Dear Vivian,
            Welcome to the shell-world, It great to hear such enthusiasm. If
you a re looking for specialized custom enclosures to hold you collection,
look no further.  My company Sharpe Shells, has been building enclosures for
shell / fossil / mineral collections for the past 12 years, we do custom
sizes, in many different woods/veneers and stains. Shelfs are fully enclosed
with glass tops or perplex tops (velvet lined) (divided, non-divided) ,
Master- cabinets fit 6 , 12 or 20 shelfs all on rollers.  Most people buy
the Master cabinet first and add shelfs as their collections grow. Available
in 3 stock sizes or custom sizes. All Cabinets are UPS-able. No Duty to US
as per Free trade agreement. I will privy email pictures of stock and some
custom work.
Best Regards
Andrew Sharpe

Sharpe Shells
3445 Cornett Rd., Vancouver, B.C. Canada V5M 2H3
Tel:(604) 438-5295   Fax:(604) 438 4452
email: [log in to unmask]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vivian S Kooken" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 5:06 PM
Subject: another new member


> Hello,
>
> My name is Vivian Kooken and I have just read through my first batch of
> e-mails from the Conch-L listserv.  I can see already I will be learning
> a lot!
>
> I have a B.S. degree in Biology and currently work for a nonprofit
> watershed organization.
>
> I recently (within the past year) inherited a seashell (and fossil,
> mineral, and meteorite) collection that was the passion of my
> great-grandfather.  He lived from 1858-1934.  From what I understand, he
> both purchased specimens and traveled to collect them.  At some point, he
> constructed a special building on his property to house his collection.
> Later, that building was broken into and the collection was vandalized.
> An elderly man at that point, he was unable to fully reorganize the
> collection.  The cabinet it was originally in is gone, but most of the
> shells are still in their drawers.  After his death, the collection was
> housed drawers stacked one on another.  My uncle, who housed the
> collection for many years, has passed the collection on to me.  My first
> task, I believe, is to get another cabinet for the shells--this leads me
> to my first couple of questions!
>
> 1.  Do any of you know good sources for cabinetry for shell collections?
> Are there any materials/constructions I should be wary of?
>
> 2.  Are there diseases of shells that speed their deterioration?  I have
> noticed some white powder in some of the drawers.  If so, what are the
> remedies?!
>
> I am amazed by the meticulous records this man kept.  Most shells have a
> small handwritten label with number, which corresponds to log he kept,
> all handwritten beautifully.  I am sure I will thank him many times over
> for that!
>
> Thank you, in advance, for any information you pass my way on these basic
> questions.  Hopefully, after time and work, I will learn enough to
> participate in some of the more advanced discussions.
> Regards,
> Vivian
>