This is a slightly unusual example of the thorny issue of continued use v. 
preservation. Secret doors are always a crowd-puller. My ideal solution 
would be to replace the existing mechanism, which was clearly designed only 
for occasional use, with something more robust, that could stand up to 
regular demonstration. It would be difficult to reproduce the experience of 
seeing a secret door open anywhere other than in situ. Explain the 
motivation for replacement to the public, and I don't think many of them 
would be unhappy.

But then there's the question - how historically significant is that 
original mechanism? I'd want to see the parts, plans and detailed photos 
preserved for potential study by future historians. If the new mechanism 
differs mechanically from the old one, I'd want to see a working model of 
the original. It seems to me that the public is gradually becoming more 
interested in the details of how something works, as well as what it does. 
This is excellent, and should be encouraged.

Meanwhile, I have to confess to inconsistency. I'd rarely, if ever, advocate 
this approach to a historical musical instrument. The only original I ever 
restored to playing condition was a 1764 Buckinger English Guitar. I knew it 
wasn't a unique instrument, or particularly historically significant. 
Actually, it was a cheap job, probably mass-produced at the instigation of 
the harpsichord maker Kirckmann, but that's another story. It was heavily 
distorted and cracked by age, damp and central heating, riddled with 
woodworm, and was something of a wreck. Nevertheless, I thought long and 
hard about whether restoration was justified. I made sure I drew up full 
plans during the process, and extracted any evidence that might be of use to 
future luthiers.

My conclusion is that there's no simple answer to any of these questions. 
Whether the subject is a painting, a lute, or a secret door, a careful 
restoration supplies impact and immediate information to the public, but 
risks losing information which may be of use to future specialists. Each 
project needs to be considered individually.

Paul Baker
Supreme Commander
Diabolus in Musica
Historical musicians in costume
Replica musical instruments and historical artifacts
Interactives, websites, audio & video work
[log in to unmask]
www.diabolus.org




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Armstrong, Kate" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 3:46 AM
Subject: Seeking ideas for interpreting secret doors at Museum of Australian 
Democracy [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED:NO CAVEATS]


Hi

I work in the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in 
Canberra, Australia. In Old Parliament House we have two secret doors that 
conceal wall safes. The doors are opened by pressing on a floorboard under 
the carpet.  Over the past decade these have been demonstrated to visitors 
(sometimes over enthusiastically) by guides and have had to be repaired 
numerous times. The policy now is that they will not be used but we would 
like to interpret this feature of the building to visitors. Australia 
doesn't have a lot of buildings with secret doors and passage ways etc so it 
is an interesting feature for domestic visitors.

We are not sure how to best interpret this feature (without physically 
demonstrating it).  So far we have tossed around the idea of an interpretive 
panel and working scale model but I am interested to know of any other ideas 
or experiences that list members may have.

Thanks and regards, Kate

[cid:image001.gif@01CA7815.449BD4B0]

Kate Armstrong
Interpretation Curator, Interpretation and Community Learning (L71)
18 King George Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600 Australia
PO Box 7088, Canberra BC ACT 2610
p 02 6270 8112  f 02 6270 8111
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
moadoph.gov.au<http://www.moadoph.gov.au/>




______________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT: This message, and any attachments to it, contains information
that is confidential and may also be the subject of legal professional or
other privilege. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you
must not review, copy, disseminate or disclose its contents to any other
party or take action in reliance of any material contained within it. If you
have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by
return email informing them of the mistake and delete all copies of the
message from your computer system.
______________________________________________________________________