Soaking (water only) - 1915 Cracker Jack?

[Belfast1933]

I recently picked up a great 1915 CJ card here from a board member (thx Ian, great transaction) and wanted to ask this group about anyone’s experience with water soaking to try and clean some dirt from the back of the card.

I don’t want to get into the chemical washes that are out there but just distilled water, light touch cue tip to try and remove the dirt from the back. I’ve only done a few to remove glue, which seems to work well.

My question - I believe the 1915 CJ card stock is a little more hearty than 1914 but wanted to ask if anyone knows of risks like print running, etc. Not sure I want to try without first a test - but I hardly have any 1915 Cracker Jack Commons around to test this on!

Anyone ever give a water bath to a ‘15 CJ and live to tell about it?

Thx all

Jeff

[ullmandds]

Ive soaked 15' cj with stellar results.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Ive soaked 15' cj with stellar results.

Have any before/after pics?

[ullmandds]

One of my luckiest vintage bb finds...at the star of the north antique show in st paul, mn. A guy with a display case had a bunch of items from an old scrapbook...he recalled there was another CJ card of a big name hofer that was sold...in the fist 2 pics u see it as i saw it in the display case. 3rd pic wlters swimming with the fishes...and the final result. I knew it was real but it appeared to have back damage. After I got it home I realized it was positive paper on the back...and I got to business. It came off quite easily with no physical prodding and the card front does appear cleaner for sure. It's amazing to see all the dirt in the water after the fact. I have since purchased a large, heavy book press specifically for the occasional card soak.

[ullmandds]

Voila!

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Voila!

nice results!

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by Belfast1933

I recently picked up a great 1915 CJ card here from a board member (thx Ian, great transaction) and wanted to ask this group about anyone’s experience with water soaking to try and clean some dirt from the back of the card.

Jeff

Is it dirt or oxidation ?? Oxidation will make old cards look "dirty" and soaking them in water will do nothing.

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

Is it dirt or oxidation ?? Oxidation will make old cards look "dirty" and soaking them in water will do nothing.

Looks like dirt (and scuffing too). Here is Eddie’s backside (so to speak)

[steve B]

It's likely none of that will come off without doing further damage.
There are areas where it's been tried and there's some surface loss.

The stock is porous and the dirt gets into it and usually won't come out.

[Snowman]

Someone has already tried to clean that card, just FYI.

As far as soaking them in distilled water is concerned, it won't damage them at all. 15 CJs soak just fine. Use warm water for better results. Put it in an ultrasonic cleaner filled with the warm distilled water for even better results, if you want. Be very careful though with a qtip on the back while it's wet. Wet paper is very vulnerable. Any amount of abrasion while it's wet will result in surface damage/loss.

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Someone has already tried to clean that card, just FYI.

As far as soaking them in distilled water is concerned, it won't damage them at all. 15 CJs soak just fine. Use warm water for better results. Put it in an ultrasonic cleaner filled with the warm distilled water for even better results, if you want. Be very careful though with a qtip on the back while it's wet. Wet paper is very vulnerable. Any amount of abrasion while it's wet will result in surface damage/loss.

Thx for the technique tips… and how can you tell someone already tried to clean this one? Just curious what you see.

[Gorditadogg]

Jeff, here are before and after pictures of your card, side by side.

How did Collins get a mole next to his eye? I also see what looks like wrinkling or scuffing on the right side of the after pic, under the lettering and to the side of his face. Is that from the card saver?

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

Jeff, here are before and after pictures of your card, side by side.

How did Collins get a mole next to his eye? I also see what looks like wrinkling or scuffing on the right side of the after pic, under the lettering and to the side of his face. Is that from the card saver?

Well, when you put it this way... the front before image here DOES look better but am guessing the mole and wrinkle are penny sleeve related. I sent him in to SGC for his tux fitting so I can't pull it out to see what gives here.

'twas an interesting experience for me, still glad to have tried it. Like they say, you either win, or you learn.

I'll post Eddie again when he's done with his Tux fitting in Boca Raton -

Jeff

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I'm assuming the "before" image was saved from the listing and was created using a quality scanner. The "after" appears to be a phone pic, which will never do anything similar justice.

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I'm assuming the "before" image was saved from the listing and was created using a quality scanner. The "after" appears to be a phone pic, which will never do anything similar justice.

Exactly right…

[BRoberts]

Originally Posted by Belfast1933

Well, when you put it this way... the front before image here DOES look better but am guessing the mole and wrinkle are penny sleeve related. I sent him in to SGC for his tux fitting so I can't pull it out to see what gives here.

Jeff

Are you sure you sent it to SGC?

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by BRoberts

Are you sure you sent it to SGC?

I see what you did there…. Nicely done. Clever humor 💪