Hi, Good idea about advising new customers about record keeping, most important that.
I give every specimen in my collection a unique number, this is entered into a logbook, along with basic info (name, type, weight etc). I put a label with or on each sample with It's number. The original cards that came with the sample are all kept in a file (and the number is written on the back) The idea being, that if I got kidnapped by aliens or something, someone could pick up my collection and put the appropriate cards with each specimen! (I couldn't rely on my family, they wouldn't know where to start!) Best Mark -----Original Message----- From: Bernhard "Rendelius" Rems [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 14 September 2004 14:46 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: RE: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Histories FYI: when I send out an item to a customer, I always send out a preprinted info sheet which contains, amongst tips how to store and curate your meteorites, a paragraph about the importance of keeping records of them. Here's a (free) translation of this paragraph: "Please keep a catalogue of your meteorites - nothing is more annoying than not to know which piece is which, where it comes from and what the significance of the specimen is. Number your meteorites in some way (adhesive stickers - or keep them in numbered boxes/bags), so they can always be associated with their data/history. It's for your own pleasure and safety, since a meteorite without the appropriate info is worth a lot less than a properly described specimen. Apart from that, it doesn't just loose value, it is lost for science as well." This info helps in two ways: it helps my customers to appreciate what they have got, and it helps them to understand that I care for what I sell (which could, in return for the info, help to turn them into return customers). _____ Best regards, Bernhard "Rendelius" Rems CEO RPGDot Network This outgoing mail has been virus-checked. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of mark ford Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 3:15 PM To: Meteorite List Subject: RE: RE: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Histories Great article! Yeah, Sure it happens, and it shouldn't! I don't see why institutions need to be so cagey, pretty well all institutions exchange material with dealers, it goes with the territory. And it's clear they all have their 'favorite dealers', but I am sure anyone that came to them with the right material would get let in the door. Bottom line - Any so called scientist that requests/grinds off labels to disguise important information should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves... Best, Mark -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 14 September 2004 13:39 To: Meteorite List Subject: Re: RE: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Histories Hi All, True story: Dealer B gets specimens from Dealer A. Notices an area ground off the surface of all the specimens. Dealer B gets more specimens from Dealer A. Again notices spot ground off on all pieces. Dealer B calls Dealer A and asks for an explanation and is told that the pieces are coming from a large institutional collection where the specimens are individually numbered. Instead of chemically dissolving off the painted specimen numbers, Dealer A simply ground them off with a bench grinder because it was much faster. Why would the numbers be removed and the collection history prior to Dealer A hidden? It was by request of the institutional collection. The institutional collection wanted to keep the fact that they were releasing specimens from the other dealers and collector in order to avoid being bombarded by trade and purchase requests. I doubt that this story is an isolated incident. For your reading enjoyment, I have addressed collection history in my Acc retion Desk articles at The Meteorite Times. Here are a couple of them: Leaving a Paper Trail http://www.meteoritetimes.com/Back_Links/2002/October/Accretion_Desk.htm Lucky Numbers: Specimen Labels as License Plates from the Past http://www.meteoritetimes.com/Back_Links/2002/November/Accretion_Desk.ht m Cheers, Martin ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
