Martha -

No engraving tools!

What if the numbers are changed at some point - or in 50 years these
furnishings are seen as "historic"?

See if the county would go for a bar code system for inventory - there are
many folks on this list that have more knowledge than I on what are the best
ones for collections.

I would find either a wood or metal component of the mule harness to mark
with a small label in an inconspicuous place.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, CA

On Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 8:51 AM, Martha Katz-Hyman <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Please excuse the cross-posting; I'm trying to gather as much wisdom as
> possible!
>
> I am currently working with a county parks and recreation department to
> furnish 3 houses that interpret the lives of free African Americans in the
> first half of the 19th century in Virginia.  All of the furnishings are
> reproduction, but the county (very sensibly, given their financial
> investment!) wants to make sure that all of the furnishings are marked in
> some way.
>
> The furnishings are already in the houses and, yes, this is something that
> would have been more easily done before the furnishings were installed.
> It's a subject that I have discussed several times over the past two years
> with the county people I'm working with, but only recently have they decided
> that this is something that needed to be done in order to keep track of
> everything.
>
> For this particular situation, I would have suggested that the furniture
> and metals be marked using an engraving tool, the textiles with a permanent
> marker on a seam, and the few paper objects with a pen in an inconspicuous
> location.  I've also got a set of leather mule harness, and I'm not sure how
> to mark that at all!  However, there is no electrical power at the site, so
> using the electrical-powered engraving tool isn't a good solution.
>
> I can certainly get a marking kit with Acryloid B-72 & B-67, and the pens,
> and do it that way.  But any other suggestions will be gratefully received!
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Martha Katz-Hyman
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