Plymouth Owners Club

I recall that the next two CD's that contained the most recent Plymouth Bulletins were supost to be available some time ago.  Has this project been abandoned?  Can we send more money to get these CDs?  Please let the membership know what is happening with this great source of data.  I have refered to the other CDs I have several times.

At this point in time, I am inclined to think the project is a dead duck.  Hate to say it but.....the fellow that did our second website was the one working on the project.  After he moved from my area, the project never seemed to take shape and there were lots of promises--about a 2" folder full of them.  It was always next week, next month, technical problems, etc., etc.  Now he's ended up in the hospital and has had some very serious medical problems.  His business has been run by others during this time--and it was those people who shut down our website at the slightest whim.  SO.....now we have a new website, webmaster, etc., and if or when we'll ever see the final two CD's remains to be seen.  If Ross gets back on his feet, I think I know him well enough that he will make every effort to complete the project but if not, well, I'm not holding my breath.......
Jim Benjaminson

Jim, thank you for the reply and the explanation.  Do you know how far along the project is?  Would I be able to complete the task.  (if I volunteered to do it)

Ken,

Do you have a scanner and know how to use it?  I would attempt to do the scanning but it takes about 45 seconds per page and there are over 6000 pages (best guess) that need to be scanned - we can't hope for anything from Ross at this time.

I could get the disks made at a company I have done business with - the actual production of the CD's is not a big thing.  I could also convert them to PDF form - the scanning is what takes the most time.  They should be scanned a 300 dpi and saved in a non-compressed JPG or TIF file before cleaning and conversion.

Maybe we could make a team effort out of this.  If enough of us have scanners and know how to scan to a un-compressed JPG format we could get ten or fifteen people to do the job.  I would be willing to commit to scan six or so Bulletins over the next month or two.  To be done right, you should remove the staples and scan each sheet flat.

My personal opinion is that we could do them all in Greyscale - not color - that reduces the size of the files and we really want the information not to print the booklets again.  I think that may have been one of the problems Ross encountered - the first four disks were of the smallest page count Bulletins and not much color - as we get closer to the present - it will take more CD's - I don't see how it won't.   Fact is - I would rather see it all on a DVD - most new computers can store 4.7 Gigs on a DVD that is about seven full CD's worth - I think that might not even be enough if we do color.  I would guess that full color readable 300 dpi or better of the entire collection will go eight CD's maybe more.

Anyone else interested in commiting to a project like this?

I am checking with a guy I know who scans Mopar Parts Books and service manuals - good friend - he did my service manuel on CD for the Chrysler Turbine car.  I know he had a cheap way of scanning them - but I don't know HOW cheap.  At more than a dime a page, we can't afford it.

Mark

I haven't kept all my bulletins, but I would be willing to help with the scanning.? If I have the books, I would do some to help out.

Yes, I have a scanner and I am willing to do some of the work.  I do have some old Bulletins but I don't know which ones to scan.  Is there someone that can be the leader to delagate the work?  It's going to be a cold winter so some of you guys need something to keep busy with.  I would concur with the 300 dpi and noncolor.  Has Ross completed any bulletins?

It would seem that a reasonably modern newsletter work flow would have everything on the computer in a form that allows pretty easy PDF generation. I wonder if the Bulletin editor could provide PDFs of each new issue as it is published.

That does not help for back issues but might make going forward easier.

Yes Todd - Lanny does have some of the more recent newsletters on disk - we would need to coordinate the whole thing - see what Jim and Lanny think about the idea.

The Problem with Ross from the beginning of the missing CD's was that we could never get a straight answer as to how far along he was - always something about having them done but that the PDF was messed up - "never seen anything like it" or something like that.  Jim got him to promise they would be done and that time went by - then he got sick and has been in and out of the hospital - the guys running his business are not very easy to deal with as was seen in what transpired with the former website and forum.

That is why I said that we have to assume that we have the four CD's is all we have and everything from 198 forward needs to be done.  If Lanny has the last four years on CD already that would help a lot.  But we are still talking about 60 or more Bulletins of 50 to 60 pages each.

Hi Guys (and gals)  Work has kept me off the website for awhile and I'm catching up on the latests posts before heading out the door tonight--again!  This sounds like a great project to get completed and with enough hands to do it, it shouldn't take long.  I explained to Mark in an earlier e-mail that I will have to do some "counting" and see how many pages still need to be done to complete the "40 Years" we originally set out to do.  That would include issues 198 thru 239.  Now we are at 275 (that one's at the printers right now), so to catch up to date would take a lot more work.  Who all is willing to help?  I'll be the coordinator as such.  You can e-mail me directly at

Jim, has there been any progress on this POC on CD project?   

Yes, work is being done it.  Hope to have some positive results to report to you shortly!  JB

That's good news.   Thanks.

Just curious what the latest here is on this question? 

I have a sample from Jim of the finished product. They look great, they are DVDs now - two of them - but now they cover from the first Bulletin to the last one mailed in 2007 - 48 years worth of information in PDF form.

Jim has the first batch and I believe that Jim may start shipping them when time permits - those who may not have heard, Jim's wife is undergoing some serious treatment and that is taking a lot of his time as he is running things at home all alone for a while.

I will let Jim up-date on exactly when they will be available - this has been a very long process but the results are worth the wait.  I think the POC has the best publication and now it is preserved for future generations of restorer's to use over and over again.

Mark

Excellent!!

How much will they cost?   How do we order?

Hi Ken - And others!  Yes, the project "from hell" is now completed.  I have the finished DVD's and am working on packaging and mailing to those who ordered first. 

As Mark mentioned, my wife was diagnosed with leukemia over Christmas and was flown to Methodist Hospital (Mayo) in Rochester, Minnesota.  I am with her there now, so most Plymouth Club stuff is at a standstill.  I did load these things into the car and when she goes to out-patient status we will be getting a hotel/apartment to stay in for the next couple of weeks, so I plan on working on packaging as time permits but they probably won't get mailed until I am back home - after 8 years, whats a few more days delay???  I also have the membership renewal stuff with me as Lanny is sending the next Bulletin to the printer shortly (if he hasn't already done so). 

A price hasn't been set on the DVD set yet - but when it is, we'll notify you via this forum and have an order blank on this website....284 issues on 2 DVD discs.  Amazing, they fill two legal size file drawers at home of originals!!!

Jim, our best to your and your family.   I'm sure a few more weeks won't matter let alone days.   

John
Colorado

Jim, Best wishes for Your wife to recover fast and good! Go

Jim,

Diana and I will pray for your wife's recovery.

Regards,

Pat O'Connor

Jim,

Our prayers go out to your wife during her illness,
Bob and Patricia Drown

Thanks everyone for your concern and your prayers.  Jerry Nelson, member from Illinois, came up to visit us tonight while he's here in Rochester.  Hadn't seen them in several years.  Lots of calls and e-mails from concerned members.  It all helps! 

Jim,

Our thoughts are with your wife and yourself.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Harold and Marsha
New Jersey

Jim

While I am new to this fourm I do wish you well and a special pray will be said for your wife tonight.

Carmen

Hope things are going well for you and your wife. You went to the right place (MAYO). Good living and a few prayers never hurt.
Will be looking for more info on the DVD's. Need all the information I can get on 30U's.

DVD sets are priced at $39.95 plus $1.50 postage in USA, $2 postage to Canada and $3 postage overseas.  Order from (checks payable to)  Plymouth Owners Club, Inc., P O Box 416, Cavalier, North Dakota  58220-0416