Storage of Exposed/developed glass plates?

[Drew Bedo]

I am gearing up to do some dry plate photography. Just now waiting on my first batch of 4x5 plates to come back from Blue Moon. ..getting my feet wet. Eventually will do some in 8x10. What options are there for shipping around exposed 8x10 plates? What works ?

What options are there for storing exposed and developed plates? Will 8 1/2 x 11 1/2 plastic page sleeves work in some sot of file hanger? What do those of you who regularly work with glass plates do?

[nerologic]

I’ve been using Print File paper envelopes. Not sure if some of the plastic holders have enough space for the thicker glass. They’re pretty tight on sheet film already.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tin Can]

Put them back in the same box with paper interleaving

[Alan9940]

Per recommendation from Jason Lane, I use the following from Gaylord Archival for both 4x5 and 8x10 glass plates:

1) GNB45BG - Archival Blue/Gray Barrier Board Glass Negative Storage System
2) GNB810BG - same as above, except 8x10 box
3) 4F451B - Buffered 4-flap Negative Enclosure
4) 4F8101B - same as above, except for 8x10

[Drew Bedo]

lan: Thanks for that. Sounds like a workable plan.

Does any one else use a different alternative? What do other folks do?

[paulbarden]

My collodion glass negatives are stored in Gaylord Archival boxes, with neutral paper separating each negative. Stored vertically, of course, not stacked.

[Tin Can]

Of course Paul, there is always a better archival method as we all learn more over time

Library of Congress and major museum store everything in climate control at a lower temperature, which then requires a slow rise to room temps

They state "Glass plates larger than 5 x 7 inches are ideally stored in cabinets with rigid metal dividers spaced every 1 to 1 1/2 inches."

per https://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/photolea.html

However I doubt any plate I make will survive much longer than I do

I have bought many exposed glass plate negatives stored over 100 years in OE boxes by our ancestors, they made it to my hands in remarkable condition

I also shoot 120 year old NOS glass plate negatives from sealed boxes that are falling apart

I agree there are always better ways

a question, are wet plate properly processed emulsions as sturdy as dry plate emulsions?

[paulbarden]

Of course Paul, there is always a better archival method as we all learn more over time

Library of Congress and major museum store everything in climate control at a lower temperature, which then requires a slow rise to room temps
a question, are wet plate properly processed emulsions as sturdy as dry plate emulsions?

Hi Randy.
Yes, there are always better ways to store such materials, but I don't have a museum budget, so I make do with standard Gaylord Archival boxes and interleave my plates with acid free paper. It works well for my needs.

Wet plate negatives and tintypes are VERY sturdy once varnished and properly cured, yes. (properly cured means leaving them in a drying rack for at least a week before putting them into storage: the varnish is still a bit soft after heating it and it needs more time to fully cure) I have varnished glass negatives stored this way for over 2 years and so far I have had no problems with the storage technique.

[Tin Can]

Good to know varnish needs a long drying time.

When I make something worthy of archival storage I will step up.

Thank you

Hi Randy.
Yes, there are always better ways to store such materials, but I don't have a museum budget, so I make do with standard Gaylord Archival boxes and interleave my plates with acid free paper. It works well for my needs.

Wet plate negatives and tintypes are VERY sturdy once varnished and properly cured, yes. (properly cured means leaving them in a drying rack for at least a week before putting them into storage: the varnish is still a bit soft after heating it and it needs more time to fully cure) I have varnished glass negatives stored this way for over 2 years and so far I have had no problems with the storage technique.

[Drew Bedo]

Tin Can: The really old plates expose successfully?