on. Personally I usually don't fool with them but alot of diggers I know do. The paper preservative sounds good though. Mite have to try that myself. _____________________________ Warren Diggin down in Dixie, USA Work is for people who don't dig bottles President, Panhandle Cruisers http://www.panhandlecruisers.org/ (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 4

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/24/2006 6:42:12 PM    swizzle   Posts: 1325 Joined: 3/2/2005 From: Upstate NY Status: offline I would only attempt to save the label if I have a signifigant amount of the label or something interesting about the label that I like. I'm going to try to preserve a few that I don't plan on saving just for practice and then when I come across one that I want to save again I'll know how. Jason (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 5

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/24/2006 6:45:55 PM    BottleArchaeologist   Posts: 296 Joined: 6/30/2005 From: San Marcos, Ca Status: offline Swizz Monday morning at work I will post the name of the stuff. Scott (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 6

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/27/2006 10:40:22 PM    BottleArchaeologist   Posts: 296 Joined: 6/30/2005 From: San Marcos, Ca Status: offline Swizz..... The stuff we use at work is made by Krylon. One is called "Acid Free" to make the label acid free. The second is called "Preserve It" and it is a coating to make the label permanent. We mask off the area around the label. We do this because the preserver will leave a cloudy residue on glass. If you have any other questions I'd be glad to help out. Scott (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 7

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/30/2006 10:09:48 AM    swizzle   Posts: 1325 Joined: 3/2/2005 From: Upstate NY Status: offline is there a way to brighten up the labels? Jason (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 8

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/30/2006 12:07:12 PM    BottleArchaeologist   Posts: 296 Joined: 6/30/2005 From: San Marcos, Ca Status: offline Swizz, The acid free and preserver actually do brighten them a little. Other than that I wouldn't mess with them. They are very fragile and tend to just disintegrate. Another thing.....make sure they are completely dry before preserving them. Scott (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 9

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 3/31/2006 3:59:34 PM    swizzle   Posts: 1325 Joined: 3/2/2005 From: Upstate NY Status: offline I got lucky and found a few paper labels at a sale yesterday. The one paper label would be impossible to mask off because of the parts missing. It has holes and scratches and a whole chunk of the label missing. The part that is readable, is very dingy and dirty. The label is completely dry but I can't get the dirt off the label with light brushing. Like you said paper labels disetagrate and are very fragile. I'm afraid to use anymore force. Maybe I should set it in a sunny window for a few days and then try again? I'm wondering if I should actually try to preserve this one. The first half of the label is in english and the second half looks like spanish. I'll look for those preservers and give it a practice run. I believe even if it isn't worth saving its worth the practice on preserving a paper label. Thanks for your insight. Jason (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 10

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 4/2/2006 2:13:43 PM    elmoleaf   Posts: 86 Joined: 9/27/2005 From: Massachusetts Status: offline I've preserved partial labels on dug 1920s bottles. The labels typically come out of the ground wet/damp. I do the following: 1. In the field, rinse with water without brushing to wash off loose dirt/ash. Keep label wet. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but if it dries out, the paper tends to easily flake off and disintegrate. The water helps keep it adhered. 2. At home, put entire bottle in water and attempt to float off loose dirt. If you need to brush, use a wet soft artist's paintbrush (camel's hair or similar, not nylon) and dab at the label while it's underwater. 3. Remove from water, blot off excess water from non-label areas etc. 4. Spray with hairspray (or if you have it, artist's fixative..used to keep pastel/charcoal drawings from smudging). Wipe off any overspray on non-label areas. When dry, spray again. I don't know how archival this treatment is, but for the value of the stuff I dig, I don't really care. I'm interested in preserving the label so I can identify bottle contents, maker etc. that would otherwise be unknown. Don't overdo it trying to remove dirt...you'll end up destroying more label. Once it's been sprayed and dried, it's fairly easy to pick away small dirt blobs etc. without ruining everything else. Below is a dug E. Hartshorn's Extract of Vanilla partial label. Circa 1920s. Attachment (1) (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 11

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 4/17/2006 11:21:05 AM    cowseatmaize Posts: 2135 Joined: 12/2/2004 From: Metro West, MA Status: offline That's always a tough call. I washed around this Holbrooks cause it's common and I think it looks good. It would really shine if I washed it off. The memory of the dig is what keeps it on for me. It's been over 30 years and I still remember the hole and I have trouble remembering yesterday. Coating it has never really been a thought. I've seen some with coatings and personally I think the look like cr^$ being all shiny. Maybe the stuff talked about has a duller finish though. Attachment (1) _____________________________ My 10¢ worth (inflation) Eric If you love what your doing it might be illegal, so watch your back. (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 12

RE: Dug Paper Label? - 4/20/2006 12:46:47 PM    PhilaBottles Posts: 1003 Joined: 9/25/2005 From: philad.A Status: offline hey everyone. how long do the labels hold up for? wonder if the same stuff could be used for dug ACL's? (in reply to swizzle) Post #: 13

All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Cleaning and Repairing >> Dug Paper Label?

Page: [1]

New Messages No New Messages Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages

Post New Thread  Reply to Message  Post New Poll  Submit Vote  Delete My Own Post  Delete My Own Thread  Rate Posts