One for the engineers!

[Time Waster]

I know there's a fair few with an engineering background on here so I reckon someone might have an idea for me. A relative has a lot of engineering files and documents relating to gas turbines, diesel gensets and other equipment used by industry, oil and gas, etc. A lot of historical technical information in this large collection from a working life working at oil and gas sites around the world.

He's long since retired but he can't let go. We've been tasked with finding a place to take it to that's not the skip! Anyone got an idea where to sell or gift it to? I doubt they're worth anything so I guess anywhere that's got a use or interest in them I guess is the best we can hope for.

If no ideas can be found then I reckon we'll have to skip them.

 

[stephec]

Do they relate to any specific companies or projects, are there any copyrights on them?

 

[Cycleops]

There's a museum of technology in Cambridge, don't know if they'd be interested or maybe could point you in the right direction.

https://www.museumoftechnology.com/news/from-windmill-to-wind-turbine

 

[classic33]

Are any of the companies still in operation?

 

[Reynard]

An academic library sounds like a good place for this kind of stuff. Maybe get in touch with your County Librarian (a very different person from a library assistant who issues books) who may be able to suggest what to do.

The trouble with ephemera is once it's binned, it's gone, and any knowledge contained therein is lost. As an amateur archivist, I get so frustrated hearing about what people have thrown away. The trouble is, most paper-based stuff has little monetary value and takes up a lot of space - you don't need to tell me about that LOL! However, the real value lies in the information itself, especially if it's a related collection.

 

[Time Waster]

Think about all the main gas turbines used to generate power on oil and gas rigs over the dash for gas era. Schematics, operating conditions, etc. Not had a good look but skimmed one on solar turbines and there's everything from process flows to electrical drawings.

There's a few proprietary stuff there I reckon which could be an issue. Major names in the sector, training manuals for engineers. We've taken two books which are straight forward publications. Might take them to a local antiquarian bookshop, carnforth bookshop. They've got or had a few highly specialised technical books there. It's where I saw a Findlays about a decade after I needed it. That's a chemical about wet chemical identification of mixtures dating from early 1900s but a classic never bettered. Also out of print before I was born. Essential for my first degree but only 10 copies in the library!

 

[vickster]

Contact the information officer for the relevant professional organisation/society?

 

[richardfm]

Contact the information officer for the relevant professional organisation/society?

That's what I was thinking, in this case, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers would be my starting point.

 

[Profpointy]

I know there's a fair few with an engineering background on here so I reckon someone might have an idea for me. A relative has a lot of engineering files and documents relating to gas turbines, diesel gensets and other equipment used by industry, oil and gas, etc. A lot of historical technical information in this large collection from a working life working at oil and gas sites around the world.

He's long since retired but he can't let go. We've been tasked with finding a place to take it to that's not the skip! Anyone got an idea where to sell or gift it to? I doubt they're worth anything so I guess anywhere that's got a use or interest in them I guess is the best we can hope for.

If no ideas can be found then I reckon we'll have to skip them.

There's the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust. Whilst they are obviously focussed on the Rolls Royce side of things, wince they preserve and publish information on Rolls Royce's aero engines and gas turbines they are likely a good starting point. Likely any gas turbines are theirs, and their experts might well be able to point you in a good direction if much of the stuff is outside their purview

 

[rogerzilla]

I wonder whether gas turbine technology has moved on so far that the papers are hopelessly out of date?

 

[vickster]

Does the relative not have any suggestions as it’s their stuff?

 

[Time Waster]

Relative is still holding out for making a bit of money out of them. Unlikely in the extreme!

Actually I don't know if there were any RR files. GE, Solar, Siemens I think plus diesel gensets. You'd think there were a few RR aero derivatives in the mix considering.

 

[Drago]

If there's anything involving perpetual motion that hasn't been patented then I'll find a good home for it.

 

[Venod]

Most power plants have very comprehensive documentation and operating manuals, although the collection sounds interesting it's hard to see anybody paying much, if there are any construction or new build pics they may sell, this is a pic of the long gone Ferrybridge A Station Turbine.

 

[Time Waster]

These are dry manuals. Probably useful info for maintenance/repair but you're not going to get any images that might look good on the wall. That's why I doubt money is in them.