Comments on: Great Read: The Museum of Obsolete Technology http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:28:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Laurie http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-412 Laurie Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:35:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-412 Interesting stuff!<br />Best wishes<br />Laurie Interesting stuff!
Best wishes
Laurie

]]> By: Jane http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Jane Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:52:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-411 I think sometimes we give excessive reverence to the original. All works are somewhat derivative of previous works and often the copy requires the same or greater skill (if not vision) than the original. A good copy will bear many if not all of the attractive features of the original. The real risk comes from confusion or deception.<br/>Great blog by the way and provocative post. I think sometimes we give excessive reverence to the original. All works are somewhat derivative of previous works and often the copy requires the same or greater skill (if not vision) than the original. A good copy will bear many if not all of the attractive features of the original. The real risk comes from confusion or deception.
Great blog by the way and provocative post.

]]> By: Genealem http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-410 Genealem Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:16:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-410 You have a great site, and I want to share the Kreativ Blogger Award with you.<br/><br/>You can drop by my writing blog at: http://writingyourmemories.blogspot.com/ to pick it up and the instructions.<br/><br/>Congrats!<br/>Emily You have a great site, and I want to share the Kreativ Blogger Award with you.

You can drop by my writing blog at: http://writingyourmemories.blogspot.com/ to pick it up and the instructions.

Congrats!
Emily

]]> By: chelledge http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-407 chelledge Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:20:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-407 I'm an avid family historian and while that photo my Aunt Joan has of my great-great-great grandfather in his Union Army uniform is great and has that antique aura, the scanned, and "re-mastered" photograph is sharper, cleaner and has better depth. I'd argue that in many if not most cases where a reprint isn't as sharp or pictorially pleasing as the antique original the processor didn't know what he was doing or didn't have the correct tools available to make the copies. There are two completely different standards here - on the one hand the sense of vintage history the original has - on the other the better pure pictorial information a professional restorer can bring out with up-to-date tools. <br/><br/>As for replicas, I think it entirely matters what item is being discussed. I don't even begin to want fragile irreplaceable originals put on display - give me as authentic looking a reproduction as possible. Keep the original safe.<br/><br/>I would only feel cheated if told that a reproduction was the original. I’m an avid family historian and while that photo my Aunt Joan has of my great-great-great grandfather in his Union Army uniform is great and has that antique aura, the scanned, and “re-mastered” photograph is sharper, cleaner and has better depth. I’d argue that in many if not most cases where a reprint isn’t as sharp or pictorially pleasing as the antique original the processor didn’t know what he was doing or didn’t have the correct tools available to make the copies. There are two completely different standards here – on the one hand the sense of vintage history the original has – on the other the better pure pictorial information a professional restorer can bring out with up-to-date tools.

As for replicas, I think it entirely matters what item is being discussed. I don’t even begin to want fragile irreplaceable originals put on display – give me as authentic looking a reproduction as possible. Keep the original safe.

I would only feel cheated if told that a reproduction was the original.

]]> By: king http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-405 king Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:50:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-405 I haven't read the essay just yet, but I am in agreement with most here. I don't mind replicas, and in some circumstances prefer them (hand-held objects for teaching or detail-rich paintings and photos), as long as they are labeled as such and are accurate replicas.<br/><br/>Originals are exciting because they directly tie you to history, it's not just something you read about anymore. I couldn't imagine a museum without them.<br/><br/>Oh, speaking of original photos, I thought you'd get a kick out of a photo I found, most likely of one of your relatives, through the link.<br/><br/>(I might have just posted this comment twice, sorry) I haven’t read the essay just yet, but I am in agreement with most here. I don’t mind replicas, and in some circumstances prefer them (hand-held objects for teaching or detail-rich paintings and photos), as long as they are labeled as such and are accurate replicas.

Originals are exciting because they directly tie you to history, it’s not just something you read about anymore. I couldn’t imagine a museum without them.

Oh, speaking of original photos, I thought you’d get a kick out of a photo I found, most likely of one of your relatives, through the link.

