Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting task

The indexing applications are working well. Now we need to speed up the indexing as the sooner it is completed the sooner it can benefit engine restorers. There are 89,000+ drawings of which just over 3% have been indexed. The exact extent of the coverage is not yet known but there are drawings for : Petter (inc. McClaren), Vickers-Petter, Fowler, Atlantic, and Fielding.

The drawings can actively help restorations and are the first priority as is confirmed by the enquiries I had walking around at Enstone. The drawings also provide a good lead into the more complex engine records which require a greater in-depth knowledge. As progress permits the next priority will be the engine records covering dating that cannot be provided by either David Edgington or Jim Perkins.

If you would like to volunteer please contact me as I'll be supporting you. (Paul is seemingly busy running a museum .
You can work at your own pace and times to suit you and it is an enjoyable voyage of discovery. Even my wife agrees!

You will need to install a TIFF plugin as is also needed to view the images. For Windows this is covered by a "help" item, For Macs Google should find you a suitable plugin. (If someone has already used one please post a link - thanks). Please take a moment to read the "about" and "Indexing help" items under the archive Help menu.

My mind is still boggling at a drawing of a part needed to convert a VJ to four-stroke!! ...and if anyone indexes VJ governor or bearing parts Paul would like to know.

Thanks
Roland - roland@petternut.co.uk

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Roland:

I'd like to look at some of the images but it is more or less painful to do so, having to reload Acrobat for each viewing.

When I'm supposed to get the image directly, I get the message that I have to download and install a plug-in. When I download the plug-in, it still doesn't work. It looks like I need a plugin to be able to display a .tiff file directly on my browser (firefox).

Do you or anyone else have a solution?

Thank you in advance.

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Elden I'm using Firefox 16.0.2 and the plugin referenced in the help menu which can also be found here: http://www.alternatiff.com/
Its working fine for me.

HTH
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Roland:

WOW! That was fast! I just installed the plug-in and checked the viewer. It works a dream.

Thanks!

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

You were just lucky Forgot to mention that the Cub drawings are in there too.

cheers
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Hi Roland,

I would like to give a hand, but might not be able to until after Christmas, off on a course for a bit so rather busy with that. But more willing to help out after that if thats ok?

Cheers Steve

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Roland,
after much faffing about I have managed to download the TIFF file that you recomended but had to use Firefox, IE wouldnt work, so I would like to try and give you a hand with the indexing.
Charles

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Charles
You have a PM. All help is very much appreciated and its a splendid task for this time of year. Instead of a cold damp shed or workshop you can sit in warmth and comfort with the beverage of your choice soaking up history .

Many thanks to the indexing volunteers whose efforts mean we are now more than 6% through the drawings.

Merry Christmas
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

The indexing volunteers have been busy over the hols. Over 7000 drawings have been indexed and one volunteer completed an entire reel.
Still 82000 to go so more volunteers would be welcome.

Thanks to you all
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Hi Roland,
Please can you explain a little more on what this entails?

Do volunteers need to be able to receive a parcel of stuff, or can it be done entirely by email?
If by email what sizes are we talking about to make it worthwhile?

I'm working away, out of the country (Antarctica) but do have free time, which I don't when at home!

Cheers,
Greenstuff

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Hello Greenstuff in the whitestuff
I'll reply on-forum since it may be of wider interest.
It can all be done over the Internet anywhere you have access.
The only software you need is the Alternatiff plugin which is referenced in the archive help. The task is adding key data to images.
To see for yourself follow the link from the news item and once you have access take a look at reel 4D. The data alongside the drawing image is what has been added by indexers.
I must warn that it is addictive One volunteer who started just before Christmas is close to 1000 drawings indexed!

Please PM me if you need further info. or would like to volunteer.

cheers
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

I had difficulty finding a plug-in. I am using Ubuntu 12.04, and found in Synaptic Package Manager a package called "mozplugger" which when installed enabled me to access the data. It allows external viewers to be launched inside Mozilla. It works ok for me though it's a but "clunky". I'll keep looking to see if there's a more suitable way of accessing the data and post if I find anything.

Ian

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

More than 9000 drawings indexed so more than 10%. A magnificent team effort

Thanks from all at The Museum

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

This weather is proving beneficial for the indexing if nothing else Nearing 12000 drawings indexed with one volunteer close to 2000. Some fascinating stuff emerging.
How would the volunteers feel about the stats being open to all volunteers? These show who is volunteering and their personal count together with the totals of drawings and engine records indexed. It might add spice to the family contest and the one featuring four Yorkshiremen;-)
Please PM me your views for or against.

Still room for more volunteers

thanks
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Clearly there are no strong feelings about the stats so they will go into the Help section in a day or two.

cheers
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Progress continues at a good rate with over 15000 drawings (nudging 17%) indexed. Several new engine types have emerged including an Irish motorbike.

As always more volunteers are needed so that we can get the drawings finished and move on to the engine records. Anyone locating their own engines, please I beg you, let me have the reel and image ID so that they can be indexed. This will help to build up a skeleton index. If David Edgington has given you an order number let me have it so I can find/index your engine's records.
Any Atlantic marine engine owners out there?.

thanks
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Continued progress with nearly 18000 drawings (20%) done with further useful drawings emerging.
On a personal note having had a set of S type oil drain pot castings for several years I was very pleased to see the set of drawings for all its components and the assembly drawings.

Many of the Petter parts are called something completely different to what we now call them. If you need searching help please PM me.

Once again thanks to the dedicated volunteers.
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Another huge step forward in the indexing of the drawings and we are now over 30% done and have nearly 27000 covering well over 450 engine types including some new and perhaps never put into production.
Brush is near complete and the majority of Fowler and Atlantic too. Anyone fancy taking on Fielding?

Once again massive thanks to the volunteers

Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

Have any of the archive rummagers come across a reel with order numbers prefixed T.O. ?
If anyone does please let me know as they must be in there somewhere, propbably shoved in as a reel filler.

thanks
Roland

 

Re: Petter Archive, indexing volunteers needed for exciting

why would anyone volunteer when your so rude if you nice maybe ppl would but you anit