Royal Museums Greenwich : HMS Belfast Plans 1938

[mitch]

Just received an email from above, which includes the following:

Collections focus � ship plans of HMS Belfast (1938)

44 newly digitised ship plans of Royal Navy cruiser HMS Belfast are now available online. These ultra high-resolution images were scanned directly from original plans held in the Museum's plans archive.

The National Maritime Museum looks after the largest single collection of original ships plans in the world, dating from the early 18th century to the present day. It is a unique and authentic primary source for both the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy.

Contains the following taster link:

http://images.rmg.co.uk/?service=set&ac ... 7&ref=news

[EJFoeth]

Thanks for the heads up, these plans look quite nice. I hope they keep on scanning...

[Bill Jurens]

Great! How do you download the hi-res images?

Bill Jurens

[Cliffy B]

Do you have to register/log in to download or is downloading prohibited?

[EJFoeth]

It's a British Museum, hence, everything will cost you disproportionately.

[rtwpsom2]

I bit the bullet and asked for a download quote for personal use. I will update once they have gotten back to me.

[rtwpsom2]

Got word from Greenwich today, they asked me to confirm how I would be using them and I replied that they would be for personal use as a reference for building a model. They returned with the following.

We charge �40+VAT per high res. jpeg for up to four then it goes down to �30+VAT each for up to nine then they�re �20+VAT each if you order ten or more.

So 44 drawings at �20 apiece is �880 + �176 VAT (or 20%) that comes to �1056 or $1698. A little to rich for my blood.

[EJFoeth]

Well, so much for supply & demand; even more expensive than the normal copies.

[Russ2146]

Going to the Museum's primary website, I discovered that one of the Museum's prime objectives is The Museum's objectives are to spread the benefits of these assets by:
maximizing access and inspiration for all users

The fee charged for a set of these plans does not seem to be in keeping with that objective.

[wefalck]

The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich is not a 'royal' museum, which perhaps is part of the the problem. If I am not mistaken, much of the ground in Greenwich belongs to a trust that has the purpose of making money. The NMM only has a long-term lease in the buildings with which it is commonly associated with. In consequence, they have to pay their annual rent. This is one problem. The other problem is that (interestingly) the conservative government under Maggie Thather and then John Major decided to drastically cut the public funding of cultural institutions, even for those whose task seemingly is to preserve national heritage. I never really understood their motives. Anyway, the NMM, as other museums, has struggled since the late 1980s to make ends meet and in consequence charges dearly for services to the public that in the past were done against almost a nominal fee only.

wefalck

[Guest]

The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich is not a 'royal' museum, which perhaps is part of the the problem. If I am not mistaken, much of the ground in Greenwich belongs to a trust that has the purpose of making money. The NMM only has a long-term lease in the buildings with which it is commonly associated with. In consequence, they have to pay their annual rent. This is one problem. The other problem is that (interestingly) the conservative government under Maggie Thather and then John Major decided to drastically cut the public funding of cultural institutions, even for those whose task seemingly is to preserve national heritage. I never really understood their motives. Anyway, the NMM, as other museums, has struggled since the late 1980s to make ends meet and in consequence charges dearly for services to the public that in the past were done against almost a nominal fee only.

wefalck

It is quite interesting France can provide free access by Internet to yard plans in their archives and Great Britain can not. Maybe the French can't count money? Or they are more far-seeing and care more for their heritage. The English were considered as "Nation of shopkeepers" by
other's unfavourable and envious opinions during British Empire. Maybe they were right :-)

Regards Miroslaw

[wefalck]

As always, there are two sides to each coin. The UK has been rather successful in the 1980s in curbing public spending and, thus, public debt, while France is still struggling with this point. While it is rather difficult to axe jobs of civil servants ('functionnaires'), it doesn't mean they are particularly service minded. The British gain on this point. The French are rather proud of their history and like to tell about it (particularly as they lost their Imperial dreams a lot earlier than Britain), while the British still seem to take it for granted (though the loss of the Empire has not dawned on everyone yet). There are also different attitudes to cultural heritage in general. France has had e.g. a Service historique des Monuments of the state since the mid-19th century (Prosper Merim�e, the author of the libretto to the opera CARMEN, was one of the first one in charge of it). In the UK e.g. the National Trust is a charity that existed since the end of the 19th century.

I can see good and bad points in both systems. However, it is a pity that in the UK the hurdles to use the national heritage are set so high in some places.

wefalck

[Guest]

I can see good and bad points in both systems. However, it is a pity that in the UK the hurdles to use the national heritage are set so high in some places.

wefalck

And result is we have lived long enough to see quite fundamental books about Royal Navy Cruisers and Destroyers WRITTEN BY YANKEE!!!!
(Mr. Friedman). Very welcome and good but lacking the "smell" of "old good times" of this British authors. Shame. O tempora o mores!

Regards Miroslaw

[steviecee]

Ahh! The yankees saved the British bacon again (or was that kippers)

[codythecatt]

no ...

... that would be rashers! (or maybe even "bollocks" as Gordon likes to say)

They have probably jacked their prices up to pay for that ill-conceived, horrible, nasty, foul mess they made of what used to be a national treasure: the Cutty Sark!

A bloomin' video arcade in the hold?

Bloody awful shame.

[wefalck]

I agree with your sentiments concerning the 'transformation' of the CUTTY SARK, but in this case the NMM is innocent. The CUTTY SARK is owned by a trust that has nothing to do (economically) with the NMM.

wefalck

[Laurence Batchelor]

Remember if it wasn't for the NMM these plans would have been destroyed in 50-60-70s. They took them into their possession when other institutions wouldn't.

I still would prefer it if they would transfer them to the PRO then repro costs might come down.

Regards
LB