After pulling the transformer/cap chassis out of a Radiola 18 I found the original model/production tag. Until I can post a photo, it looks like a 1"x 3" (thick off white paper) price tag stamped with some sort of production/QC code, date, and serial number. Do to time spent under the power supply, and just plain age, its crispy. Is their any way to soften it up, even temporarily, so that I can press the waves out of it. Ideally I would like to sandwich it between plexiglass to display with the radio.
Thanks

Try dampening the back of it. The back fibers will shrink and tend to pull it flat. Then flatten between pieces of wood.

That's about the only thing I could think of. I wasn't sure if there might be some tried and true trick with this sort of thing. Well this is what I'm working with:

Soak it in hydrogen peroxide for an hour or so. It will brighten it up considerably and still maintain enough of the patina. Flatten between thick blotter paper or enough paper towels with a weight on it to soak up the excess. Change out the towel a few times. I've brightened up labels like this.

Perfect. If you've done it, and it works...that's the way I'll go.
Thanks guys

That's a great tip to remember. W2CKL, please give us a pic of the final result. Thanks.

Well, its been a while, but I tried the hydrogen peroxide trick and it worked nicely. After placing the tag in a dish of hydrogen peroxide it softened almost immediately, with a slight fizz after the first 15 min. 45 min to an hour in solution seems to be the perfect amount of time, I left it in a bit longer, and noticed one edge beginning to swell. After removing I pressed it flat between paper towels and left it sit with a weight on top over night, made a plexiglass case and here is the final result. Not to shabby.
Thanks for the great tip.

Glad that worked for you. That plexiglass frame is cool!

Niiiiiiice job on the plexiglass display case

~ Mitch ~

Thanks,
I just cut 2 squares of plexiglass for the top and bottom, and one long strip that I scored and snapped to make the boarder/spacer. It's glued together with silicone; just put a small bead (with a Q-tip) around the outside edge, it will spread quite a bit. Put the bottom and boarder together, and let dry, then place the label inside, silicone the edges of the boarder, place on the plexiglass top, and add weight. The bubbles you see in the photos are from not adding weight when I siliconed the bottom. The label is now hermetically sealed, so to speak. Then just sand the edges even. I'm glad I did it, next time I might try to get fancy with the corners and joints.

You see art like that in modern museums for big bucks