INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY

Series One: The Boulton & Watt Archive and the Matthew Boulton Papers

from Birmingham Central Library

Part 11: Engineering Drawings, c1801-1865

Technical Note

Our microfilm publications have been prepared and produced in accordance with recommended and established guide-lines for the production of microform of superior quality. These conform to the recommendations of the standard guides to good microforming and micropublishing practice.

Attention should be drawn to the nature of the original material. The material consists of portfolios of engineering drawings and related material spanning the period c1801-1865. Most of the material is in very good condition. A few manuscript items contain some faintly legible text written with a variety of inks, pens or pencils. A few items are stained or discoloured at the edges, or comprise material on very thin paper, which is so thin that there is show through that renders the original document difficult to read.

These original characteristics present difficulties of image and contrast which stringent tests and camera alterations cannot entirely overcome. Every effort has been made to minimise these difficulties. An A4 identification target is filmed at the front of every new section of material to denote the type of engineering drawings eg: Crank Engines, Dock & Harbour Engines, Side-Lever Type or Mint Engines. There are also additional A4 identification targets for regions and locations (as per the contents of reels listing). In front of each new portfolio an A4 identification target is filmed to give the portfolio reference number of that item.

The staff of Bell & Howell Ltd, Micromedia Division have exercised the most responsible care in the filming of this unique collection at the Central Library in Birmingham and this microfilm publication meets the standards established by the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as well as all current European standards.

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