Cute little display

[General Butler]

Unwrapped the 1st of 2 paintings and places it with an Ames artillery sword for '62 and a cool blue canteen (frail strap where it rests on your shoulder)
But the canteen has what really really looks like blood stains where the right ha d would normally grab it for a drink.
Any easy way to test for blood?
Any easy way to clean an oil painting?

Enjoy

 

[Ferd454231]

If the paintings mean something special to you I would just go with a professional conservator. If there is an art museum near you you could try calliing them for advice. Blood! Luminol (SP?) is what they use on the cop shows but I have no idea where to get it or, most importantly. if there would be an adverse chemical reaction. H

 

[General Butler]

If the paintings mean something special to you I would just go with a professional conservator. If there is an art museum near you you could try calliing them for advice. Blood! Luminol (SP?) is what they use on the cop shows but I have no idea where to get it or, most importantly. if there would be an adverse chemical reaction. H

I had read that if the painting was worth more than 800 then dont bother. I am surprised that there isnt a DIY to clean off years of soot and grime. Not that it is restoration but it would be clean

 

[Lampasas Bill]

A simple way to remove some of the dirt is to make a ball out of white bread and use it gently as an eraser. Don't do this, however, if the paint is flaky. I offer this as a tip from a retired museum curator.

 

[major bill]

Nice display. The canteen looks to be in good shape.

 

[General Butler]

A simple way to remove some of the dirt is to make a ball out of white bread and use it gently as an eraser. Don't do this, however, if the paint is flaky. I offer this as a tip from a retired museum curator.

What? Simple white bread, not dipped in distilled water or anything? That's too easy
Are you pulling my leg

 

[General Butler]

Nice display. The canteen looks to be in good shape.

Yes the canteen is good
The strap is worn pretty good at the shoulder position, thin now like a ribbon, but all there.
The hand grab stain is intriguing

 

[Package4]

Unwrapped the 1st of 2 paintings and places it with an Ames artillery sword for '62 and a cool blue canteen (frail strap where it rests on your shoulder)
But the canteen has what really really looks like blood stains where the right ha d would normally grab it for a drink.
Any easy way to test for blood?
Any easy way to clean an oil painting?

Enjoy

View attachment 358568

View attachment 358569

View attachment 358570

You can buy luminol on the internet and lightly spray on the cover then use a black light. Most likely a pin hole in the tin coating causing a small amount of rust, very typical with issued canteens.

 

[lelliott19]

Most likely a pin hole in the tin coating causing a small amount of rust, very typical with issued canteens.

IDK, that part near the strap attachment looks possible? See how the stain ends up there by the "hump" where the strap attaches? Unless you've seen lots of others with the same pattern of rust stains? If not, Id look down in the canteen and if there's not much rust, I might purchase the luminol and test it, just to see. As long as @Package4 says it won't negatively affect the fabric.

 

[Package4]

IDK, that part near the strap attachment looks possible? See how the stain ends up there by the "hump" where the strap attaches? Unless you've seen lots of others with the same pattern of rust stains? If not, Id look down in the canteen and if there's not much rust, I might purchase the luminol and test it, just to see. As long as @Package4 says it won't negatively affect the fabric.

I don't believe it to be rusted through just some surface rust which invariably happens to these. I still want to do a brief canteen primer, unfortunately or fortunately business is picking back up.

 

[General Butler]

I don't believe it to be rusted through just some surface rust which invariably happens to these. I still want to do a brief canteen primer, unfortunately or fortunately business is picking back up.

It's good to get back to work
Not much fun sitting around pretending to be busy.
I think I'll make a crummy old man
I think I will sniff around the canteen some more
It is intriguing

 

[Package4]

It's good to get back to work
Not much fun sitting around pretending to be busy.
I think I'll make a crummy old man
I think I will sniff around the canteen some more
It is intriguing

Very doubtful it is blood, canteens were filled by immersing in streams, by and large and any blood would be long gone as a water soluble entity. Not to mention that most blood stains on cloth attract various critters, whether insects or other, that over the years ravage the stained area, unless meticulously stored and cared for.

We also forget that the Civil War pieces we collect had an after ACW life that was much longer than the meager 4 years of service. What has happened to the piece in the intervening 150+ years? Was it used to travel West, in a farmer's field, cutting wood, in a factory and how was it stored when finally retired? Was it a surplus piece sold by Bannermans to a Scout group or a mining company.

I believe yours was issued, "wish it could talk"

 

[Package4]

IDK, that part near the strap attachment looks possible? See how the stain ends up there by the "hump" where the strap attaches? Unless you've seen lots of others with the same pattern of rust stains? If not, Id look down in the canteen and if there's not much rust, I might purchase the luminol and test it, just to see. As long as @Package4 says it won't negatively affect the fabric.

I guess I should be more clear, US spheroid canteens were made of sheet iron dipped in a tin solution to "galvanize" the piece from rusting. The coating was very thin and a small scratch would begin the oxidation process very easily since these canteens were designed to be wet. Just a small pin prick in the coating would readily begin the process and humidity contributes greatly.

Tin canteens and cups are generally not made of tin, just coated.

 

[General Butler]

I guess I should be more clear, US spheroid canteens were made of sheet iron dipped in a tin solution to "galvanize" the piece from rusting. The coating was very thin and a small scratch would begin the oxidation process very easily since these canteens were designed to be wet. Just a small pin prick in the coating would readily begin the process and humidity contributes greatly.

Tin canteens and cups are generally not made of tin, just coated.

Brilliantly said. You sure seem to know what you are talking about.
I wonder what it is you do?