Cathy,
I've been questioning marking teaching collections in the same way you are and even though I haven't tried or tested this yet, I think etching the numbers into the object, using an engraving tool on a Dremel, might be the best bet. This would work great for metals and I think would offer you what you're looking for with the numbering. I hope to incorporate this method in the near future for objects that our interpreters use daily and wash frequently like ceramic plates, flatware, cups, etc. It's not guaranteed to work, but I'm crossing my fingers. 

Hope that helps,
John

John Hart, Jr.
Assistant Curator of Collections
The Farmers' Museum
New York State Historical Association/Fenimore Art Museum
PO Box 800
Cooperstown, NY 13326
P: (607) 547-1447
F: (607) 547-1406
________________________________________
From: Museum discussion list [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cathy Osterman [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 4:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Marking a Useable Teaching Collection Item

Hi Everyone,

I'm curious whether there is a method or product that would allow me to mark punch glasses as part of our teaching collection BUT is not water soluable. The cups were donated and are period appropriate but not historical for us - they will be used and washed. I have tried a barrier layer of B-72 with an acid free paper number then a top coat of B-72 to "seal" it. The number peeled off when I experimented with washing the cup, even after the B-72 had dried for a good 24 hours. Is the problem the B-72, the paper number, or the fact that it was done on glass? I was going for a small, unobtrusive number on the cup, placing the number on the underside of the handle, a space that is less then an inch long and one of the only areas that is flat on the piece. Is there a product that would act as a better sealant or a better method for marking than sealing an acid free piece of paper? Thanks for any advice you might have!


Cathy Osterman
Historic Governors' Mansion
Cheyenne, WY



________________________________

To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).