Re: cleaning stereo views

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

Following up on Andy Burr's comments about stereoview cleaning:

Usually the less you do the better.  Practice on views of lesser value
or interest.  

Generally if the mount is shiny then the water or saliva cleaning method
will work well.  However, some non-albumin emulsions will absorb water
and begin to disintegrate unless you work quickly.  Shiny U&U prints
sometimes have this problem.  Most any emulsion can begin to disintegrate
if you work on it too much, so don't overdo it.

Saliva is convenient and often more effective than water.  I was surprised
to learn from a conservationist that saliva was considered an appropriate
cleaning fluid and they would discuss its usage at conferences!  I thought
that was fairly bizarre.

Another point: if the mount stock is not shiny, such as buff-colored 
curved mount views, remove any dirt on the mount with a soft eraser before
any water-based cleaning is attempted.  Otherwise, the water will embed
some of the dirt into the mount surface and then it cannot be removed. 

Keep in mind that cleaning may cause irreversible changes in the appearance
of the print itself.  However, these changes may be much less objectionable
than the original dirt.

Several years ago there were articles in Stereo World about view conservation
and cleaning.  If the issues are out of print, photocopies are available from
the NSA.  

John Weiler
Columbus OH


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