SCAN START
As reported in 'Omnibus' no.167, John Rollings has made a considerable effort in recent months pursuing a grant for equipment to scan the Museum's archive of technical drawings, so that they can be recorded in electronic format. They will thus be more accessible, since very many drawings can be stored on a few CDs, which is much easier than a roomful of drawing cabinets. In the last edition, we mentioned very briefly that a suitable scanner had been obtained. John rather modestly claims that there is little to report yet. However, as a draughtsman, I can assure readers that dealing with four hundred drawings - most probably either 53inch x 30inch, or 30inch x 20inch sheets of waxed linen, rather than A0 or A1 polyester film that would have been used for layout drawings in more recent times - is, if nothing else, quite a substantial exercise. More next time. Editor
At the present time there is very little to report. We have so far scanned all the drawings found so far for the all the Birmingham "standards", which run from the Daimler CVA6s to the last of the Guy Arabs. This is in the region of around four hundred drawings. At present I am scanning drawings I have already catalogued, and principally of those vehicles that are in the BaMMOT collection.
I intend from then on both scan and catalogue concurrently, concentrating firstly on vehicles known to exist in preservation. What should prove particularly interesting is when we come to scan the Tender drawings, as this may show up surprises of "might have been" projects that were never built.
John Rollings
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
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