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Cleaning
Follow these tips for looking after your antique toys:
* Cleaning should be kept to a minimum. Dust can be removed
with a soft brush. Using water on a cracked item can allow
water to get into the substrate and cause more damage.
* Never try to 'touch up' items with paint.
* Mohair was often used on 19th-century dolls and this was
set using a sugar water solution. Trying to wash and set a
doll's hair could remove this original material.
* Doll's clothing is a prime target for cleaning and repairs.
The same rules that apply to textiles care are true here.
Old textiles do not react to modern cleaning techniques. And
using tap water and soap flakes can actually cause damage.
Find out more about caring for textiles.
* If you want to make new clothes for a doll, make sure you
save all the original clothing. Replica clothing will not
give the same historical information and will lower the financial
value of the doll if you wish to sell it.
Repairs
We have all seen damaged teddy bears that have been 'loved
to death' and then suffered from bad repairs. As they age,
the fur will become more fragile and stitching into it may
cause splitting.
Just as an artist is not the best person to repair a painting,
someone who makes teddy bears will not have the skills to
repair treasured bears unless they have trained as a conservator.
Items made of textiles such as teddy bears should be examined
by a textile conservator. Some items, such as dolls made of
ceramics, may need the help of both a textile conservator
and a ceramics conservator.
Many items like train sets and drums fall into the area
of expertise of those trained in archaeological conservation
or social history conservation.
While some businesses undertake specialist repairs, ensure
they are professionally qualified. Conservators are taught
how things fall apart and it is important to know this before
commencing repair.
Display
Follow the below guidelines on displaying your dolls and
teddies:
Toys should be kept where they are safe from fluctuations
in heat and humidity. They should not be in direct light.
A glass case will keep dirt and smoke (both coal smoke and
cigarette smoke) away from the objects.
Display units should be stable so they don't easily tip
over.
Don't use glue or adhesive tape around your items and never
string items up with wire.
Storage
Whether it's in the original packaging or has been heavily
played with, if you want to put a toy into storage, you should
take time to examine it. Firstly, find out what is it made
from as this will give you an idea of possible problems.
For example, a wax-headed doll shouldn't be left near heat
sources or near lights, as it can easily melt. Conversely,
cold temperatures can cause cracks.
Metal toys can rust if they are kept where there is a moist
atmosphere.
Lead soldiers can also be dangerous to children because
of the lead content and sharp edges.
Plastics can degrade into a sticky mess. Some early plastics
and PVC give off fumes which can cause degradation. If a surface
is sticky, cracked, powdery or has darkened, it should be
kept away from other items as the fumes can cause damage to
other pieces.
Wooden toys may have broken sides or edges. Wood also gives
off fumes as it breaks down. It's best to store these items
away from other organic materials such as paper and textiles.
Items should be stored separately and wrapped in acid-free
tissue. Plastic items should be put in well-ventilated boxes.
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