Provenance

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Just read the BBC account of a message in a bottle discovered in a lighthouse in Gallway.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje0x5j7wgjo

Written by the team installing the new lamp it lists their names and the names of the keepers and some details of the lighthouse.

Can I encourage you all to do something similar with your models and clocks in the form of makers plates and other details.

An old friend made a table clock using wood from an ancient mulberry tree from the garden of a large house in his village. I persuaded him to write details of the source of the wood and his name and who he was and slip it into the case.
At SMEE we often acquire old models and finding out details of their provenance hugely increases their interest.

Easy to do and often overlooked so think of your descendants and ‘sign’ your work.

regards Martin

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Yes, I agree ! The little snippets of information show who we were, what we did, how and with what or from where ! May seem of little consequence now but in 100 years or more this info to historians and the like will be invaluable. I’m lucky enough to have the first 3 volumes of ME, they are fascinating to read. Most of the technology we take for granted was in it’s infancy, or not even thought of.   Noel.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

We should document what we have done.

In the future, books by folk like Sparey, Ian Bradley, Stan Bray and Harold Hall on basic machine operation will be invaluabnle, because so many “handle twirlers” will have passed on and their personal knowledge lost for ever, and the bnooks will be almost the only source.

Recently, I have been contacted by a local charity (Akin to a men’s Shed, but open to anyone) who expect to be gifted a lathe and tooling. My pal and I look forward to being able to pass on skills and knowledge to folk who will use them and hopefully pass further down the line, to keep the skills pool fluid.

Howard

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Nobody will be using handwheels by then. All CNC or printed metal😁

I do sign & date mine where they are not seen as I’m not keen on metal name plates

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Well, my team and I only just finished cutting a lighthouse off at sea bed level on November 1st and I can confirm that no such message was hidden within that walls of that particular one. It was only installed in 1970 though so probably the practice had died out by then.

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