Cleaning photographs

oakridge · 16th June 2008, 20:31

We have a large oval photograph (10"*12") of my maternal great-grandmother which is not in a frame and has got a bit grubby over the years. Fron it's shape we wondered if it may be a Daguerreotype. Has anyone any suggestions for a safe way to clean it please?

My Grandfather was born in 1871 and the lady in the photograph looks quite young so we think it could not have been taken after 1880. We have another photograph of her taken when she was an invalid in a bath chair in about 1910.

Malcolm

BMC123 · 18th June 2008, 00:49

have a look here:

http://www.finedags.com/vignett3.shtm

oakridge · 18th June 2008, 15:51

You keep late hours BMC123, but thanks for the reply.

After a bit of further investigation the photograph is not printed on a copper plate, as it seemed at first, so it can't be a Daguerreotype. Even so I have been strongly advised to have it professionally cleaned or leave well alone. I will just photograph it as it is, unfortunately it won't fit in the photoscanner.

Malcolm

shakennstirred · 21st June 2008, 06:36

if its as old as you say, i wouldn't try n clean it it yourself
to much of a risk

16th June 2008, 20:31	#1
oakridge Loves to post Toyota Prius III T-Spirit Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rotherham Posts: 277 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Cleaning photographs We have a large oval photograph (10"12") of my maternal great-grandmother which is not in a frame and has got a bit grubby over the years. Fron it's shape we wondered if it may be a Daguerreotype. Has anyone any suggestions for a safe way to clean it please? My Grandfather was born in 1871 and the lady in the photograph looks quite young so we think it could not have been taken after 1880. We have another photograph of her taken when she was an invalid in a bath chair in about 1910. Malcolm Last edited by oakridge; 16th June 2008 at 20:33.. Reason: Silly mistake; replaced 'before' with 'after'.*

18th June 2008, 00:49	#2
BMC123 Posted a thing or two 2004 1.8 Connoisseur SE, 1999 XJ8 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,163 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	have a look here: http://www.finedags.com/vignett3.shtm __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

21st June 2008, 06:36	#4
shakennstirred Gets stuck in Rover 75 ConnSE Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: long eaton/Nottingham Posts: 580 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	if its as old as you say, i wouldn't try n clean it it yourself to much of a risk __________________ Due to government cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off “You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine.'” ----------------------------------- British racing green Harman kardon stereo upgrade//SYNERGY TUNING MODULE/EGR bypass/intake mod [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

18th June 2008, 15:51	#3
oakridge Loves to post Toyota Prius III T-Spirit Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rotherham Posts: 277 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	You keep late hours BMC123, but thanks for the reply. After a bit of further investigation the photograph is not printed on a copper plate, as it seemed at first, so it can't be a Daguerreotype. Even so I have been strongly advised to have it professionally cleaned or leave well alone. I will just photograph it as it is, unfortunately it won't fit in the photoscanner. Malcolm