[Milsurplus] Smithsonian

[Ralph Hogan]

John,

Just a quick summary of my own experience with museums. I've loaned some of
my items out to a local veterans war museum here in Huntsville. I'd say
their specialty is WW  II vehicles but a good general display of period
items as well. We managed it with a standard signed inventory list form for
items on loan. They do this all the time. If you consider doing this just be
aware that they don't take on any liability for the items on loan. 

Originally they only had two radios, a BC348 and a BC611 on display. So I
helped them out to broaden their displays. Mostly some of the more popular
items that someone may actually recognize. I feel good in that these items
have a much broader audience than sitting here at home. Also makes more room
here for goodies..LOL... In this instance, they were very concerned about
people getting their hands on the equipment and breaking it. Didn't want
anyone turning knobs and flipping switches. A good concern on my part too.
The only functional display is a pair of field phones strung up across the
building.

Their lack of space in general and glass display cases limits how much they
can securely display. They would have very little interest in manuals or
test boxes. First due to space and second appeal. I know that 'we' would
want to see those items but they have limited appeal to the general public
which in the end is their 'customer'. Now if the museum were of an
electronic communications venue, then these maintenance/repair items would
be of more interest.


Ralph W4XE / AAT4UU
Milsurplus List Administrator
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus






-----Original Message-----
From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of J Forster
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 9:37 PM
To: gordon white
Cc: arc5 at mailman.qth.net; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Milsurplus] Re: [ARC5] Smithsonian

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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