P3D Stereocard Scorecard

[Bruce Springsteen <bsspringsteen@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Wheat paste" was used in my high school theatrical days for making
3-dimensional set pieces from strips of cloth on chicken wire, or for
patching tears in "flats" - the stretched cotton walls of stage sets. 
It was powdery and came in paper bags and we mixed it with hot tap
water.  It tended to get crusty, lumpy, moldy and to smell bad - so I
have a hard time imagining it as a contemporary photo-mounting medium.
 True, we didn't add anything to make it unpalatable to
microorganisms, but I'm still not persuaded to join Gabriel in the
kitchen on this one.  Not yet.

On the other hand someone, Carole perhaps, mentioned a "neutral pH"
glue recommended by a museum/conservator friend.  Sounds like the item
I saw in the art store this morning. Called "YES!", it was billed as
"a glue for all purposes" it comes in a 1-pound jar for about $10. 
Distributed by Gane Brothers & Lane Inc, it claims to be neutral pH,
"organic", will not curl, wrinkle or discolor your paper, dries clear,
no heating needed, dilutes with water, non-toxic.  Furthermore the
store called it archival and ideal for conservation and bookbinding. 
To further charm me, the label had "Copyright 1928" on the bottom and
an 800 number.  The fellow I spoke to at that number confirmed all the
product's virtues, and said it would serve admirably as a
photo-mounting adhesive.  Could this be the direct descendant of those
glues used by the 19th century stereograph makers, I wonder.  I didn't
take the time to ask as the fellow seemed edgy to shorten his phone
bill.

This heartens me, because the 6 vertical inches of warnings and
disclaimers on the 3M PhotoMount spray I looked at was daunting.  Call
me a coward, but something about acetone, propane, and petroleum
distillate in aerosol form gives me the heebie-jeebies.

I didn't buy the glue yet - I was there to pick up 2 trial feet of
Scotch 568 Positionable Mounting Adhesive and some matte board.  I
will get the "YES!" before too long and add it to my research
schedule.  If anyone wants to pester the nice man his 800 number is
800-323-0596, but maybe a call to your local art store would do the
trick.

Tackily yours,
Bruce










 
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