preserving Old music

Subject: preserving Old music
From: bet
Date: 02 May 99 - 08:50 PM

It occured to me that maybe someone in the mud family can help me with this. We have a lot of OLD sheet music that needs to be put in something to keep it from being torn etc. I'd like to have it availbe to use but haven't come up with anyway to keep it safe. Some of it is much larger than the new stuff. It measures about 13-14 inches by 9-11 inches. I'd really appreciate some suggestions. Thanks. bet

Subject: RE: preserving Old music
From: John Wood
Date: 02 May 99 - 09:18 PM

Hi bet.

How about trying those plastic covers we use on LP's. They are a bit larger than your usual A4 size.

Greetings... John from the snowy north.

Subject: RE: preserving Old music
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 May 99 - 09:33 PM

Well, bet, we could scan them all into the computer, then print copies out; course that would be an even more massive job than the family photos I did for Christmas.

How about some larger ring binders, with plastic sheet protectors? That way they could be alphabetized and playable without having to get them out of the sheet; easy to turn, too. Or just the protectors for each page and no ring binders?

Good question. Culd ask the Lester Levy people what they do.

Subject: RE: preserving Old music
From: Gene
Date: 02 May 99 - 10:08 PM

You can ROLL YOUR OWN very cheaply - any size
buy an inexpensive roll of whatever thickness of
clear vinyl you want at a hardware store
make a template (I use 1/32 inch aluminum
Cut 2 pieces slightly larger than the template
and use vise grip & a hot nail or heated icepick
to bond the 2 pieces together (except one end)

I seal all 4 sides and cut one end off neatly
with a razor blade knife to make the opening
I started doing this to make LP covers due to cost
(and often unavailability) of the regular vinyl
covers at the record stores

You can leave some Xtra on one side to punch holes
for a 2 or 3 ring binder

Subject: RE: preserving Old music
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 99 - 12:30 AM

Hi, Bet - I often find sheet music neatly packaged at antique stores. Some of the better antique and used book stores have plastic sleeves that are just the size of sheet music. I'm sure they'd be glad to tell you where to get some.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: preserving Old music
From:
Date: 03 May 99 - 07:54 AM

Bet, why don't you Xerox the ones you want to use and then put the originals in a box with proper humidity, etc, only to be disturbed when you want to fondle them. I don't imagine there would be copyright problems sheet music that old.

My wife played in a "Palm Court" orchestra for a while and the organizer had the largest collection of that kind of music in Sydney (if not Australia). He kept it in folders on open shelves. He would handwrite out the parts from the originals for each musician. The sad thing was that his house was set afire by an arsonist and a lot of the music was lost. The fire was relatively trivial, and if it were stored in a more airtight environment it would have probably been saved.

Murray

Subject: RE: preserving Old music
From: Alice
Date: 03 May 99 - 10:34 AM

bet, Murray's suggestion of making xerox copies for your own use and then storing the originals is a good one. Not all plastic is good for storing paper. I suggest you check out the local frameshops, art supply stores, (and local museum if you have to). They can refer you to the many archival storage products on the market. Handle the paper with white cotton gloves, store it in acid free flat boxes with protective covering inside. I have alot of the old sheet music, too, and it has been shuffled around for years in our piano bench.

alice