cleaning stereo views

["The Photo-3D List" <photo-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear all,

OK, here's a real collecting question: is it possible to clean vintage stereo
views?

There are various forms of dirt--the slow, sedimentary dust of time; ink and
pencil marks; nameless sticky black blobs.

A valid response might be to say that one shouldn't tamper with these historical
documents: that cleaning might destroy the value, or worse, might destroy the
stereo photographs themselves. However I know that there is a whole science of
photographic preservation and restoration, some of which must be applicable to
this medium. Most of the cards I'd be tempted to treat are not intrinsically
very valuable, but I'd like to be able to see the image better! I'm interested
in basic first-aid rather than anything requiring special equipment or unusual
levels of skill and dexterity.

Are there any simple steps that can be taken to clean/enhance these photographic
images? Or are there resources on the net or in books that I could consult? Are
there any procedures of  relevance to stereo views and their mounts in
particular? Any advice gratefully accepted.

As I'm here, I'd like to say the discussion about comets and auroras is
delightful. At times this list is literally mind-expanding.

Yours ever,

Tom Johnstone, near Edinburgh, Scotland.  



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