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Archiver > CHESHIRE > 2000-01 > 0948022128


From: "Ruth W Appleby" <>
Subject: Re: [CHS] Re: CHESHIRE-D Digest V00 #23
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 11:28:48 -0000


Opinion on other lists to which I subscribe is that this may be a scam to
encourage folks to buy their readers from this organisation (see below
signature at bottom of message).

While it may be genuine, it is a little underhand as it fails to indicate
the commercial nature of the message. So, beware and check it out
thoroughly before parting with your credit card details!

Kind Regards
Ruth W Appleby
Bedhampton, Hampshire, England

----- Original Message -----
From: Loring <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2000 4:45 PM
Subject: [CHS] Re: CHESHIRE-D Digest V00 #23


> For those of you that live outside the United States, here is some
> information that you might use to get
> yourself a microfiche/microfilm viewer to use in your home.
>
> First let's talk a little about fiche, film and viewer
>
> Microfiche usually a piece of flat sheet film about 4 inches by 6 inches.
> Contains
> about 25 columns, each column with about 150 to 200 lines of
> text. Sources for fiche
> are given below. Microfiche are usually read with a microfiche
viewer.
>
> Microfilm - A piece of 16 mm or 35 mm (that's the width in
> millimeters) film in
> roll form. This film is always on a plastic reel, and contains
> thousands of pages of
> data, (usually census data). Roll film is normally viewed with a
> special type of
> machine, similar to a microfiche machine but is equipped with a
> system of reels
> to handle the film in roll format. Sources for microfilm are
given
> below
>
> Viewers - The microfiche viewer obviously will take care of the
> problem of
> viewing fiche but viewing film is another story. Machines for
> viewing roll film
> are very expensive and quite rare. I have found a way to modify
> most microfiche
> machines so they can be used to view roll film also. This is done
> by modifying
> the aluminum portion of the film carrier, so that film can be fed
> between the
> glass plates of the film carrier.
>
> Where do I fit in all this?
> I am a retired electrical engineer and 1 of my hobbies is genealogy.
Here
> in the US we can buy or rent
> microfilm in the roll format. Usually it is 35mm on 4 inch diameter spool.
> My wife and I find it better
> to buy the film ( at $10.00 US per roll) and then we can take our time in
> our research in the comfort
> and convenience of our home. I was frustrated at first in my research
> using film because when you put roll film in a fiche viewer it comes out
on
> the screen laying on its side. I finally figured out a way to modify the
> film carrier so that when you run the film threw it comes out in the
> correct position on the viewer screen.
> So if you can locate a microfiche viewer it can be modified so you can
view
> both fiche and film.
>
> Finding a microfiche reader
>
> I can only relate my experiences here in the Southwest( actually 30 mile
> north of Dallas Texas)
>
> Auctions are probably the best place to start. Every city and county has
an
> auctioneer that handles the auctions of surplus/outdated equipment and
> supplies. I contacted the purchasing agent for the nearby
> Counties and asked how and where their auctions are held and the
> name/address of the auctioneer. I
> then called/visited the auctioneers and got on their mailing lists. You
> would be amazed at what is
> available at these auctions, for pennies on the dollar.
>
> Another avenue to explore are the automotive repair shops, insurance
> offices, pharmacy stores,
> small engine repair shops and thrift shops, (here in the US, thrift shops
> sell primarily used/old
> stuff that people have sold at a garage sale, etc. Several times I have
> located places that have
> old microfiche readers and the owners give the machines to me just to get
> rid of them. Today,
> I had 3 of them given to me at a place that does data conversion. The lady
> said she bought them
> several years ago to do a job and they have been gathering dust for 5
years.
>
> A sure fire way to track them down is to take the yellow pages ( the
> commercial portion of the
> phone book) and look under the following headings. Salvage; Surplus;
Used
> Office Equipment
> etc, etc and just start calling and asking if they have any or know where
> you might get one.
>
> Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Once you get a viewer,
> email me direct at
> and I will give you instructions on how to convert. I
> need the make
> and model number of the fiche viewer.
> Loring Hutchinson
>
>
> Microfiche/Microfilm Viewers
> www.loring.allencc.com
>
>
> ==== CHESHIRE Mailing List ====
> Cheshire Lookup Exchange:
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/8555/chs.html
>
>

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