Tinware

We recently found that some of the tinware located in one of our
"historic" kitchens has been rusting. I assume this is actually rust
from the solder at the joints? Most of the pieces are cups, coffee
pots, cooking pots, etc. that all have such joints.

Are there things we can or should do to properly clean and care for
such tin pieces? I haven't been able to find much written
information in my collections care books, and was wondering what
advice might be out there that would be simple and easy to teach a
group of volunteer collections care staff who are working with a
small historic site. I am looking for cleaning methods, whether or
not the pieces should be polished (and with what) and whether or not
the pieces should be waxed after polishing. Anything that is a major
problem will go to the metals conservator--we are looking for basic,
in-house methods with which we can properly maintain this
collection.

Melissa Heaver
Director-Museum Collections
National Trust for Historic Preservation

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 12:5
                   Distributed: Friday, June 19, 1998
                        Message Id: cdl-12-5-005
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