Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends,
I have recently been asked by colleagues from the National Technical
Museum in Prague to mediate their request for help, as the institution
has been heavily affected by the floods of last summer.
Here is the message, and I sincerely hope that it will find a positive
response.
Thank you.
Katka Tlachova
Czech Committee of ICOM
Moravian Gallery, Brno
Plea of the National Technical Museum in Prague for help to rescue the
flooded Architecture Archives and other collections
The devastating flood, which hit Prague hard in the middle of August,
heavily damaged the National Technical Museum archives and collections.
Almost 90% of the following archives have been flooded: Industrial
History Archives, unique Aviation Archives and especially the
world-known Architecture Archives, which include complete heritage and
documentation of the designs of the top Czech architects of the 19th and
20th centuries, but also many designs and original works by architects
from all over the world. In addition, significant parts of our technical
history collections were also submerged including a range of unique
historical objects documenting the history of metallurgy, chemistry,
machinery and electronics including its original plans and related
documents.
Most of archival material have already been secured by deep-freezing
(250 m3 in total) and include the following materials:
- Pencil, ink and crayon sketches - on designer's glued
paper and cardboard;
- Aquarelles;
- Designs on graph paper and designer's glued paper;
- Blueprint and ozalide copies;
- Period and contemporary photographs (of various
technology).
The flood also affected the following types of architectural models:
- Gypsum models;
- Paper models;
- Wooden models;
- Metal models;
- Combined models.
In order to rescue the damaged documents and other items, the Museum is
now preparing a special building with large utility space (2 x 300 m2)
in which the frozen records should be defrosted, washed, disinfected,
stabilized, dried and then registered, restored and put in a suitable
storage. The building, which is conveniently located in downtown Prague
is well equipped with rest rooms, offices and other handling rooms. The
depository of the rescued items will be also located nearby with more
office rooms (including accommodation units) available as appropriate.
While the National Technical Museum is able to provide these spaces and
basic facilities to the restorers, we totally lack the necessary
technology and practical experience as well as much of special equipment
for conservation/renovation works. Therefore, our Museum would urgently
appreciate the following technical assistance:
- Portable freezers (approx. 2 m3)
- Spraying tubs (10 pieces: 5 rinsing and 5 germicide
baths)
- Drying chambers and boxes (also for large documents A1 -
A0)
- Drying tables
- Vacuum presses
Furthermore, the following chemicals and materials are badly needed for
the processing:
- Suitable germicide and stabilisation solutions (also for
the treatment of 10% of the records not directly damaged by water, but
inflicted by mildew in humid environment)
- Silicone and waxed slip papers
- Acid-free cardboards, record folders and boxes.
Lacking a suitable practical experience with such large-scale
conservation & restoration works, we would very much appreciate if you
could send expert restorers who could assist us to set up and run the
workshops and provide methodological help and training for our own
employees. There is also an idea behind to expand these works later into
a special Training Department that would provide education and best
practice examples to the Czech as well as foreign restorers.
Since much of our original archival facilities were almost completely
destroyed we would welcome also a large number of suitable wrap
materials including
- archival boxes
- drawing envelopes (A3 and A4 formats)
- large-size archival envelopes (A1 and A0 formats)
- acid-free silk paper
- paper boxes and envelopes for negatives (13x18 cm, 18x24
cm, 24x30 cm)
To safe the damaged metallic objects like historical engines, electrical
tools and appliances and historical telecommunication apparatuses we
would be much grateful for the following facilities for a mechanical
shop and conservation works, respectively:
- grinders
- polishing machines
- bench drilling machines
- rust removers
- preservative oils and waxes
- lacquers and varnishes
- workable plastics
Finally, in order to secure and document the respective documents and 3D
historical objects, we will be much grateful for any suitable
digitalisation equipment including the following:
- A3 scanner for reflective and transparent materials
- PC suitable for DTP
- Office category PC's (several items)
- A4/A3 laser colour printers (LAN)
- A4/A3 copiers
- Digital camera (s)
Obviously, except of the above listed most urgent items we will be
highly grateful for any help, including financial contributions. The
National Technical Museum has opened a special account for these
purposes that is:
NATIONAL TECHNICAL MUSEUM (FLOODS)
Bank account of the "Komercni banka" (Commercial Bank) No.: 51 -
2500450277/0100
Should you wish to help us by providing any specific equipment or
materials, please, contact urgently the following persons for more
information:
Ing. Ivo Janousek, CSc., FEng.
Phone: + 420 2 33376014, e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Ing. Václav Suchy, CSc.
Phone: + 420 2 20399240, e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Ing. Zdenek Rasl
Phone: +420 2 33372001, e-mail: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Thank you very much for your kind assistance in advance.
Ing. Ivo
Janousek, CSc., FEng.
Director General
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Odchozí zpráva neobsahuje viry.
Zkontrolováno antivirovým systémem AVG (http://www.grisoft.cz).
Verze: 6.0.394 / Virová báze: 224 - datum vydání: 3.10.2002
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