Mos6502
Well-known
I'm in the middle of a strange interaction with an ebay seller, who for now will remain unnamed. I was watching a set of "original" "blueprints" for a Miranda D SLR. The seller made an offer, I accepted, paid, and they sent me the "original" "blueprints". Now, what it looked like I was buying was a parts book, not blueprints. So I'm not going to get hung up on the drawings not being blueprints. The book contains drawings of every part in the Miranda D and a parts number. So what I was expecting was an original parts book. The pages have been three hole punched, but are currently bound with a plastic comb binder. When I first received the book what I thought I had was a mimeographed parts book. Within minutes though I noticed something was wrong.
As I flipped through the pages, I noticed that some of the pages had "tape" on them which was not actually there. It was printed onto the paper. I also noticed that several of the pages, on their bottom edges had been torn or mangled - but the paper was smooth, and in some cases the white platen of a copier or scanner was visible behind the damage. Most bizarrely the backs of the pages (all of which are single sided) had also been color-copied. This would add significantly to the cost of making a copy of the book, and suggests to me this copy wasn't the work of a repairman or shop making a backup copy, but that the copy was intended to deceive. Why would you make a color copy of the blank back of the page, except to ensure both front and back appeared equally yellowed by age?
I'm not particularly upset, because a color copy of the full parts book would easily have cost as much to make as I paid for it, but I was puzzled by it. I asked the seller about why many of the pages appeared to be obvious copies, pointing out the photocopied tape and tears, and I asked them where they got the book. They reiterated their opinion that the book is "blueprints" and stated it "probably" came from "Japan". They sell books and collectable stamps, so vaguely sidestepping the question of provenance is also weird. If they had actually flipped through it, it would have been obvious to anybody specializing in collectables that it is a copy and not original.
As I flipped through the pages, I noticed that some of the pages had "tape" on them which was not actually there. It was printed onto the paper. I also noticed that several of the pages, on their bottom edges had been torn or mangled - but the paper was smooth, and in some cases the white platen of a copier or scanner was visible behind the damage. Most bizarrely the backs of the pages (all of which are single sided) had also been color-copied. This would add significantly to the cost of making a copy of the book, and suggests to me this copy wasn't the work of a repairman or shop making a backup copy, but that the copy was intended to deceive. Why would you make a color copy of the blank back of the page, except to ensure both front and back appeared equally yellowed by age?
I'm not particularly upset, because a color copy of the full parts book would easily have cost as much to make as I paid for it, but I was puzzled by it. I asked the seller about why many of the pages appeared to be obvious copies, pointing out the photocopied tape and tears, and I asked them where they got the book. They reiterated their opinion that the book is "blueprints" and stated it "probably" came from "Japan". They sell books and collectable stamps, so vaguely sidestepping the question of provenance is also weird. If they had actually flipped through it, it would have been obvious to anybody specializing in collectables that it is a copy and not original.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
I’ll make a wild guess that someone at a camera repair shop photocopied the manual for their own use possibly later, or to give to another repair tech. Then, somehow the seller got the copy.
Mos6502
Well-known
I'm thinking that's what happened. It's still very bizarre that they made double sided copies of single-sided pages. The seller has since responded with a few more (vague) details about where the manuals he's selling came from, and I doubt the person who had them before knew (or cared) that it wasn't an original parts book. I was mostly concerned because I would have liked to have scanned the book and made it available online, which if it were a bonafide 1960s original would pose no copyright concerns (being published without a copyright notice, as required at the time), but since my copy is of unknown age and origin I'm hesitant to share it now.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
ebay sellers of books are average morons.
Because blue prints were made in few numbers, they costs much more than color copy.
Because blue prints were made in few numbers, they costs much more than color copy.
Frankly, I would photocopy the pages for your personal use, open a "not as described" case with eBay, and force a return. The seller has obviously lied about the provenance of the item. There's a world of difference between original factory drawings, and copies of a spare parts book. Forcing the seller to take it back is no more than they deserve for failing to apply due diligence to their listing.
Nitroplait
Well-known
Possibly the original was just put into a copy machine with auto feed and auto 2 sided printing. Perhaps at a person's workplace where he didn't have cost concerns.
I personally have no tolerance for eBay laziness and misrepresentation any more. Misrepresentation is misrepresentation - honest mistake or not - sellers never learn if we always shy away from giving negative feedback.
Out to Lunch
Ventor
One of my favorite eBay descriptions: "almost never used". Cheers, OtL
David Hughes
David Hughes
It would be interesting to discover how many reading this have actually seen a blue print. FWIW, blue background with test and line drawings in white...
I suspect it's another example of the corruption of the language.
Regards, David
I suspect it's another example of the corruption of the language.
Regards, David
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
Ebay is not trustworthy. For inexpensive purchases it is okay to gamble. Ebay seller brick and mortar is the safest.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
I’ve seen them before. They were right next to the mimeographs and had a stack of Hollerith cards on top of them (which I still have from 1970..1975).
I suspect the average age of participants on RFF is over 50.
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
I have as well. Been working in hi-tech for many decades. Worked with draftsman, designers, and engineers who drew on Mylar and vellum and we used run off blueprint copies up to E-Size through the machines. Miss that ammonia smell.. …not!
In the defense sub-contract industry, we were making some particular replacement parts (I won’t say which) - for the B-52H bomber and we needed Boeing to supply us several drawings some of which were up to J-Size (roll-format 34”x 55-136” - typical in aircraft Industry) and temperature-sensitive dimensional aerospace Mylar drawings. Some of these drawings were decades old.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
You mean they don't make blueprints anymore???
santino
FSU gear head
I don‘t know - blueprints don‘t seem to make a lot of sense in the days of digital color photography and color printing.
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
I haven’t seen or worked with blueprints since the late 80’s. If large drawings are required, typically they are plotted.