Response to Glass plate negatives

Melvin, are you sure these are glass negs you're talking about and not something else? An old glass neg wouldn't necessarily have backing on it....your description of a dark grey/chalky coating fits in with an ambrotype....it's hard to say without seeing the images, but my advice would be to try to contact a state or local archive, or historical society in your area...even a public library if they have a special collections room or genealogy wing. I work in a state history museum and we give conservation consultation on objects (furniture, textiles mostly) to the public, but with old photos, particularly glass plates & cased images, my advice would be to contact a conservator or an archivist at the least....if it is an ambrotype, or even a glass plate with flaking or chipped emuslion, there's very little that you can or -should- do....seek professional help. Feel free to contact me offline if you need any help, I'm not a photo conservator, but good luck either way....

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