Hi Gill
We too have an unwieldy Mayer cradle which, as you say is not inductive to a cost efficient workflow.
As an alternative, we asked our Conservation Department to come up with a solution for supporting these manuscripts and they did a sterling job and of course, they met with Conservation approval. This is also a cheap option as they did not charge us for them !!!! We have recently completed the digitisation of a large number of very high value manuscripts using these book supports.
If you like, I can send you some pics of them in action and if you are in London at any point, you are more than welcome to come and visit.
Chris.
Chris Lee - Studio Manager
Imaging Services
Upper Ground Floor
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
T: 020 7412 7997
F: 020 7412 7596
From: AHFAP, for image professionals in the UK cultural heritage sector [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Robinson
Sent: 22 November 2013 12:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Book Cradles
Hi,
CHICC use the Mayer Traveller's cradle you may have seen in Gwen's presentation:
Very light, can be packed into a suitcase and transported. Built in LED lighting, fully adjustable. We have 2 and another on the way!
Thanks
James Robinson l Senior Photographer l Heritage Imaging l The John Rylands Library l The University of Manchester l 150 Deansgate l Manchester l
M3 3EH l Tel +44 (0)161 306 6537 l
http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/chicc l Blog l Twitter
On 22 Nov 2013, at 12:39, Gillian Whelan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hello All,
I have a question for the group regarding the use of book cradles for the imaging medieval/high value manuscripts. The library here purchased a cradle a number of years ago, and unfortunately it is a very unwieldy item, which is not terribly functional and prevents a cost effective workflow due to its labor intensive set up and adjustment process. I’m currently undertaking some research into alternatives (either stand alone units with built in lighting, or something more basic that we could integrate in our modular studio setup) and would value input from the group regarding those that you currently use, find good and/or which you would purchase now if you could buy again. Any and all help would be appreciated, particularly from those with hands on day to day experience with them, we may also be in a position to visit institutions around the London area at some point in the future if people had cradles they were particularly keen in showing off!
Many thanks,
GIll
______________________________
Gillian Whelan
Senior Digital Photographer
Digital Resources & Imaging Services
Trinity College Library
College Street, Dublin 2
T: +353 1 896 2889 / 1 896 3951
W: http://digitalcollections.tcd.ie
Electronic mail to, from or within the College may be the subject of a request under the Freedom of Information Act.