(I might have just posted this comment twice, sorry)

]]> By: Amy http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-404 Amy Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:39:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-404 I am so glad you mentioned that book! I bought that goodie a few years ago and loved it from beginning to end. I think anyone who works in history in any capacity whatever should give it a read.<br/><br/>And in short answer to but one of your interesting questions, I feel fine about replicas, as long as, and only as long as I am told they are replicas from the start. I fully appreciate the need to keep some irreplaceable artifacts in carefully-controlled environments. In such cases, I believe displaying replicas--cited as such--is perfectly acceptable.<br/><br/>Cheers! I rec'd your great blog at my own genealogy site. I am so glad you mentioned that book! I bought that goodie a few years ago and loved it from beginning to end. I think anyone who works in history in any capacity whatever should give it a read.

And in short answer to but one of your interesting questions, I feel fine about replicas, as long as, and only as long as I am told they are replicas from the start. I fully appreciate the need to keep some irreplaceable artifacts in carefully-controlled environments. In such cases, I believe displaying replicas–cited as such–is perfectly acceptable.

Cheers! I rec’d your great blog at my own genealogy site.

]]> By: Msteri http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-403 Msteri Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:45:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-403 You have been tagged at http://heritagehappens.blogspot.com/2008/11/tagged-again.html<br/><br/>Love your blog!<br/><br/>Msteri You have been tagged at http://heritagehappens.blogspot.com/2008/11/tagged-again.html

Love your blog!

Msteri

]]> By: In The Ohio http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-400 In The Ohio Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:53:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-400 I think that replicas would be great as long as they were advertized as such. This would give educational opportunities to more people at a more affordable cost.(Though there is no substitute for the King Tut, Ramsees, or Terra Cotta Army that I've seen) <br/>Creating them using the same tools would afford people again, a greater educational opportunity, since video could be produced showing the creation. <br/>As far as family Photograghs are concerned, Copies are wonderful, but it is nice to have a few originals. But copies afford all family members the opportunity to appreciate and remember their ancestors. I think that replicas would be great as long as they were advertized as such. This would give educational opportunities to more people at a more affordable cost.(Though there is no substitute for the King Tut, Ramsees, or Terra Cotta Army that I’ve seen)
Creating them using the same tools would afford people again, a greater educational opportunity, since video could be produced showing the creation.
As far as family Photograghs are concerned, Copies are wonderful, but it is nice to have a few originals. But copies afford all family members the opportunity to appreciate and remember their ancestors.

]]> By: Frank DeFreitas http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Frank DeFreitas Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:01:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-398 A recent project was to record Civil War artifacts as 3-dimensional holograms (to be sent on tour to rural areas, far from urban museums). Many thought of the resulting holograms as "replicas", and stated that they would prefer to view the actual artifacts.<br/><br/>However, for all practical purposes (at least as far as the physics of light is concerned), these holographic Civial War artifacts ARE the originals.<br/><br/>As with many aspects of holography, some concepts are a bit difficult to both explain and comprehend.<br/><br/>I guess a good way to put it (and I've just thought of this, so thank you) is that holography <b>clones</b> the objects being recorded (via laser light). A recent project was to record Civil War artifacts as 3-dimensional holograms (to be sent on tour to rural areas, far from urban museums). Many thought of the resulting holograms as “replicas”, and stated that they would prefer to view the actual artifacts.

However, for all practical purposes (at least as far as the physics of light is concerned), these holographic Civial War artifacts ARE the originals.

As with many aspects of holography, some concepts are a bit difficult to both explain and comprehend.

I guess a good way to put it (and I’ve just thought of this, so thank you) is that holography clones the objects being recorded (via laser light).

]]> By: Apple http://practicalarchivist.com/museum-of-obsolete-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Apple Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:08:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/great-read-the-museum-of-obsolete-technology/#comment-397 Replicas are OK with me. I like to see the way things worked and many old things no longer do or can't be handled. As for photographs, the "old" photos I display are all copies, the originals stored away. Replicas are OK with me. I like to see the way things worked and many old things no longer do or can’t be handled. As for photographs, the “old” photos I display are all copies, the originals stored away.

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