Batteries in objects

Barry Knight <barry.knight [at] bl__uk> writes

>... As
>a rule, we remove the batteries if it easy to do so, but we wonder
>whether it is ethical and justifiable to partially dismantle a toy
>or to cut into a cuddly animal, for example, in order to remove a
>battery.  What is the policy of other libraries or museums which
>collect this kind of artefact?

While interning at the New Brunswick Museum (NBM) in Saint John, New
Brunswick and completing Fleming College's Collections Conservation
and Management program I undertook a research into identifying
battery cells within a collection as well as care and handing
recommendations and suggested conservation procedures. The five
cells from the NBM came from some pocket flashlights and a field
telephone used in the First World War. Lucky for us, all the cells
could be removed relatively easily and they are now wrapped in
tissue and returned into storage.

Previous research suggested that the batteries should be hollowed
out to remove any potentially hazardous materials but my further
research indicated that primary cells render themselves stable over
time. Once the reactants are used up in the cell, essentially, the
cell is dead. In addition, a lot of primary cells tend to use less
hazardous components as the anode, cathode and electrolytes which
again makes them pretty safe. What I would suggest is to attempt to
determine what type of battery is in the object. You can do this by
doing a little research into the year the object was made and then
search for common types of batteries being produced. For an example,
zinc-carbon cells were a very common primary cell used in household
objects in the 1940's - 1990's. If the cell housed within the object
does not contain hazardous materials (i.e. lead, or mercury etc.),
it would be fairly safe to say that the object would remain unharmed
but, be sure to monitor it over time. Information regarding
long-term effects of batteries in storage or batteries stored within
objects is lacking and an area wish to research further.  I
encourage people who have come across batteries, removed batteries
and have treated (or decided not to treat them) to share their
findings with the DistList or feel free to contact me.

Kendrie Richardson
Emerging Conservator


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 25:2
                  Distributed: Thursday, June 9, 2011
                        Message Id: cdl-25-2-002
                                  ***