Cleaning Admiralty Paper Charts

[Anonymous]

I've just bought a very old Admiralty Chart - printed in 1971 so one of the earliest of the 'new' metric coloured type (I use updated C-Map for full detail but I like paper to plot courses, bearings, etc. and get an overview of the passage). This one has quite a few grubby patches. Can I use washing-up liquid and sponge those grubby areas, or is there a better way? I have plenty of IPA (isopropanol) which is said to have similar solvent properties to ethanol, acetone, and rubbing alcohol...and good old H2O, of course. Any suggestions?

Many thanks

 

[sarabande]

Try rubbing a small area with bread, first.

Used to work on tech drawing stuff for pencil marks on heavy paper.

Oh yes, best white sliced with the crusts off. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[roly_voya]

Person to ask wuld probably be a document achivist, could be worth having a look at the British museum site

 

[Superstrath]

[ QUOTE ]
Any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup. Buy a new one, for all they cost. I think trying to clean paper will just make it worse.
And don't feel you have to explain your wish for paper charts.

 

[Dyflin]

Not really in the spirit of PBO...

But if you can't shift it without doing more damage, then considering it's old and out of date, a similarly cancelled chart would be very cheap to buy and would be a lot more presentable.

Or have a look here:
http://www.gracegalleries.com/GRACE_ART_Conservation.htm

 

[thalassa]

I've asked the guy in the conservation lab where I work a day in the week. He says, solvents are useless.
Foxing (brown spots) can be usually be removed with a 5% solution of Chloramine T (a mild bleach; ask your pharmacy, it is used to sterilize lab containers etc.) . I've done this myself with a 16th century chart. Made a frame with a piece of mosquito netting, map goes on it, then immerse in a photo developing tray . You can then lift out after half an hour or so (at room temp.) without touching or tearing the paper. Very delicate when wet! If the paper surface is a glazed or baked , the gloss is gone however. Leave out to drip. Then reimmerse in tap water, drip, etc. Last in distilled water, then leave to dry on the netting.
Other stains can often be removed with a soft pencil rubber.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that is very useful. My putty eraser is helping on some spots.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

SWMBO works at the Naval Library in Portsmouth, if you get stuck PM me and I'll ask her what they do. Mind you, a 1971 chart is a bit different to Cook's originals