Before you do anything to the stone,
use an old camera and look at the stone through the viewer. All viewers are
different. Try the more recent models as well as ones made back in the
1960's or 1970's if you have any that old. Somehow some viewers will clear
up the letters and numbers for you. Don't ask me how but they do.
Then use whatever method you prefer. I've tried the shaving cream and didn't
like the outcome. Chalk is a lot better even if it's colored rather than
white. Then look at the stone again with the camera.
You may want to
try this out on a few stones which you know what they have on them. Compare
the camera viewers to see which one works better and make a note to keep it
for the cemetery inventory use.
I had a Kodak instant (like Polaroid
- remove the photo paper and within a few minutes the photo was developed
before your eyes) which had a great viewer. In a lot of cases I didn't even
have to use chalk. I was quite surprised on a few and even my husband
couldn't believe that I could read them with the viewer. He wrote down what
I said and then to double check the data he used chalk on the stones. He
realized the data I gave was right.
I don't know what type of chalk
you use, but I go to Wal-Mart and look in the school supplies for a plastic
tub of kids chalk which is about a half-inch in diameter and about 4 to 5
inches long. It may be colored chalk that kids can use for sidewalk games,
but it works. I think it takes a little longer for Mother Nature to blow and
wash it off but if someone else comes along in a few months and it's still
on the stone, they will benefit if they're looking for one of the older
ones.
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