How to seal a milk bottle time capsule?
Discussion
The other day I found a old glass milk bottle, maybe 1930s, intact about three foot down in the front garden.
I now have a plan to bury a current glass (we get milk delivered) for someone else to find in the future as part of finishing the job.
If you're burying intentionally, why not include a bit of a message, laser printed on to the slight posh paper I have borrowed from my previous employer.
So now I need a way to seal the bottle, which will last for 100 years. My current thinking is paper cap, build up a good layer of wax over it, careful place the bottle upside down, with the paper held away from the bottom.
However any other plans for durable, and ideally quicker/simpler options welcome.
Daniel
I now have a plan to bury a current glass (we get milk delivered) for someone else to find in the future as part of finishing the job.
If you're burying intentionally, why not include a bit of a message, laser printed on to the slight posh paper I have borrowed from my previous employer.
So now I need a way to seal the bottle, which will last for 100 years. My current thinking is paper cap, build up a good layer of wax over it, careful place the bottle upside down, with the paper held away from the bottom.
However any other plans for durable, and ideally quicker/simpler options welcome.
Daniel
Yeah, obviously all about keeping it dry! A bung is a good shout, and cork is likely as durable as anything else if then wax sealed.
No harm in a ziplock bag or silica gel either.
Silicone rubber presumably because it's more stable than natural rubber, and proberbly most rubberised plastics?
Good thoughts, keep them coming.
Daniel
Sil
No harm in a ziplock bag or silica gel either.
Silicone rubber presumably because it's more stable than natural rubber, and proberbly most rubberised plastics?
Good thoughts, keep them coming.
Daniel
Sil
Ah, good call about chalk shrinking, hence wine stored on its side..
Google suggested most modern paper is acid free, the stuff I have is 100gsm HP colour choice, and states it's ISO9706 permanent paper.
As far as I can see using a laser printer, thermally bonded pigment based Tomar, should last 100 years.
Good call on ensuring the bottle is reasonably sterile. However, while I'm assuming it was tongue in cheek, there will be no lab sealing!
Contrasting, or atleast sand, isn't a bad call either. Although the first location is with a neatly cut 2ft square hole in the bedrock about 18" deep and two foot under the drive, where the old gate post was, so sand rather than sandstone will be a fair contrast!
The bottle I found was just loose, and part filled with dirt with no stopper or message as far as I could see, and made my week. So even if it doesn't last, it's a chance at it lasting!
I'm going to stick a few in various places.
Daniel
Google suggested most modern paper is acid free, the stuff I have is 100gsm HP colour choice, and states it's ISO9706 permanent paper.
As far as I can see using a laser printer, thermally bonded pigment based Tomar, should last 100 years.
Good call on ensuring the bottle is reasonably sterile. However, while I'm assuming it was tongue in cheek, there will be no lab sealing!
Contrasting, or atleast sand, isn't a bad call either. Although the first location is with a neatly cut 2ft square hole in the bedrock about 18" deep and two foot under the drive, where the old gate post was, so sand rather than sandstone will be a fair contrast!
The bottle I found was just loose, and part filled with dirt with no stopper or message as far as I could see, and made my week. So even if it doesn't last, it's a chance at it lasting!
I'm going to stick a few in various places.
Daniel
Those heat shrink ends do look good.
It would me great to think it was fully waterproof and airtight, and that has to be best. But if the paper is in a ziplock bag, bottle upside down, that's also better than nothing. We are on a ridge here, sandstone a said, which is coarse and low density, so I can imagine the water table ever get anywhere near it.
I've found newspaper under the floorboards that's obviously been around a long time, 50 years just from the typeface, if sadly without a date on it. Bit yellow and crisp, ripped and screwed into a ball, but perfectly ledgible once opened out.
Daniel
It would me great to think it was fully waterproof and airtight, and that has to be best. But if the paper is in a ziplock bag, bottle upside down, that's also better than nothing. We are on a ridge here, sandstone a said, which is coarse and low density, so I can imagine the water table ever get anywhere near it.
