U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | Re: question re: old photographs late 1800s-early 1900s

Re: question re: old photographs late 1800s-early 1900s



Ran this by our preservationist and she said it could be where/how
they were stored, the container they were stored in, if they have any
mold on them, allergies to the dust? She inquired whether there was
any smell? The description by your friend was rather vague, can you
get a more didactic description?

On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 9:13 AM, John Brewer
<john@johnbrewerphotography.com> wrote:
> Unless the photo’s were toned with a sulphide based toner and this is
> breaking down releasing sulphur?
>
>
>
> J
>
>
>
> From: John Brewer [mailto:john@johnbrewerphotography.com]
> Sent: 06 December 2009 14:35
> To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
> Subject: RE: question re: old photographs late 1800s-early 1900s
>
>
>
> Hi Paul,
>
>
>
> I wonder if you friend could describe the photographs in more detail so we
> could work out the process and therefore the chemistry used. Perhaps you
> could also ask if negatives are in the same storage container. Negatives
> were for some time made from cellulose nitrate which is pretty unstable. If
> there are negs there it’s worth separating them from the prints and putting
> in a metal tin. Cellulose nitrate negs are VERY flammable. What are the
> photographs stored in? I wonder if anything was added to the container to
> deter bugs?
>
>
>
> The main processes used around that time were albumen and gelatine silver
> and I can’t think of anything that would chemically break down and have such
> an effect. There is at least one conservator on the list so maybe s/he could
> chime in.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
>
> John.
>
>
>
> From: Paul Viapiano [mailto:viapiano@pacbell.net]
> Sent: 06 December 2009 08:29
> To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
> Subject: question re: old photographs late 1800s-early 1900s
>
>
>
> Hi all...
>
>
>
> A friend of mine just came across a trove of family photographs from this
> period and as he puts it:
>
>
>
> "...in those days it was customary to have your portrait taken and have them
> printed on postcards and send them friends & relatives, we found many
> amazing beautiful portraits of people we didn’t know. I shipped a bunch out
> and have them here now. The question is that when I handle these photos from
> 1900 – 1920 my nostrils and throat start to burn. Is there some chemical in
> these old prints that could be hazardous?"
>
>
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
>
> Thanks everyone...
>
>
>
> Paul
>
>
>
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