Greetings Everyone:
Yes, there are many solutions to the ink pad and
zip-lock baggie dilema! Personally, the oldest
letterboxs that I have ever been to (Misery loves co.
an Elaine and Jerry's Bluff)were contained in a wide
mouth screw-top Nalgene Bottle which included the
following items: 1 original store bought stamp, 1
original 1"x1" stamp pad (the kind you can get at A.C.
Moore or Micheals crafts for about $1), 1 original
weatherproof logbook (I have seen some 3x5 bound index
cards in a similar box), 1 pen, and 1 "what is
letterboxing" leaflet.
My point is this: In any of the circumstances
where I have found a letterbox of similar description,
I have never found any "moisture" in the letterbox,
never a leaky ink pad, never a runny pen... granted
the weatherproof logbooks don't work that great,but,
the index cards were a good improvement. I never found
excessive insects in the box, a mauled or chewed
letterbox...
MAybe, just maybe the people who brought this
hobby (sport) over from England, when they set it up,
they may have done it this way for a purpose... it
seems that only recently, with all of our
"improvements" has there been any complaint of fouled
boxes. I've been giving serious thought as to whether
or not I should change from the "seal-tite" rubbermaid
boxes back to the screw tops... If I recieve any
complaints about the above listed problems, than I
might just do that.. but untill then I will include an
ink pad, and a pen, and at the very least a hand
written "what is letterboxing" in the logbook... never
know when you might throw together a new box in the
field from a repair kit.... I've started carrying
carving medium and my speedball with me!!!

These are just some ideas and reflections on my part.

Many boxes to you!!


Chip

=====
"The memories of a man in his old age,
are the deeds of a man in his prime."

R. Waters 1968

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My thoughts on the inkpad and container debate:

1) In about 50 boxes, I have never come across a box with a dried-out
inkpad. As long as the box was intact, so was the inkpad.

2) The 1" square inkpads work great for all size stamps. The cost is
negligible. ($1.00 to $1.50.)

3) Some people prefer to put inkpads in with the box because they
have expended great care in carving the stamp and choose to have a
complimentary-colored inkpad to accompany their artwork.

4) DON'T "CHEAP-OUT" ON CONTAINERS. Whether you plant just 1 box in
your lifetime or 300 boxes, you've taken much time and trouble to
share this act of kindness with many grateful people. MAKE YOUR BOXES
LONG-LASTING. USE GOOD MATERIALS. Two of the best systems I have come
across were: John Rovetto's "Rubbermaid-inside-a-Rubbermaid" system.
Both good-quality containers with the smaller fitting perfectly
inside the next size up. And just for good measure, everything inside
was Ziplock freezer bagged. Also easily affordable. The other good
system I like is the wide-mouth Nalgene bottles; they're a bit
pricier, however, but really nice and watertight.

5) Attention newbies: Gladware SUCKS. It's light, flimsy, cracks
easily and leaks if you so much as breathe on it. Enough said.

6) I fully understand individual choice and rationale for not wanting
to include an inkpad in your letterbox. I, however, will probably
always include an inkpad because I feel it makes the box a
more "complete package" and accommodating to the finder.

-Valerie