I've found newspaper under the floorboards that's obviously been around a long time, 50 years just from the typeface, if sadly without a date on it. Bit yellow and crisp, ripped and screwed into a ball, but perfectly ledgible once opened out.
Daniel
dingg said:
Use an empty plastic coke bottle, screw cap, lasts for millions of years according to these save the planet types.
Yeah, there is a lot to be said for that, although the rubber seal might go, it might not, and you could alway wax over the top.What about self amalgamating tape? Bound over the top with a decent 3M branded PVC insulation tape?
Certainly the more I think about it a sacrificial outer casing makes sense too, just almost anything as you say, even a 2l squash bottle, bit of loose sand or even bubble wrap it, just to take the spade strike impact. I have no idea how I managed to no break the bottle I found, it was good and deep, sandstoney soil, going at it with a big spade, not a scratch. Mind you, the wall thickness is twice that of a modern bottle!
oblio said:
Out of interest can I ask what are you planning to say in your letter in the time capsule?
It is a very good question.Not a great deal I think, certainly one sheet will be fairly large (durable) text just saying words to the effect of 'this bottle was buried here in Jul 2020 by me and my partner who lived in the house from 2018 onwards.
Maybe in the gatepost one a photo of me with my corona-caveman beard and uncut hair standing by the post. One in black and white on the laser, one in colour on the inkjet?
I have some timelines for the house, date of planning, who lived in it when, but its likely the archives I have found the info on will survive elsewhere better so only maybe very key dates. It hasn't changed hand many times in the last 118 year, only four owners before us, one a Liberal PM and the son of the first owner.
In the other I might get my partner to write half a side of A4 with me about life and times. No plans yet.
Daniel
LordLoveLength said:
How about putting a USB drive in as well?
You could include news stories about COVID Trump Brexit etc
Would give future archaeologists a challenge extracting the data!
Might put a USB in one of the, hadn't thought of that, likely have a old small capacity one somewhere. You could include news stories about COVID Trump Brexit etc
Would give future archaeologists a challenge extracting the data!
NMNeil said:
Depending on the size of the bottle.
https://www.winemakingsuperstore.com/pvc-shrink-ca...
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-prod...
Current milk bottles are circa 35od and about 28id.https://www.winemakingsuperstore.com/pvc-shrink-ca...
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-prod...
The wine bottle are circa 30od so without the pre-shrink dims it would be a risk they don't fit, plus this are thin and not adhesive lined. But the 3M ones look really nice, £12 each on RS for the SKE30/76 size but while it isn't as clear as usual, I believe that is for a pack size of 10 so have ordered. Being a reputable brand, and away from any heat or UV it should last well.
I've also got three sticks of red sealing wax coming for £4 as it appears it better than using old candle, but also faff compared to a heat shrink end and might well not last and better.
Daniel
pquinn said:
Bit rot is the bigger issue, not sure a USB flash would have all that much data on it after 20 years in the ground.
I think it is unlike to work straight off, but if its a useless promo-item anyway, and fits in the bottle, why not. Worse case its an interesting artifact. But if I can keep it dry, shouldn't be any worse below ground than above.Was going to get some silica gel from RS, but they are pack sizes of 50+ so £30 alone. They are also now charging £5 for orders under £30 which is personally a great shame, £3 under £10 might make sense, but its a big departure from what is was.
Daniel
Edited by dhutch on Thursday 9th July 13:13
pquinn said:
Bit rot is the bigger issue, not sure a USB flash would have all that much data on it after 20 years in the ground.
I think it is unlike to work straight off, but if its a useless promo-item anyway, and fits in the bottle, why not. Worse case its an interesting artifact. But if I can keep it dry, shouldn't be any worse below ground than above.Was going to get some silica gel from RS, but they are pack sizes of 50+ so £30 alone. They are also now charging £5 for orders under £30 which is personally a great shame, £3 under £10 might make sense, but its a big departure from what is was. Fortunately, ebay, 20x5g pouch for £2.99.
Daniel
dhutch said:
NMNeil said:
Depending on the size of the bottle.
https://www.winemakingsuperstore.com/pvc-shrink-ca...
