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Caring for the Collections

The National Motor Museum has a responsibility to care for its Collections to ensure they are preserved for future generations to enjoy. The Collections Team and the enthusiastic volunteers and students who work alongside them undertake specialist tasks on all kinds of items. See below for more details.

Motoring Objects 

Step 1: Assessing the Damage

Before any treatment can be carried out, the damaged object needs to be assessed to note where and what damage has occurred. This leather motoring coat had several split seams.

Step 2: Repair

Re-stitching the split is a two stage process as both the leather and lining materials needed repairing.

Step 3: Cleaning

The surface dirt is then removed from the leather using specialist cleaning materials.

Step 4: Display

With all repair work carried out, the leather coat is now suitable for display.

Glass Plate Negatives 

This collection of over 2,000 glass plate negatives were still in their original boxes; very interesting, but hardly ideal conditions by modern museum standards. After being in storage for nearly 30 years, grant aid from the from the Designation Challenge Fund, operated by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) helped us to preserve this Collection for the future and make it fully available for the first time.

Step 1: Arrival

Original packaging with some negatives already in poor condition and others completely unprotected from further deterioration.

Cleaning a glass plate negative

Step 2: Cleaning

Cleaning a glass plate negative using specialist tools and methods.

Step 3: Packaging

Packing a fragile glass plate negative into an archive quality storage envelope.

Step 4: Storing

Glass plate negatives stored in specially designed archive storage cabinets.

Would you like to volunteer to help us care for our Collections »

 

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