| Author |
 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,072 |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
330 Posts |
I just bought this.   It's the rubber dollar issued by Hal's Tire Service in OR during the 1930s and is so rare the standard catalog of depression scrip lists it without a picture much less a price. Degradation aside, there's a thin sheet of plastic under the thick ones, but that thin sheet is covering only on one side of the thing! Also, the dark areas are where the rubber is sticking to the plastic holder. It looks like it's fairly easy to peel and not a big deal but I wonder if it might become an issue eventually. Does anybody have suggestions on how to upgrade the holder without destroying it in the process? |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3469 Posts |
Very cool!
Edit: Every time I look at this, it gets better and I like it more. What a great find. You are to be commended for your efforts to preserve this amazing piece of Americana.
Edited by nfine
09/21/2017 3:17 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
797 Posts |
That is pretty awesome. Been through Hood River many times, gorgeous little town.
I would suggest removing it from that screw down, those are notorious for ruining old sports cards. There are slide in sleeves for bills that are with PVC.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Exceptional piece. There were so many tokens and scrip issued by and because of the great depression that we are still finding never before seen items today.
As a true R-10, and likely to remain as such, I would very strongly recommend consulting a professional conservation expert, especially because of the material type.
Perhaps an inquiry to NGC would yield some alternatives. It would make a pretty neat advertising stunt for them to conserve the only known real rubber check.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
Very unusual piece that I've not before seen the like of. I'd start with NGC, too.
Also, storage may be an issue, away from humidity. I'd suggest using a wooden cigar box to ward off humidity. The plastic holder is hopefully inert?
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
330 Posts |
I don't know if the plastic holder is inert but I'm guessing it is as I can (carefully) peel it away and it's probably been in it for quite a while.
I did as you guys suggested and fired off an email to NGC conservation so I'll see what they suggest soon enough.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
330 Posts |
NGC politely declined to reholder it due to the potential for damaging it, and PCGS never responded to my inquiry. Should I even try the other two or am I pretty much on my own here.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
819 Posts |
I say email the others you have nothing to lose
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
Beyond suggesting that the holder, as is, might best be stored in an old, wooden cigar box to ward off heat and humidity, I'm at a loss to offer an alternative suggestion.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
Unfortunately, rubber naturally deteriorates with age, due to its inherent chemical composition.
It needs mechanical support on both sides and the edges to keep it from falling completely to pieces.
Personally I would be afraid to touch such a fragile thing. You are commended for your bravery.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
330 Posts |
Believe me I'm afraid of touching the thing too but it sticking to the plastic holder scares me just as much. I feel like it should at least have a thin plastic inner covering on both sides, not one side. The loose bits on the upper left were dry and brittle so counterintuitively, it might actually have gotten too dry for its own good at some point.
I'll try the other two companies and will also see if there are people beyond the numismatic community that might know about preserving old rubber.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
52 Posts |
Hi nautilator,
You might look up a conservator at a decent-size museum. They might be able to point you to methods for preserving such fragile items.
If you really hit the jackpot, you might find someone who could undertake such a project.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
 Very cool! I agree that this is probably more in the domain of a museum curator/conservator and is not a numismatic conservation specialty. Is it actually made from a tire? Maybe someone who deals specifically with antique automotive restoration/preservation? There are many rubber components in vehicles so they may have some ideas about the aging material itself.  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
Edited by spru
11/06/2017 11:45 pm
|
| |
Replies: 12 / Views: 2,072 |
|
Posted 09/21/2017 3:09 pm