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-prod...
Current milk bottles are circa 35od and about 28id.https://www.winemakingsuperstore.com/pvc-shrink-ca...
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-prod...
... the 3M ones look really nice, £12 each on RS for the SKE30/76 size but while it isn't as clear as usual, I believe that is for a pack size of 10 so have ordered. Being a reputable brand, and away from any heat or UV it should last well....
- A) You could nearly put the whole milk bottle in it, nearly 8" long!
- B) You only get one, and I can almost see why it was £12!
I don't know why I didn't get the SKE25/63 one which would have fitted and been half the price, but yeah, hummm!
Silica gel as arrived.... hole 1 needs filling tomorrow.
Well here we are, Time Capsule No1 is complete and installed.
Milk bottle cleaned in dishwashered, side of A4 letter, a two sheets of photo, in duplicate. One copy printed on the b&w laser printer, one in the colour inkjet, each folded into four and placed in a ziplock bag, which where then rolled very tightly together and cabletied. Loaded into the bottle with 5g sachet of silica gel. Plastic stopper with best bead of silicone sealant placed in the neck. Tapped over with 3M insulation tape, then two turns of silage tape, cable tie. Bottle wrapped in black corriflute, ends pinched in, silage tape, white insulation tape to add contrast and look of intent, loose fitting vimto bottle sleeve. L
The new dog was very confused by the hive of activity near the 'dog room' containing their food. So was the neighbor on his later evening stroll, explained the dead, seemed very happy with it all!
Buried in the hole in the bedrock where the old gatepost was, which is both inline with the new wall, existing railings and posts, and within the 9ft spacing of railings sections and tie backs which remind visible. Both bottles, and ziplock bags are installed opening downwards, just slightly below the level of the opening of the hole, which is itself about 6" below the current road level which is to be about the finished level of the drive. Filled round with the local soft sandstone as a broken up mixed fill, rammed hard down with length of 2x4, orange carrier bag, bit of soil, some driveway gravel, and then soil. Just in time for the skip lorry to drive over it do a swap tomorrow!
ASTB
Daniel
Milk bottle cleaned in dishwashered, side of A4 letter, a two sheets of photo, in duplicate. One copy printed on the b&w laser printer, one in the colour inkjet, each folded into four and placed in a ziplock bag, which where then rolled very tightly together and cabletied. Loaded into the bottle with 5g sachet of silica gel. Plastic stopper with best bead of silicone sealant placed in the neck. Tapped over with 3M insulation tape, then two turns of silage tape, cable tie. Bottle wrapped in black corriflute, ends pinched in, silage tape, white insulation tape to add contrast and look of intent, loose fitting vimto bottle sleeve. L
The new dog was very confused by the hive of activity near the 'dog room' containing their food. So was the neighbor on his later evening stroll, explained the dead, seemed very happy with it all!
Buried in the hole in the bedrock where the old gatepost was, which is both inline with the new wall, existing railings and posts, and within the 9ft spacing of railings sections and tie backs which remind visible. Both bottles, and ziplock bags are installed opening downwards, just slightly below the level of the opening of the hole, which is itself about 6" below the current road level which is to be about the finished level of the drive. Filled round with the local soft sandstone as a broken up mixed fill, rammed hard down with length of 2x4, orange carrier bag, bit of soil, some driveway gravel, and then soil. Just in time for the skip lorry to drive over it do a swap tomorrow!
ASTB
Daniel
Halmyre said:
It looks very good. Someone in the future will dig it up, call the police and the bomb squad will destroy it in a controlled explosion. 
We shall see, I dont think it will look much like a bomb, but one of genuine fears is that if will be found, be in tact and dry inside, but tossed aside as plastic waste! I expect I will never know.Iwantafusca said:
Ah man, couldn't have gone much worse that could it! Not sure who was in charge of planning that, but the bottle is placed opening downwards, with the paper a held a good 2inch off the bottom, and we are right on a sandstone ridge down the middle of the Wirral here so ground water shouldn't be an issue. Daniel
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