I would suggest putting each shell into a foam lined clear plastic box, cut
the foam so it will form around the shell and when closing the lid it will
gently press the shell against the front of the box. the boxes can be glued
, screwed or wired , the shell will be snug as a bug and safe . you might
want to solidly glue a few old  shells on the backboard where the people
might be able to touch the shells , this seemed to delight the viewers with
my exhibit as they got a chance touch and feel then different textures .
Good luck , Mark James & Peta Susan Bethke
3001 South Ocean Dr. Suite 4-V
Hollywood, Florida
33019-2804
U.S.A.
-----Original Message-----
From: Frederick W. Schueler <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 9:31 PM
Subject: Mounting Unionid shells for exhibition
 
 
>Conch-lists,
>
>We're going to prepare travelling exhibits (on vertical masonite boards),
>to teach People about our local Unionid fauna, and I wonder what methods
>have been successful for mounting shells in situations where they may not
>be treated gently.
>
>I asked the Unionid list for advice about this, and got suggestions that
>implied that the shells were expendable (drill holes and attach with
>screws, permanent glues, etc), but these are museum specimens, and
>shouldn't be degraded by the mounting. I'm inclining towards using
>silicone caulking compound to attach the shells, on the hypothesis that
>when the exhibit is to be disassembled the silicone mounting could sliced
>with a knife, and then peeled off the shell. I'm worried by the
>possibility that the periostracum might come off with the silicone, and
>that the odor of the stuff suggests that acetic acid, which might erode
>the shell, is used as a solvent. Does anyone have experience using this,
>or any other robust method of safely mounting shells for display?
>
>thanks for any help,
>
>fred schueler.
>------------------------------------------------------------
>         Eastern    Ontario    Biodiversity    Museum
>                Grenville Co, Ontario, Canada
>(RR#2 Oxford Station, K0G 1T0) (613)258-3107   [log in to unmask]
>------------------------------------------------------------
>