Tools at the museum

[john k]

The local historical museum here called me, to come in and identify some tools they had just pulled out of storage.  The last blacksmith in town had donated  quite a few things, and these had been hiding in a plastic tub for several years.   I expected 4-5 things,  and they had covered an entire table.   First there was a 15 inch monkey wrench, and after squinting at the stamp awhile, found the name Bemis & Call.  nice looking perfect handle type.  Then a slightly smaller monkey wrench with a solid steel handle, with P.S.& W., gave the lady a brief history on Pexto for her recrods.  She is writing all this down so she tag things accurately.  A ten inch monkey wrench that will take some buffing to bring up the name, another perfect handle.  Why I didn't take my camera in I don't know.  Several general purpose tongs and some specialty ones, shop made.  One had 35 inch handles.  A beautiful pair of dividers, 15 and 24 inches, they looked like mates.  Figured the bigger pair was for shrinking wagon tires.  Oldest tool was probably the hand made traveler,  wheel type measuring tool for wheel wrights.  Very nice lead pot, or tallow pot, not sure, half pint bucket with bail, inside a quart size with bail, that from the rust was filled with water when being used.  Gorgeous large lead ladel, with a 30 inch handle, shop made.  The museum was given a large collection of wrenches from a local man, and has them well displayed, plus the blacksmith and some other wheelwright equipment, including a small tire roller.   Was a good afternoon.   The lady from the museum is pretty well versed in the trades, and does living history with her spinning wheel and loom. 

[Papaw]

You need to get back over there and get pictures! After the displays are set, almost no museum will let you take pictures.
I am on the board of our local museum and even when I had a display of over 100 wrenches, I had to get my photos before it was opened to the public.
Some will let you shoot without a flash, so learn how to do that if possible.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nhankamer/albums/72157618342388247

[Plyerman]

Sounds like some neat stuff there John.

Naïve question: why don't museum's allow you to take photos? (No museums around here, and I've never been to one, so hence the question)

[Papaw]

Ours says two reasons are current- #1 It is hard to convince people to shoot without flash and flash might damage old paper and textiles. The other is that they really want folks to come to the museum and see the exhibits in person. I often take photos of new exhibits at our museum for news releases and publicity.

Some major museums have been relaxing these restrictions lately.

[Aunt Phil]

Ours says two reasons are current- #1 It is hard to convince people to shoot without flash and flash might damage old paper and textiles. The other is that they really want folks to come to the museum and see the exhibits in person. I often take photos of new exhibits at our museum for news releases and publicity.

Some major museums have been relaxing these restrictions lately.

Parted company with a Hist Society over childish crap like you can't take pictures right after I spent about 15 hours there with a helper free of charge getting some of their brilliant ideas unscrewed.  Funny part was there were 3 Qtip museum misDirectors with their cameras shooting pictures of every move we made, probably so they can publish another book on how WE did this project.

There is no way in hell a flash, particularly on a digital camera is going to harm paper, the Qtips just read museum books that tell them the pile of garage sale didn'tsells must be kept at specific temperature and humidity.  Did they happen to notice the climate control of the barn it sat in for 50 years before they got it?

The pail in pail deal is probably a gluepot from the days of hoof glue.

[Northwoods]

Enforcing the no pic rule in the age of cell phones is like trying to hold back the tide.

[Nolatoolguy]

Sounds like a great afternoon. If pictures are possible I would love to see.

[john k]

Glue pot, right, had a block going there.  Wasn't a sign of glue in it.   I can take pics there,  have suggestions for a better display or their wheelwright tools.  Funny, the tools came from an old farmer, that was one time my neighbor, now I have nearly the same set for my own use.  I think too, the museums just don't want the careless use of flash when others are present.

[turnnut]

 when you are a visitor, it is always right to honor the house rules, whatever their reason for which they posted them.

[Aunt Phil]

when you are a visitor, it is always right to honor the house rules, whatever their reason for which they posted them.

THAT is entirely dependent on how far I traveled to get there, Was I charged an entry fee, and did they inform me of their candya$$ rules in advance.
I've well wearied of being sucked into driving 200 miles to see something to learn it isn't available this week/month/year.  SORRY don't fill the fuel tank.