Blueprint For Victory

[chris vickery]

David, the RCA kitshop has the last of the last. When Greggs collection wnet to CFB Shilo all the books, parts etc all went with it.

As far as doing a reprint, I have looked into it. The plates are long gone, as is the publishing house. I contacted Mrs. Gregg on several occasions regarding an interest in re-doing the books, esp the Profiles one.

A lack of response from the Gregg family or their lawyer indicates to me that they do not wish to grant the rights to anyone else to re-do the books.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Shame that Chris. However, I have heard much the same about re-pubs/re-prints before. It's a shame, but there you are. The photos are all out of copyright, being pre-1949 of course. A large proprtion would appear (from the book acknowledgements) were leant to Dr Gregg. The ones of most interest to me were lent by the late Sid Swallow who was the Service Manager at Fords in Windsor at the time.

Sid also supplied the late Herb Ronson who was also with Fords then, and Herb lent me negative copies of photos that Sid had sent him. These relate to the Southampton CMD, and additionally I have some other shots taken at the same time that were retained by GM Ltd and show alternative views. I have built up quite a collection of the CMD from various sources over the years: one photo turned up in the 1944 GM Overseas Operations wartime book! I also acquired three from Archives of Canada, including one of Mr Swallow in conference at the CMD! This suggested to me that these photos were widely spread around (the world). Dr Gregg clearly visited the Archives, judging by data that he published, and I wonder if he also used a few Archives photos as well? up to three CMD photos he published I have been able to get better copies direct from the Archives.

If there was a demand in due course, perhaps a new book could be written? A collaborative effort would be possible, but I have to say that at present the publishign industry here is reeling from a lack of sales (credit crunch and all that), and some houses are not taking on any new books as shops/dealers can't sell them and therefore pay for them!

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

David, the RCA kitshop has the last of the last. When Greggs collection wnet to CFB Shilo all the books, parts etc all went with it.

As far as doing a reprint, I have looked into it. The plates are long gone, as is the publishing house. I contacted Mrs. Gregg on several occasions regarding an interest in re-doing the books, esp the Profiles one.

A lack of response from the Gregg family or their lawyer indicates to me that they do not wish to grant the rights to anyone else to re-do the books.

A facsimile reprint will meet new demand. Perhaps the family does not understand that reprinting an old book isn't any work for them, except to cash the royalty cheques. The margin for publishers is small, so who ever takes the job isn't doing it to get rich. However, this forum is proof that people buy and enjoy books. The Gregg family might think that allowing a reprint will somehow reduce the value of books already in circulation or they will lose control. That is why licencing contracts are written. I'd say try again, explaining yourself again. Fifty-two cents postage is insignificant compared to what you are trying to achieve.

I had a chance to buy a book on target shooting once, everything from plates to copywrite for a few thousand dollars. That was what the owner had invested. I realized the cost was in the paper and funding the entreprise. Finding readers pre-internet would be a second major challenge.

PS I've got my copies, hardly smudged, spines gently cracked, in a safe place.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I shall ask my colleague whether his latest technology (and Clive will also have his 'take' on tech.) could offer a facsimile.

The other side of the sentiment coin is that regrettably Dr Gregg dies too young and the family may not wish to be reminded about the works, or there may well be perfectly understandable family reasons. If this is the case then their wishes are to be respected. I for one would not wish to make any approach as I think it clearly is up to others who have already done so.

However, it is of course just the text that is copyrighted in my humble opinion: my intellectual rights law is rusty but the Archives have confirmed that this is so with regard to Canadian photos and the Canadian Crown Copyright.

[chris vickery]

Considering the fact that the RCA kitshop stil has copies of Blueprint as well as the Militray Vehicles texts, one would wonder what the point of doing any reprints is?

The Gregg collection went to CFB Shilo in about 1983 and sat languishing outdoors for many years. Last time I was out there was about 6 years ago, the storeroom was full of cartons of Greggs books. All the vehicle parts were palletized and tucked away in a hangar.

It has taken the Kitshop almost 25 years to dispose of the books and they still have some.

About the only book I could see re-doing would be the Profiles Series, and I am sure there is a way to re-do it, if only to setup the styling similarly and reuse the non copyrighted Crown photos etc.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I have spoken to my colleague who does repro work. He says that that it is totally impossible (my words) to scan and then set up for publishing as a facsimile. That's that then!

As regards the Profile series, that is probably easier and more practical. Didn't Dr Gregg repro a manual ifor his data book?

On the subject of Crown Copyright, I would argue that the Swallow photos, all of them, were originally C.C., as they were taken for official purposes. The Ford of Canada ones that they had in their collection at Oakville I would not take issue over, but the GM of Canada ones I would take a stand over as being ex-C.C. That said my Boss holds a 'Get out of Jail free' card, sorry an authority, from years ago giving him authority to publish GM material, particularly ex-Vauxhall and ex-GM Ltd, which includes all of my GM Ltd album plus some more. GM incidentally take the attitude that they may not own the rights to photos even in their archives. The rights may subsist in a local newspaper or an independent photographer employed by GM.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by David_Hayward

Didn't Dr Gregg repro a manual for his data book?

The first 210 pages of volume one were a reprint of the DND manual "Vehicle Data Book". He replaced some of the airbrushed photos with the original non-airbrushed ones he found in the Archives.

Dr, Gregg credits all the photos in the book to the National Photography Collection, with the exception of a few by DR Cardy, 1 from Don Ross, 1 from Bill Venty, and 3 from Ford.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Praise where praise is due..a marvellous effort.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by rob love

The first 210 pages of volume one were a reprint of the DND manual "Vehicle Data Book". He replaced some of the airbrushed photos with the original non-airbrushed ones he found in the Archives

Here´s an original wartime copy for sale. Owner invites offers over EUR 200,-- (No connections.)

Naam: wout
Datum: 19 November 2008
Telnr.: 0613642053 bekijk locatie: soest, 3766wj
Rubriek: Boeken
Aangeboden: Vehicle data book Canadian army overseas. In dit originele boek staan alle voertuigen die in de 2e wereldoorlog door het Canadese leger gebruikt zijn. De kaft is beschadigd maar de inhoud is puntgaaf (zie foto's). Bieden va € 200,--