Posted by Clint Dixon on Sunday, September 09, 2007 at 13:45:54 :
I have collected a few pieces of Power-Wagon and Jeep related literature over the past 30 years. Some of these pieces are still in old leather binders. I have some of these stored in old restored metal gasoline pumps that have been gutted and the insides converted to shelves. These are located in a dry live-in basement. Some of the literature is kept in a cedar storage chest that I built, also located in the dry family room in the basement. Others are kept locked in a modern safe in an upstairs closet.
None of these storage places have any natural air flow. While all are dry, we do have the high humidity common to the Midwestern states. This can vary depending on whether it is hot enough indoors to use the central air conditioner.
I have found that some of the old leather binders develop a fine fuzz of white mold on exposed surfaces. I also find this mold on old MoPar cardboard boxes (the kind of cardboard that has sort of a slick waxy feel to it). I have not noticed this mold migrating to the actual paper literature, but I want to assure that this does not happen. A lot of these pages are stored in Avery plastic sheet protectors (unsealed). These are the kind that load from the top and have three holes at the side to fit into 3-ring binders.
I am open to suggestions. How does everyone store and preserve their important papers?
Junior
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