[Milsurplus] Re: [ARC5] Smithsonian

[Edward J White]

Look what the Ford Museum did several years ago they sold off a lot of 
the spark equipment that had a lot of history to the highest bidder. A 
lot went to over seas collectors. Yes donate is better than give to them 
But make sure that your will has a care taker paragraph so the next of 
kin /best friend knows what to do with it and knows to put a care taker 
paragraph in his will.
Ed
WA3BZT


J Forster wrote:
> I've heard tales about items being donated to various museums and the stuff
> later being sold off when taste and fashion changes. There were even some
> suggestions on a list (maybe here) that items be lent, rather than donated,
> to prevent this happening.
>
> In fact, that just happened at a  local  museum for a large corporation,
> when a new VP came in from the west coast. She said, and I quote, "We don't
> care about the past, only about the future" and tossed out many of the
> artifacts in the collection.
>
> My question was more directed at the obscure systems and things that do not
> fit into the Smithsonian collections.  Do they, for example, have at least a
> representative sample of all the different radio sets used in WW II ?
>
> For example, one could logically conclude that some of their WW II aircraft
> might have APN-1s (Radio Altimeters) on board, but would they also collect
> the Test Sets for it? Or the manuals for the test sets?
>
> Thanks,
> -John
>
>
>
> gordon white wrote:
>
>   
>>     As the guy who gave the Smithsonian 4,000 + pieces of ARC-5 and
>> associated  equipment in 1983, I can say categorically that they do not
>> "dump stuff they own that is not of current interest"   I am now the
>> Smithsonian's Auto Racing Advisor, and I was responsible for the trade
>> of a cobbled up Mercedes for an American 1928 Miller front drive,
>> supercharged Indianapolis racing car.  It took approvals all the way up
>> to the Board of Regents (The Chief Justice, the Vice President, etc.) to
>> take out the Mercedes which was never going to be exhibited.
>>
>>     Most responsible museums, especially the Smithsonian, do not "dump
>> stuff" even if maybe they should.
>>
>> There may be things that are not accepted as museum objects that are
>> gotten rid of, but not accessioned objects. Display aids, etc.
>>
>> The Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum uses the ARC-5, ARA/ATA,
>> SCR-274-N, etc. equipment to outfit restored aircraft, as individual
>> exhibits,for research, etc.  I can say that unequivocally
>>
>> - Gordon White
>>     
>
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