[GreenKeys] Museum Problems

[George B. Hutchison]

GreenKeyers - - -

It appears that the museum and TTY preservation problems are going to 
increase a bit.

The passing of John Sheetz is a significant blow to our little community in 
that a significant resource as to the history of Bell Labs activities 
regarding TTY is gone.

John had an incredible collection of picture tapes that was apparently 
extremely well-organized and preserved. I conversed with him several times 
and he stated that he kept them in cannisters similar to film cans.

Additionally, his machine collection consisted of some very unique "raries", 
including a model 28 braille tape machine, one of perhaps three or four that 
were ever built, and I believe that Ray Morrison, W9GRW, had some hand in 
the creation of those units.

If anyone on GreenKeys was close to the Sheetz family, I believe that after 
an appropriate length of time an inquiry as to the disposition of such 
things should be undertaken, with the thought of preserving a very fine 
array of TTY gear. It would be criminal if events found them ending up being 
made into reinforcing steel or Toyotas.

It is sad that there is not a great amount of enthusiasm for or interest in 
the relics of yesteryear. Model T Ford spark coils, knob and tube house 
wiring, steam whistles and baby buggies played a big part in America's 
history. Nowadays there's little interest if it isn't an X-Box or an 
evil-empire alien zapping game, and to paraphrase Baby Bob in the latest 
Quiznos commercials, "Somehow that just seems wrong".

Maybe Jack Hart will be able to shed some light, as I believe he and John 
talked once in a while, and would know more about John's wishes.

73,

George, W7TTY
W7TTY at readysetsurf.com