Via Gellia/ Matlock mines book published by PDMHS? Any update?
- Thread starter Brains
- Start date
History Trog
Member
Thank you for your interest: the only reward that I will get is the appreciation of other people for the book. Am doing my best with it. Last September I started doing the diagrams, having to draw them by hand because they are far too complex for me to manage on a computer. The worst area maps take up to 40 hours each.
Started with those for the Cromford - Ball Eye area - Wapping area (Chapter 4). Have now reached those for Chapter 10 (Seven Rakes). The previous Masson chapter 9 required 8 diagrams alone. The maps should be sensational for anyone really interested in the subject. Large areas of workings (and hundreds of thousands of tons of fluorspar) have been missed by previous generations.
Unfortunately, my very active days are over and I shall just have to hand over to others now. Am drawing all the maps on A3 sheets altho' this cramps some a bit. I have only got an A4 scanner but a friend (yes, you Andrew Hall) has an A3 one and has kindly offered to help. Getting on for 40 diagrams in all. The editor says it will cost £100 a piece to have fold out maps - I have offered to fund that myself and have agreed to help fund the publication. Such works are simply not commercial and I will just be very grateful to PDMHS and the editor and team to get it sorted while I am still on the right side of the daisies.
I understand publication is towards the end of the year but I am not sure if I can manage my end for that schedule. Have still got to sort out illustrations with Lynn Willies and sort out copyrights, some of which are going to be problematic. Since Trevor Ford told me in 1978 to do it as a PhD, the whole project has been round my neck like the ancient mariner's albatross.
Started with those for the Cromford - Ball Eye area - Wapping area (Chapter 4). Have now reached those for Chapter 10 (Seven Rakes). The previous Masson chapter 9 required 8 diagrams alone. The maps should be sensational for anyone really interested in the subject. Large areas of workings (and hundreds of thousands of tons of fluorspar) have been missed by previous generations.
Unfortunately, my very active days are over and I shall just have to hand over to others now. Am drawing all the maps on A3 sheets altho' this cramps some a bit. I have only got an A4 scanner but a friend (yes, you Andrew Hall) has an A3 one and has kindly offered to help. Getting on for 40 diagrams in all. The editor says it will cost £100 a piece to have fold out maps - I have offered to fund that myself and have agreed to help fund the publication. Such works are simply not commercial and I will just be very grateful to PDMHS and the editor and team to get it sorted while I am still on the right side of the daisies.
I understand publication is towards the end of the year but I am not sure if I can manage my end for that schedule. Have still got to sort out illustrations with Lynn Willies and sort out copyrights, some of which are going to be problematic. Since Trevor Ford told me in 1978 to do it as a PhD, the whole project has been round my neck like the ancient mariner's albatross.
pwhole
Well-known member
Roger
We included one fold-out survey of the Masson system in that double-issue I edited and laid out last year, and I don't remember any mention of excessive cost in that area, nor any problems in integrating into the (normally-A4) binding, though to be fair I didn't really liaise with the printer. But that sounds a bit odd financially - maybe drop me a line separately about it so we don't bore the forum with technical details?
Phil W.
We included one fold-out survey of the Masson system in that double-issue I edited and laid out last year, and I don't remember any mention of excessive cost in that area, nor any problems in integrating into the (normally-A4) binding, though to be fair I didn't really liaise with the printer. But that sounds a bit odd financially - maybe drop me a line separately about it so we don't bore the forum with technical details?
Phil W.
AR
Well-known member
I recall the additional cost of the fold-out Masson survey getting discussed in PDMHS council and it wasn't a large amount (can't remember offhand the actual sum), otherwise we wouldn't have done it.
The next issue of Mining History would normally be going out at the beginning of October along with the newsletter, otherwise the next issue after that would be April 2025. Unfortunately I missed the last council meeting so wasn't there to hear the editor's update.
The next issue of Mining History would normally be going out at the beginning of October along with the newsletter, otherwise the next issue after that would be April 2025. Unfortunately I missed the last council meeting so wasn't there to hear the editor's update.
pwhole
Well-known member
I'm always happy to help here, time/work permitting - certainly in preparing maps/drawings/photos for publication. To be honest, I still (personally) think this should be a book rather than an issue of Mining History, but appreciate that will cost more to produce. When me and Jim Rieuwerts put The Castleton Mines book together he managed to get some funding from 'someone' to help with the cost of production, which was very welcome - though I now can't remember who that was. It might be worth approaching some rich people or organisations with cash to spare - there's still plenty of both around, despite appearances!
History Trog
Member
Thank you for the offers Phil but I think we are too far down the line now to be talking of changing horses. The editor, Richard Shaw, must have already put in much work on this, and so have other PDMHS types such as Lynn Willies and Noel Worley. Providing that PDMHS wish to proceed with it, then I shall do so with them. However, it is not to go online as a free download as bulletins normally do.
I have just had enough of all the trouble that this project has made for me and wish to bring it to an acceptable conclusion. Am plodding on with it - will be finishing off the diagram of the section along Seven Rakes this afternoon!
I have just had enough of all the trouble that this project has made for me and wish to bring it to an acceptable conclusion. Am plodding on with it - will be finishing off the diagram of the section along Seven Rakes this afternoon!
AR
Well-known member
PDMHS won't be taking pre-orders if it's published as a double issue of Mining History as intended, but there'll likely be a larger than usual print run to cover the extra demand from non-members. There's also the possibility of small run reprints if demand exceeds supply, I recall we did some extras of the Longcliffe issue when we ran out and there were TSG members wanting copies.
