Questionnaire on tracing cloth

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    author.

I am a MA Conservation student at Camberwell College of Arts and am
carrying out some research on deterioration and conservation of
tracing cloth. Unlike tracing paper, little has been published on
the condition or treatment of this material and I would be grateful
for any response.

The feedback is sought from curators, archivists and other
custodians of architectural/engineering drawings, as well as
conservators. The first five questions are relevant to people who
have not treated tracing cloth.

    1.  What type of deterioration does the tracing cloth have?

    2.  What is the approximate date(s) of the tracing cloth?

        Before 1850
        1851  to 1880
        1881  to 1910
        1911  to 1950
        After 1951
        If known, exact date(s)

    3.  What type of tracing cloth do you have, e.g. translucent or
        opaque, firm or limp, or blue-tinted?

    4.  Please state any other notable features including patent
        stamp or trademark, if present.

    5.  What type of media is on the tracing cloth?

        Black drawing ink
        Colour ink, watercolour or bodycolour
        Printed ink
        Stamped ink
        Pencil
        Photo-reproductive media
        Other, please specify

    6.  How many sheets of tracing cloth have you treated?

        a) 1-10, b) 11-25, c) 25-50 or d) 51+

    7.  What materials and methods do you use for surface cleaning?

    8.  What materials and methods do you use to reduce creases,
        cockling and curling?

    9.  What materials and methods do you use to humidify tracing
    cloth?

    10. After humidification, how is tracing cloth dried/flattened?

    11. If you attempted to reduce stains or discolouration, please
        briefly explain your method.

    12. If you have carried out any other treatments, please explain
        what you did.

    13. What problems did you encounter during treatment of the
    tracing cloth?

Please email your reply to kaori67943<-a t->yahoo< . >co< . >uk

Kaori Ito


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:27
                 Distributed: Sunday, November 9, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-22-27-021
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