Would these be good/sufficient to store and preserve my visor caps?

[Koguryo9]

I have been looking for some sort of storage box for the visor caps and found these two:

http://www.marlowwhite.com/cgi-bin/c...ion&key=05-998

http://militarycapbox.com/page22.htm

What do you guys think?

[HouweTrouwe]

I have been looking for some sort of storage box for the visor caps and found these two:

http://www.marlowwhite.com/cgi-bin/c...ion&key=05-998

http://militarycapbox.com/page22.htm

What do you guys think?

I'd rather see them. It make a BIG SMILE on my face


If that's not the answer you need ....

[Paul R.]

I have been in the conservation field for quite awhile. I never came across a Marlow White storage system before now. I would do more research on that product. The military cap box company has a few archival cap storage boxes that are good, The gray fiber board materail is a fairly good archival product. If the liner is a cotton muslin with a poly padding it's a good item. However the padded cap form is a questionalbe item.The muslin fabric is good. But he doesn't say what under the muslin. Is it cheap styrofoam?? that will outgass within a short period of time? or is it ethafoam that's archivaly safe instead of styrofoam. I contacted him before. He wouldn't say what materials are used. Humm??
The pine wooden base is a big NO. Pine wood out gasses and sucks up moisture. I wouldn't use a wooden base for any archival items, or have a cap close to the wood base. Also that form is a one size fitas all. Not a good idea for a long term storage item will stress out any smaller cap sizes. I would not concider a leather storage box for a long terms storage. To many problems. Paul

[Koguryo9]

Thanks Paul, your input is greatly appreciated. Why do you think the wooden base is a big no? Is it just pine wood or all wood are bad? I know many collectors use IKEA's display case which is partially wood. So should we stay away from any wooden product?

What kind of problems would leather cause? Thanks!

[Paul R.]

To elaborate more on wood products for a conservation perspective, bare wood is the worst. All wood as we know has may small cell structures that can hold tree sap, moisture, grime, dirt. Even if bare wood(not sealed) is old because of the cell structure it can hold water, grime, mold/mildew. It's also a target for little critters, also the very small wood beatles to live in or lay eggs in. If you seal wood so it dosn't keep the cells exposed. The wood should be dried, cleaned, insect free. Also the sealant if not selected carefully can out gas for a long time. To really seal a wood item the sealant needs to penetrate the wood to seal the cells. The sealent should not just seal the surface. Old laquers varnishes, or cheap clear coats can out gas for a very long time. Most finishes also react to various materials use to display items on. I have seen treated wooden frames react to acid free mounts. Causing problems with the artifacts housed in the acidfree mats/mounts. When I had inquired about the wood stand at the military cap box company. There replay was bare wood (pine) hope this helps. Paul

[Koguryo9]

Thanks Paul again. If I put the cap in a secure box (made of paper) and then place the box on a wood shelf (newly purchased from IKEA), will that cause any problems?

Also, why should we stay away from a leather cap box like what they have? Thanks!

[Paul R.]

I would first purchase an acid free box to store any historical items in. Most cardboard boxes will out gas causing damage to the items stored inside. The effect may not be noticable right away, but it will be seen down the road. It's chemicals that is used to made the cardboard and the paper outer finish that are the problem. If you store an acid free box on a regular shelf bought from a store. It time that stain, or paint shelf will out gas fumes into the acid free box rendering non acid free. If you want to store an item on that shelf in a box. I would seriously wait several months before I wouldn't place anything on that shelf, because of the fumes I would leave a closet or room door open for awhile and If you can a window. Don't shut a door or a recently stained or painted item. Later I would place core plastic on the shelf first. Core plast in and inert material. Sorry I can no longer list companies that carry archival materials. If you read some of the past threads over the last several weeks there are some companies that I had listed before. Paul

[Koguryo9]

Thanks Paul. So I suppose this head stand is no good either since it is made of wood?

http://www.derrittmeister.com/productpages/hlmstnd2.htm

[Paul R.]

These wood stand look nicely made. However I would not store, or display any visor cap on for more than a few minutes. I cringe when collectors use them. Yes, The wood, staining, clear coat are supect. These stands, or anything like them can really stress out an old visor hat. The visor that you may want to put on a stand like that is 60+ years old. It has been worn faithfully for a soldier service. It was worn in all conditions, and conditions of weather. Not to mention the inside of the cap exposed to body oil, sweat, hair oil on a daily bases. I am sure that the hat never was cleaned in those 60+ years. In that time spand the cap went from new to well used in a short time. The caps overall cap construction has been compromised. The caps frabric, thread, sweat diamond, lining, visor, and sweatband are all old and stressed from the daily wear, and poor storage. The wood block will have the entire weight of that cap resting on the block. It will stretch the frabric(push up on the fabric creating a large dent into the cap fabric). Even the caps thread will be over worked leaving the overall cap looking bad. A little experiment to see the wood stand effects on a cap. Take a piece of paper towel and the paper tube it came on. Place a sheet of paper towel over the cardboard tubes end. Leave the paper towel there for 3 days and see what happends to the paper towel. Simple way to see a damaged visor that you just spent a whole lot of money on. Paul

We spend alot of money on our hobby. Spend a few more dollars to preserve history correctly!