We need to hear from a scientist here...where are you folks?  Could this
rubber coat be encased in a heavy plastic dress bag for storage?  Would the
bag lead to the deterioration of the rubber over time?  How does the museum
determine for certain that it's old cigarette smoke on that police
trenchcoat rather than smoke from fires being investigated?   Could it be
hung outdoors for several days, if indeed the odor should be removed?

Now about Dr. Laura....IndigoNights had one solution.

Ross Weeks Jr.
----- Original Message -----
From: Cynthia L. Ogorek <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 3:31 PM
Subject: Re: trenchcoat


> Kimberly Beach wrote:
>
> > While it may be "part of the object," it isn't part of
> > the rest of the objects in your collection.  I think
> > you are justified in removing the odor so it does not
> > contaminate other objects in your collection.  To me,
> > it is in the same vein as removing pests before you
> > introduce an object to the collection.
>
> I pretty much agree with the above, but smoking cigarettes at one time was
very much a part of
> popular culture.  This vestige of that time might be an important aspect
of that object.
>   Not too long ago, I cleaned about 17 trophies and plaques that had been
won by the village fire
> department. Most of them were coated with nicotine. I didn't miss the
irony. I cleaned the
> objects, but in doing so something of the 1960s and 1970s was lost. The
same thing happens, I
> suppose, with all objects from pre-central heating days.
>
> Cynthia Ogorek
> Matteson Historical Museum
>
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