[Thursday] Easter and QST

Thu Apr 16 08:48:03 MDT 2020

Ken,

Thanks for your insight on it.  I did go and look at a site Len had sent me
earlier, https://www.americanradiohistory.com/QST.htm , and seen that the
first few years aren't in color and then starting in 1920 or 21 they were.
I suppose we'll have to compare the physical publications to the scans to
see if the first few years were purely black and white.  Believe me, I'm
all for being able to hold something in my hands as well and not someone
who simply wants to throw things away.  I think we've just got some hard
choices to make in the coming years so as to both fulfill the museum's
mission and focus our efforts and resources on the most important things we
can.  I saw in the PDF version that you attached that years from around
2010 were available digitally with searchable text.  At a cost of around
$25 per year, that sounds very user-friendly and easier to store.  If I had
only one question, and I suppose it goes to the heart of how much space we
want to commit to preserving these older publications, it would be how many
of these older issues have you read through in the last 5 years.  The time
frame is arbitrary.  Incidentally, Dave and a few others have been
discussing a partnership with some 3rd part enthusiasts who have scanned
decades of this type of thing but are missing some years.  We may be able
to give them our editions so they will be scanned for everyone's benefit.
It's a thought.  I'm hoping to strike a balance between preservation, need,
resources and value.  With everyone's help and insight I'm sure we'll find
it!

I hope we can all start returning on Thursdays soon.  Has anyone been able
to spend any time writing about any artifacts or people?  I'd be interested
to hear and learn myself about what any of you have to share.  I've
continued to visit the museum on either Thursdays or the weekend and have
done some discovery myself with what we have in the office and libraries.
We really have an amazing collection there, it just needs some sorting!

Thanks, and I hope everyone continues to be healthy,

Randy

On Thu, Apr 16, 2020 at 8:57 AM Ken Carr <kb1awv at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Randy,
>
> The ARRL QST archive goes all the way back to the first issue.
> The scans are good but not the very best, especially with the pre-digital
> issues (that is most all of them).
>
> My opinion: There is nothing quite like the actual paper versions of the
> old QST's. The covers on them, especially on the pre-1960's editions,
> are often amazing. If you decide to dispose of them please at least
> consider selling them rather than putting them in a dumpster.
> A spring or early summer Saturday sale at the museum would be a
> nice time to do that.
>
> When we get back together I will bring my computer around and
> you can check out the ARRL archives as you like (I am an ARRL member).
> I have attached a PDF of the front cover for a 1926 QST (1 megabyte file).
> As I remember
> from seeing the real thing at N.E. Steam & Wireless these were all in
> color. The scans at the ARRL are not (I looked at old ones dating back
> to 1915). The scans are also low resolution.
> Nothing like the real thing.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *Ken Carr* ...
> KE1RI, A New England Ham <http://www.idlenot.com>
> Westerly-Pawcatuck AACA <http://www.wpraaca.com>
> N.E. Steam & Wireless Museum <https://www.newsm.org>
>
>
>
> On Sunday, April 12, 2020, 09:17:08 PM EDT, Randall Snow via Thursday <
> thursday at newsm.org> wrote:
>
>
>
> Happy Easter everyone,  I hope it was a good day all around despite the
> current situation.  And of course I hope you and each of your families are
> doing well and avoiding any virus concerns.  With any luck, we'll see the
> end of this in a few weeks and I'll get to see all of your smiling faces
> once again!
>
> I was just on the ARRL website looking to see what the QST archive might
> look like.  Unfortunately I didn't get to look at it as it's a members-only
> benefit.  I was interested to see it just to weigh the value of preserving
> all the printed copies that we have.  QST was the one that came to mind,
> but I'm sure we have a few other similar publications.  With space being at
> a premium, the probability that many of these are archived digitally, and
> the incredibly low occasion that anyone is searching the historic copies,
> I'm thinking that we either archive many of these in bulk, or start
> recycling them.  I'm hoping a few of you have ARRL membership and can give
> me an opinion on how complete and searchable the digital archive is.  The
> same thing could be done with some of the other publications too, I simply
> can't think of the names off hand.  If the archives are nearly complete,
> and easily searchable, I think the answer is pretty simple.
>
> Thanks,
> Randy
> --
> Randy Snow
>
> Snow Findings Company <http://www.snowfindings.com>
> Lovements.com <http://www.lovements.com>
> New England Wireless and Steam Museum <http://www.newsm.org>
>
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-- 
Randy Snow

Snow Findings Company <http://www.snowfindings.com>
Lovements.com <http://www.lovements.com>
New England Wireless and Steam Museum <http://www.newsm.org>
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