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  • 1.  Matchbook storage

    Posted 06-07-2022 10:44
    Hi,
    I have found in the collection eight vintage matchbooks, all from various Greenville businesses, dating from the late 20th century. They have all been used and have varying numbers of matches still extant. I haven't been able to find much online about the care and storage of these and wondered if the group might have any suggestions about safe storage and any possible hazards?

    Thanks very much,
    Martha


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    Martha Wiley
    Collections Manager
    Upcountry History Museum
    Greenville SC
    (864) 467-3100 (107)
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  • 2.  RE: Matchbook storage

    Posted 06-08-2022 14:17
    Hi Martha, 
    If your plan is to keep everything intact but worry about flammability factors (which we all do), consider dipping the heads in B-72, then in an air-tight container. Maybe even a vacuum-sealed container to remove the air.


    Craig Deller
    Historic Artifact Conservator
    Fellow-AIC


    "With great intelligence comes great annoyance"

    Bucky Katt 

    Virus-free. www.avast.com





  • 3.  RE: Matchbook storage

    Posted 06-09-2022 10:42
    Good Morning All,

    What about using Sodium Silicate solution? Which is non outgassing and itself is a fire retardant. It can be diluted with water and still remain effective.

    George




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Matchbook storage

    Posted 06-10-2022 11:58
    I don't have experience working with sodium silicate, the article makes it sound like it creates a foamy crust on the objects which I would think would be visually disruptive. Have you tried it and found that result? Dipping in matte medium or B-72 might alter the appearance less if sodium silicate does leave a crust. It's an interesting alternative, thanks for the suggestion!

    Best,
    Liz 
    Connecting to Collections Care Monitor

    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Peirce
    Conservator (Objects)
    Library of Congress
    Arlington VA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Matchbook storage

    Posted 06-12-2022 11:55
    Hi Elizabeth,

    Sodium Silicate (water glass) has been used as a flameproofing agent for a very long time. It has multiple uses from glueing paper labels to bottles to impregnating stage props. Depending on how concentrated is the solution that you apply, it presents differently on various substrates. It's also important to mention, that the appearance tends to get a slightly frosted appearance after a couple of weeks, but this is mostly apparent on thick, syrupy coatings - which is unnecessary for flameproofing. The frostiness renders even a thick, glass-like coating into a more natural appearance of a matte finish.

    A lot depends on how much porosity the tips of the matches have and how much they will absorb of the water-glass. Of course the thickness as determined by the viscosity of the application also has bearing and it really doesn't take much to render the tips non-flammable. And the single step is the only one needed, forget the "sputtering" described in the text of the link I sent.

    I visualize dipping only the phosphorus tips into the water glass and not the entire match or the match-book, so as not to alter the appearance of the artifact appreciably, and those tips are by far not uniform in appearance to begin with, or even of the same color from one make to another. If it's critical, you can always document the color before dipping.

    The one thing you can count on, is that the process will eliminate the danger of undesirable combustion of the ignitable portion of the match-book to virtually zero, which is what you want in an archive. It is inexpensive, safe and easy to apply, requiring nothing you don't already have.

    And remember, the option of running tests on similar, but expandable matches exists, prior to treating the actual items in the collection.

    Good luck,

    George




    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Matchbook storage

    Posted 06-14-2022 11:17
    Thank you all for the suggestions! The idea of the sodium silicate appeals to me because that takes care of the housing problem as well as the coating of the match heads. I appreciate your help!

    ------------------------------
    Martha Wiley
    Collections Manager
    Upcountry History Museum
    Greenville SC
    (864) 467-3100 (107)
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Matchbook storage

    Posted 06-08-2022 19:25
    Hi Martha, 

    I agree with Craig's dipping idea, it would seal off the match and prevent it from combusting. A dip treatment using different acrylics was used by a conservation Fellow at Northwestern, the blog on their treatment can be found at this link: Northwestern: A Spark of Curiosity.  If they are safety matches, then there is less concern about them igniting, and they can be stored in a variety of manners from sink mats to small boxes or polyethylene bags. The Smithsonian Archives posted an article on the rehousing of some matchbooks that may also be of interest to you: Smithsonian: Off With Their Heads. 

    I hope that helps!
    All the best,
    Liz
    Connecting to Collections Care Monitor

    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Peirce
    Conservator (Objects)
    Library of Congress
    Arlington VA
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