ABOUT OUR RESTORATION SERVICES

Preserve Your Past was founded in 2002 by Sebastian Wintermute with the goal of providing to all those interested in preservation of visual history an opportunity to restore and to preserve photographs, images and documents that otherwise would literally fade away with years.

Two smiling aviation pioneers stand in front of an airplane made of canvas and wood, posing for a handshake with a local mayor. Apollo 8 spaceship surges into the sky amid fire and smoke. A few lines of faded handwriting on a worn-out paper declare that a man was honorably discharged from the Union Army for which he volunteered in1862 at the age of 15.

Those photographs and documents were brought in to be restored by the local residents, others were sent in from as far away as Hawaii. Many were lovingly kept in family albums, passed from one generation to the next. Others were found in dusty attics and dirty basements. However, all of them contain great personal value as well as a visual history of people, their families and the country as a whole.

Sebastian understand and appreciates the sentimental value of family albums and heirlooms.Whether your treasures were signed by presidents of the United States or high school principals, they will get the attention they need and the care they deserve at Preserve Your Past. Neglected treasures, discovered in dusty attics and damp basements, may have great historical, as well personal value, restoration will increase their worth.

Because of Sebastian's expertise, high quality of work and meticulous attention to detail Preserve Your Past has been entrusted to restore and to preserve photographs and documents not only by individual clients nation wide, but also by some of the most prestigious and well known companies and organizations making Preserve Your Past one of the leading restoration boutique in the country. The list of some of the former and present clients includes:

• Maurice Vallency Inc.
• Metropolitan Club of New York
• New York Racquet and Tennis Club
• New York Fencers Club
• Masonic Lodge of New York
• Belle Harbor Yacht Club
• The Sharps Rifle Company

         and many other renown companies and institutions

Sebastian Wintertmute - the founder and overall guy-in-charge of Preserve Your Past, while growing up preferred spending time at museums and galleries to doing school homework and hanging around archeological digs to going to a summer camp.

After coming to New York City, as generations of immigrants before him, he settled in on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a neighborhood for centuries known for cheap rent, diversity of cultures, languages and vibrant creative life. Unfortunately he soon discovered that it had since evolved from an immigrant haven to an overpriced slum for pretentious hipsters and wannabes.

With dreams of following his childhood heroes "Lucky" Luciano and Meyer Lansky dashed (he failed the written test of "Leave No Thug Behind" program sponsored by the Bowery Boys), Sebastian found himself in small studio on Stanton Street trying to make a living by helping people preserve their visual heritage.

Sebastian Wintermute knowledge of art, photography and restoration techniques made him a true expert in the field of photo restoration, while his deep knowledge and passion for history often turned seemingly simple restoration project into a fascinating journeys of discovery of forgotten names, places and events.