Re: [MOPO] Need recomendations for restoring and backing.

[JR]

Brek,   There is an archival tape that is very thin, nearly invisible when it is put on, is acid-free and can be easily removed BUT it is only appropriate for use on small tears... maybe up to 2 inches or so --made by Lineco and called "archival quality Document Repair Tape", Item #901-0198 and available from online art supply sites. But... and this is critical...If you have posters so fragile you are afraid what will happen if you unfold them again DO NOT, under any circumstances, try to use this archival tape or *any* kind of tape to repair large tears or reinforce areas you think might be ready to tear - you will do far more damage than you can possibly imagine. Take it from someone who tried in the foolish days of his youth. For fragile paper which tears when you even loot at it hard, your only choice is to linen back or possibly use the new "starch backing" process. But I think for posters with very fragile paper that starch backing is too rough a process on the paper and in the end is not strong enough for fragile paper and that linen backing is the only way to go if you truly want to preserve and to some extent "restore" such posters..   This is reason that for years I have been advocating collectors (and sellers to, for that matter) *unfold* all of their posters and store them flat. The acid and the atmosphere eat away at the damaged fibers of the fold lines more quickly than they do the rest of a poster. The best thing everyone can do for their posters is get them unfolded and stored flat -- and don't ever refold them again, not for shipping or any other reason. Naturally, everyone thinks I'm a total loon on this issue... but time will prove me correct. The poster from 1950 that has been folded and refolded many times since then but was still "just fine the last time I looked at it" (which may have been 20 years ago) is now 50 years old... no longer only 20 or 30 years old... and the paper fiber damage at those fold lines just gets worse each passing year, folks -- particularly if the poster is occasionally opened up and then folded again, but the ongoing deterioration happens even if it is just sitting in a bag.   But I digress... back to restoration and linen backing. The L.A.M.P. site has an article about this and lists several good practitioners, and Jon Warren has a couple of recommendations on Icollectmovieposters.com in his preservation and care article. I am always ready to recommend Dario Casadei in Canada (who has moved his website *again* apparently... it is now at :   http://members.shaw.ca/vintagemovieart/Linenback/index.html )   and there are many others with good reputations, including but not limited to:   Jamie Mendez in Oceanside, CA -  http://www.restorationbyjm.com/ Capitol Posters and Restoration in Tampa, Florida - 813-249-1770 Ian Wright at M&W graphics in NYC - http://www.mandwgraphicsinc.com/ Debi Jacobson at L'Imagerie Gallery in Studio City, CA - (818) 762-8488 Megan Logan in Australia - http://www.backtolinen.com Josh at J. Fields in Manhattan - 212-929-9900 and, of course, Diane at Studio C in Vista, CA - http://www.atstudioc.com/   You'll have to read up on the articles that can be found at these websites and make a few phone calls... discuss the options and prices with the restorers and backers.   -- JR  ----- Original Message ----- From: Brek Anderson To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 20:17 Subject: [MOPO] Need recomendations for restoring and backing. I have a three sheet Jackie Robinson Story and a three sheet Red Shoes as well as quite a few 30’s through 50’s Westerns etc. that need some attention. The ones that are quite valuable I want done the best way. Some of the others I just need some suggestions on how to economically preserve. I think if some are unfolded one more time the seams will separate if not already apart. For posters like this that have a value of a couple of hundred dollars or less what is best to do? Is there a preservation tape or an economical backing that can be use?  Please advise on restorers or suggestions. Cheers, Brek     Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.