How to read fiddly inscriptions.

[Tengu]

got an old pair of crampons today and am trying to make out the makers name.

I cant read it at all.

I tried the old dodge of getting a soft pencil and paper and rubbing it; no use.

tommorrow Ill get out my magnifying glass.

any other suggestions?

 

[mountainm]

Take a photo, blow up the area in question. Mess with the levels in something like photoshop.

 

[The Ratcatcher]

Lighting the markings with a light source held almost level with the surface should show up any engraved or stamped markings. Photography under this kind of oblique lighting is used in forensiic work to reveal obscured markings. Other than that, there are some chemical methods of enhancing worn or damaged markings in metal, but they are quite complicated. I did the oblique lighting trick qutie a bit when I worked as a photographer.

Hope this helps.

Alan

 

[S.C.M.]

the marks are on metal, right? If so, then I've heard great things about electrolysis (or was it reverse electrolysis?). Apparently, you can get rusted-over makers mark to be legible again, as it kinda reverses the rusting process, re-solidifying the metal. If you want, I can dig up a link to an instructable for it

 

[Tengu]

Thanks but I want it to be non intrusive as poss.

Ill take some pics when Im not too busy.

 

[mountainm]

They have a technique to read old stone tablets that involves taking the same photo over an over again but moving the light source 360 degrees around the subject. Then compositing the result together.