Tidying up the exhibits, that have deteriorated over time

Even in a museum environment, artefacts will continue to degrade.

So many threats lie in wait, which include Spiders, Mice, Flies, Wasps, Thunderbugs, Birds, Bats, Heat, Cold, Damp, Accidents, People and above all Light. 

We try and keep on top of all this with checks on exhibits and those that need attention we take back, repair and take preventative action where possible to avoid having to repeat the exercise at a later time.

The spectacle case featured here is early 20th century and the cover and lining have parted company with the metal case, so it was duly repaired and now somebody will be pleased to see it in, near original condition.









 

 Wednesday 29th October a damp start with rain moving in so good for inside jobs.

Work on body parts for the Morris 2T5cwt  has been progressing with the air vents, wings and fuel tank freshly painted

Today was a line wagon number 2 job list getting the last of the modern upgrades out so we have the period look it needs.

The sheared off screws for the shelf took some removing but one out of 2 beat us and will remain there as the walls are lined with 2mm steel panels digging a screw out is near impossible so the shelf crossbar now refitted is held by one screw but needs welding to the frame where it had sheared off.

The welder needs carrying down from the workshop but that is a job for another day in the dry..

The boards from a new shelf have been retained to replace the plywood sheet so needed trimming to length and clearancing around the rivets, the centre one needs a trip to the circular saw to get the width right.

The light/liquid refilling shelves needed 40 odd brass screws fitting to the splashback to secure it as the original tacks have mostly fallen out or rotted. away.

Looking better as it is now all flat against the wall but done with a small electricians screwdriver it made the hands ache.

The side shelf again had later plywood shelves so these needed removing but screwed in from both ends and secured by multiple screws in metal strips down the front it was not a 5 minute task.

But they all came out some easier than others one shelf has been retained as a template for some new boards to be acquired and cut

The boards are back on above the doors but we need some more brass screws to finish off securing them.

                    The modern hasp and staple has gone off the side door along with the crosshead screws

More of the walls have been sanded down and given a coat of brown oil based paint.

The top panel off one end wall has also been refitted to save this hole showing.

At packing up time the Navy Class 35006 pulled out of Toddington bellowing steam and smoke on it's way to Cheltenham and it was to good a photo opportunity to miss.

                                                                And that is it for another day

wednesday 22nd October a lovely clear autumn day

Walking in on platform one I noticed the pop up racing pigeon was not visible and a quick look in he was lying on the bottom of the cage upside down so pick the basket up and over to the workshop.

opening the front up we had another surprise 6 plastic decoy birds and a egg that had hatched.

Instead of the fixed rocking wire a spring mount was an option that may last longer when fingers push the top bird around.

He is now a bobbing pigeon and was put back on the platform.  When leaving later a visitor was taking a photo of it so that makes it worth while taking time to keep displays up to spec.

The Station Masters coat had been hanging in the 1874 building near a window and sunlight has faded it, this is after a deep clean and dry clean so some cold water black dye has been purchased and prepared to immerse the coat in..

The 1874 building clean up continues the rear display had the top done last week so three more shelves to do as it is the 2025 Autumn Gala this coming weekend so the railway will be busy..

before and after

After the clean up even the bread bin got a polish.

Several display item are showing their age so needed attention the rawplug box needed the label reaffixing, all the cans and other items needed a clean, the ruler has gone into a white spirit bath to try and remove some of the marker that has leeched out of another display item.

before and after

before

Mother nature has been busy with the Autumnal leaf display being deposited on the floor and in building so a sweep around and then the garden vacuum we have an improvement, not perfect but there are loads more to drop yet.

It was then time for a walk down to the 2nd line wagon after last weeks removal and hovering of the debris left from scraping the peeling paint. Now it is time to finish removing all the additional shelves fitted over the years and other items to get the interior back to how it was originally.

All 4 end units had extra metal work bolted in to put a lower shelf in so these are coming out.

After removal it has opened up the space.

The unit above had a plywood middle shelf so this and it's supports have gone and when the original frame is repaired it will be boarded, but first we need to get these broken and rusty screws out.

looking more spacious and we now have better access for a good clean and painting.

Another day with some good progress made.

 

 Wednesday 15th a nice dry day.

                                    The day started with clearing the Autumn leaves from the paths

We have received a lot of boxes containing brass screws of various type and size so thes needed sorting into a stowage box for future use.

A wall mounted paper clip was found at a flea market and on cleaning the paint off it was found to be a  LNER one,

We had some shelves collapse in the 1874 building so the cabinet was taken to the workshop where the corner posts were drilled and some of the new brass screws fitted as shelf supports.

After repair the cabinet was cleaned and put back in place however it showed up how tired the other exhibits were.

A good clean of the windows to let more light in and remove cobwebs was done.

The inside of the frames and floor were also attacked with the vacuum cleaner

The counter tops were cleaned and a start on removing all items from a shelf to clean the shelf the clean and replace the displays has made a big difference when looking in.

Top shelf done.

This made the cabinets above look even worse so a dust and clean followed by a coat of linseed oil brightened them up. Note the extinguisher bottom right photo.

The bottle shelf got the same treatment

Some of the old cardboard boxes on display have deteriorated so a regluing session was needed.

the extinguisher was washed off with soapy water the chromed brass had acid applied to clean it before a clean on the brass wire wheel. It was then coated with lanolin.

Time to go down to line wagon 2 with the vacuum cleaner and a long extension lead to clean up all the leaded paint remains we had scrapped off.

The vacuum needed emptying twice to get the job done but it is now a better working environment.

It is going back to how it was so removal of modern shelves and upgrades are being taken down.

The large bin unit had dropped and inch and come forwards so the hydraulic porta power was used to lift the unit to put a metal end plate back on it was then jacked back aainst the wall and secured.  The newer timber was binned so we have more room.

But what a difference to work in.