Baseball holder/display question
fredp23
Posts: 34
Hey everybody, i have some autographed baseballs that are in a safe that i would like to display once i move into my new place...what is the best baseball cube/holder that will prevent fading of sig or yellowing of ball...i have a few of the Ultra brand UV protected acrylic displays...are they any good? or is there something better?...thanks
Collecting 500 hr club and yankees memorabilia
0
Comments
I would be careful. Maybe only display them at night????
I have several autographed balls I obtained in the 1970s and early 1980s that I keep in an old truck that seals pretty good. A couple of the balls are from the 1950s and 1960s and in real cherry condition. They have shown no degradation whatsoever but then again I rarely take them out.
Unscientific, I know and there are a myriad of other factors. Game used balls will color and fade, most brand new balls will not. Type of pen is a factor too.
Bottom line, keep that sucker in the closet.
<< <i>I read an article recently about so-called UV protecting acrylic/glass. The tests that were run showed little, if any, difference from regular non-UV protection material. Didn't shed a good light on the claims made by the manufacturers...
I would be careful. Maybe only display them at night????
Do you know where you saw that article? I would like to read it as well....Thanks
Photos do have some problems of their own. Most of the commercially available color 8x10 photos will probably fade in 40-50 years as that is the fate of all color prints. If your photos are framed under glass (best) or plastic (not the best) be sure the signature does not touch the glass. Sharpie touching glass + heat + light and in time you will end up with a signed 8x10 sheet of glass. If you have them in plastic pages it is important that you get the right pages. I have used Ultra Pro for years with no issues. I have seen some binders full of old Rotman sheets where the Sharpie sigs have migrated onto the plastic. An archivist turned me on to this place where I have bought stuff to store some of my higher end stuff:
Light Impressions Direct
She said that if you can "smell" the plastic it is no good for archival storage. She also mentioned that when it comes to "good" storage, you do get what you pay for.
I have a few bats and have noticed no issues on signed bats in sharpie or felt tip pen (brand new, not game used). The only time I have seen fading is when the bats, usually game used, are signed in ball point pen. It's probably the ink and nothing to do with the bat.
Bats, in theory, should last forever as long as they are not constantly exposed to any light (natural or indoor).
UV protected plastic cases are baloney, regardless of what tests they claim. Some of my balls have been sitting in the dark for 20+ years and still look fresh out of the box. On the other hand, I have some (which were in the UV protected cases) that have only been exposed to indoor light and now have a brownish tint.