I'm not too keen on the idea of just putting copies of things into time
capsules. Often, the contents are boring enough. But, it's true that, if the
group doesn't concern themselves with the longevity of the container they
use, they should be discouraged from including irreplaceable objects and
documents inside. Just my two cents.

I'm not sure if there is a 'time capsule standard'.

I've been in the 'time capsule business' for 20 years now (still not rich
but it pays for itself). Just before the millennium craze, we had some
stainless steel screw-on containers made (2 sizes - 6"d x 24" ht & 5.25"x22"
ht) and currently (at least until Memorial Day) they are on sale and quite
affordable for the smaller group. We also have over the years developed
several styles of custom (hand) made stainless steel boxes that can be made
to fit any cornerstone size or similar placement. Each seems to have its own
purpose: the Bolted style we make has a special design (blind bolts), can be
buried, and can be closed easily by the group; the simple Capped style
closes by way of a silicone sealant, can be closed easily enough by the
group, but makes for a better cornerstone or indoor placement than a buried
one; then we have 2 Preservation style time capsules that we weld lids onto
- one a 'full' preservation style that we actually go through the customers'
contents and place sleeves and acid free buffered enclosures on & archival
boxes, tissue, etc are used (any deacidifying is extra) -- the other is a
minimum preservation in which the customer takes care of enclosures (or
decides they don't need them!)-- for both of these, we use Agelss Z oxygen
absorbers and some silica gel (RP3K, RP5K, and argon purge are available for
add'l charge) before we weld it closed. The latter styles are the messiest
(group needs to send us their items) but the best for burial. Please see
details at our website, www.futurepkg.com. The Memorial Day sale is good
through 31 May, at www.futurepkg.com/shop.

Here also is a call for photos, if you have them, of your time capsule
celebration & placement. This is for a future book I'm writing about larger
group time capsules to share some of my own experiences. It'd be nice to
have others' experiences, too, so that it's not just a 'sales' oriented
book. So many people who call me have never done a time capsule before.
Rather than a scholarly book (such as Jarvis' book), I plan it to be more of
a Manual that gives people choices of what to do, at length. Currently I'm
working on a book for Family Time Capsules.

Thank you,
Janet E. Reinhold
Author, _Your Baby Treasures Time Capsule: How to Preserve Lasting Memories
of Baby's First Year_ (ISBN 9781891406362, Future West Publishing, 2005)
Future Packaging & Preservation
1580 W San Bernardino Rd, Ste C
Covina CA 91722
www.futurepkg.com
1.626.966.1955
1.800.786.6627 (US)

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