Take a Penny, Give a Penny

Posted by BigKev On 2007/10/19 12:40:54

I figure it about my time to do my Bi-Annual request for content. Think of this as the PBS Telethon donation request.

If you find the PackardInfo.com website useful and you have original Packard related content (Brochures, Databooks, Training Manuals, Owners Manuals, Service Manuals, Parts Books, etc) that are not currently on the website, please consider donating a copy scanned for publication here on the website.

If you live in the US, and don't have access to a scanner, or the piece may be to big in size, or pages for you to scan, then I can scan it for you. Just ship it to me, and I will scan it for you, and ship it back to you at my expense. I have done this numerous time for people, just ask John, aka Packard53, for a reference.

We are slowly getting more and more Pre-War guys discovering the website, and I would like to get more information online in digital format for them. The Pre-War information is probably the most critical to archive for the following reasons:

1) The people currently owning some of this content are getting along in years, and I fear with there eventual passing, their families may simple discard the content. Hence losing it forever. None of us are getting any younger.

2) Some of this content could be close to 100 years old, and is decaying more and more everyday.

3) A lot of this content is not available for reprint, so many Pre-War owners do not have access to this critical information that can help them with the restoration, preservation, and servicing of there Pre-War vehicles.

4) Without a good source of this information, I fear some of the Pre-War cars are just going to end up getting scrapped, or Rodded, because it is seen as too difficult to get good information about them for restoration or repair.

I would say the Service Manuals, Parts List, Owner's Manuals, Training Manuals are those most important pieces.

So if you have any of these please help the website out, and in doing so you are helping that next Packard owner that discovers the website.

When I first put this website up, there was a little back and forth about how this may de-value peoples collection of content as I am providing it for free. Nothing can be farther that the truth. People that are collecting this material for it's value want original pieces. These digital versions are just for information purposes. They are scanned to make them readable, but not in a high enough quality to make printable reproductions from them. Also you will notice that I watermark all the content. I do this to prevent some idiot from putting it all on a CD and trying to selling for profit. If people find a scanned piece useful enough, then will seek out and buy an original version to add to there collection.

I think a lot of people never realized how much original Packard related content was still out there. Through the process of scanning all the material for the website, I have come across bit of information, interesting brochures that I never would have seen if it was tucked away in someones collection.

I have several original pieces, like the 48-54 Parts List, that I don't ever take in the garage with me. It stays in the house. But what I do is print out the pages I need from the digital copy. They I never have to worry about getting an original greasy.

All I ask is that as some of you guys are tucking your cars away for the winter, please take a look around and see if you have any content that would be useful to the website.

Also if any of you are members of a local chapter of he various Packard car clubs, or are affiliated with any of the Packard museums please forward this request along to anyone that may be able to help.

Anyway thats enough of my babble.

Thanks again for reading my speil,