Bulletin Article - March 2008

PROGRESS IN THE MUSEUM CELLARS...With Your Help?

by Don Wallace

On November 7, 2007, an Eagle Scout candidate began updating the registry of our tool collections in the Museum Cellars.Graeme Lawes, of Troop 65 in Haddonfield, headquartered in the Methodist Church, is a senior at Haddonfield Memorial High School, planning to major in Computer Science in college. Eagle Scout rules require him to complete this project by his 18th birthday which fell on January 27, 2008.

In preparation for Graeme's work, we had culled the tool donations of recent years in order to open our aisles and reduce the huge number of tools in the collection to the bare essentials.This, of course, represents my current opinion, but believe me, this Scotchman gave nothing of value away. Therefore, we made no money and almost nothing was“sold off.”

A stab at E-bay last year netted the agent $19.00. Because it was below her minimum payout, there was nothing leftover for us! And the rest of the debris was donated to the 65 Club of Haddonfield for their annual booth in the Lion's Club Flea Market. The Club's entire take that day was hardly worth mentioning!In a quid pro quo, the65 Club donated boxwood greens to the Historical Society's Holly Festival.

Graeme worked one afternoon a week (Wednesdays 3 - 5pm) and five hours on Saturdays (10 - 3pm).Volunteer monitors were requiredby the Boy Scouts of America to be present at these hours in Greenfield Hall. I am thrilled with the participation of Graeme's Mother, Jean, his Father, Gregand younger brother, Wyatt, who is also a scout and by the participation of the other scouts that Graeme is leading in accomplishing this project.

The small Telegrapher's collection was selected as the starting point, and the "gears began to churn" in the computer that Greg Lawes has provided for this occasion. The boys began to register, photograph, and number each tool with our tertiary numbering system: “2007.007.056”...7th donation of the year, 56th item in the donation, and the year donated. Thisis thecontinuation of a system begun by Norm Stuessy, Ed Reeves and me back in 1999 which continues to bevalid for small museum management. My “bible” on this subject was lent to Graeme for the duration so that he could benefit from learning why we do the things we do:Registry Systems for Small Museum Management by Dan Reible, formerly a curator with the Trenton Barracks and The Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a friend and fellow member of the Early American Industries Association.

Twelve of my tool books were also there to assist in identifying the tools.Unfortunately, our loyal volunteer Rich Cunliffe had undergone painful rotator-cuff surgery and was not able to continue in his gracious willingness to be here as a “working monitor” on weekdays.This is why we must repeat appeals for volunteer monitors...no experience (or participation) required!

If I may digress briefly back to the Telegrapher's tool collection...we recently took a tool from the Cooper'sCollection (we had two there) and deposited it in the Telegrapher's, because it has also been identified as a “cross-over tool.”This is a tool usedin more than one industry. While this tool isusually recognized as a cooper's bung hole auger for smaller holes in the smaller barrels, it is also used by a linesmanto bore holes on a crossbar high up on a telegraph pole for the installation of those glass or ceramic insulators that are so collectible today.

We have a retired linesman in the 65 Club that I hope to bring in here soon to confirm this for us.But I'm convinced that it would have worked well for that purpose. We all know that basic principle in tool selection: “Whatever works!”

So now you know what went on in our now crowded "lobby area" at the foot of the cellar steps should you find yourself volunteering to be a monitor here.We wish Graeme the best as he becomes an Eagle Scout, and we are pleased, too, that he could help us so much in the Museum Cellars.

Although Graeme’s work is done in our cellars, we are hoping to have more Scouts follow to further the completion of our registry. Please volunteer to give some of your time to this project. We’ll keep your name and phone number on record and contact you to determine your availability for specific dates. Call the office at 856-429-7375 or Don Wallace at 856-857-9731 and add your name to our list.