[NHCOLL-L:5409] Re: Vintage sealants on fluid specimen containers?

[Steve Halford]

Wagstaffe and Fidler (1955) refers to "Cement for Sealing Museum Jars
containing Formalin ---

Asphalt.   4 parts
Gutta-percha.  5 parts

Melt and stir together.  With a knife apply to the edge of the jar and
to the edge of the lid.  Warm both lid and jar near a fire, bring
together and press firmly."

R. Wagstaffe & J.H. Fidler 1955 "The preservation of natural history
specimens. Volume 1-- Invertebrates"  H.F. & G. Witherby London.

Steve.

On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 8:01 AM, Judith Price <JPRICE at mus-nature.ca> wrote:
> A friend at another museum is asking for advice on a specimen borrowed for
> exhibit from another institution (hence my cagey discretion!)
>
>
>
> The item in question is an early 20th century anatomical preparation in a
> glass container sealed with a black material. A corner of the sealant has
> chipped, and he is concerned as to how he could repair the area in time for
> the exhibit. It sounds to me like an asphaltum sealing compound (I’ll get a
> better look later today). Anyone know of what those arcane mixtures were
> composed, and whether he could patch it with wax, tinted or otherwise?
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Judith
>
>
>
> Judith C. Price
>
> Secretary, Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections
>
> Assistant Collections Manager, Invertebrates / Gestionnaire adjointe des
> collections invertébrés
>
> Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la Nature
>
> PO Box 3443 Station D / CP 3443 Succ <<D>>
>
> Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6P4 CANADA
>
> Tel.613.566.4263 / Fax.613.364.4027
>
> jprice at mus-nature.ca
>
> @nature_jcp
>
> www.nature.ca / www.spnhc.org
>
> Please tell us how we helped you today / Dites-nous comment nous vous avons
> aidé aujourd’hui.
>
>
>
>



-- 
Steve Halford (halford at sfu.ca)
Museum Technician
Department of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C. Canada               Phone
V5A 1S6                                  778-782-3461