Robert Waterhouse's book The Tavistock Canal, Its History and Archaeology, will be launched at the Tavistock Museum on Saturday 11th November, from 11 till 4. While the central part of the book is about the canal it should be pointed out that this was a canal company that operated a number of mines, particularly those started by lode discoveries in the Morwelldown Tunnel. Robert has made a thorough job in this study, and the book also includes the canal boats, mine histories, plateways and railways and the chronologies of various sites, such as Morwellham. The book is 558 pages, A4 format, and many, many illustrations. Prices are £50 hardback and £30 softback.

One to add to my list :thumbup:

Just a reminder that Robert Waterhouse's long awaited book on the Tavistock Canal is being launched at Tavistock Museum this Saturday.

Just back from the book launch. Very successful event. The book itself exceeds expectations, it is really superb.

It's a cracking book. Got two copies. The softback is heavy but the hardback is seriously weighty. Full of great images and details. A serious essential addition for any mining enthusiasts library. 🙂

Just been looking through the latest Trevithick Society newsletter and I see that there is a copyright problem with the CD which was initially provided with the Tavistock Canal book - but the doesn't elaborate.

They also state they are trying to recover the issued discs!

Anyone know what the offending material is and what has been going on?

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Just been looking through the latest Trevithick Society newsletter and I see that there is a copyright problem with the CD which was initially provided with the Tavistock Canal book - but the doesn't elaborate.

They also state they are trying to recover the issued discs!

Anyone know what the offending material is and what has been going on?

The Society didn't have copyright permission to reproduce some of the photographs electronically . The estate concerned asked the CD be withdrawn, the society requested that sold copies be returned and in order they could be destroyed .

Mike www.moorebooks.co.uk

Thanks!

Seems so petty really.

I suppose those that have complied will have dumped the contents onto a memory stick or other device anyway - especially if they intend going out exploring the area!
CDs are getting a bit archaic now anyway!

:)

John

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You could say that but copyright is there for the protection of rights of the owner and by making it electronic it can be copied and becomes less valuable .

The sale of the originals or copies of these could be of value if sold long term
Mike

The sale of the originals or copies of these could be of value if sold long term
Mike

Given the sophistication of modern day scanning equipment even letting an image out in printed form is no guarantee it won't be turned into a digital form.

Given the Bedford Estates have extensive property interests in London the potential income from a rather niche publication which will circulate around a couple of thousand IA fans seems a drop in the ocean!

John

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I must admit I do get a twinge of Schadenfreude when I hear about these storms in copyright teacups. I have this picture in my mind of the Trevithick Society climbing down chimneys like Santa in reverse to snatch the offending CDs. I would suggest that the photos probably have insignificant commercial value at best and this is just a hissy fit by the Bedford Estates who have the time and resources to pursue the matter in the most arcane way. A stern letter to the publishers should have been sufficient, surely. Incidentally, if I have made a purchase that is found subsequently to have contained a breach of copyright, what obligation do I have, if any, to surrender the material and to whom?

It would be interesting how many purchasers actually return the offending items and continue this farce. I think it's a bloody cheek to ask for them to be returned.
When you've paid good money for em!

:guns:

If I had not been a member of the Trevithick Society I would not have known.

I bought my copy of the book through their outlet - Tor Mark to get the member's discount. No one has attempted to contact me - but then come to think of it they sent it to my work address incase it was delivered when I was at home. As at work all our internal comms is by email I have not looked in my pigeon hole since last summer!! Though I did provide Tormark with my home address for credit card payment purposes.

There is information on the society web site but I only went there to see if I could find more out - it was slightly more informative than what was said in the newsletter.

If I had bought the book over the counter at a bookshop there is going to be no way of tracking purchasers down!

To be honest complete books with disks may well acquire a collectable premium over the years and become more valuable!

The idea of providing this info in digital format was excellent as people can put it on a device if they want to do their own exploring. I visit the area at least twice a year, sometimes more and being able to take the info out is brilliant! You can't really take the book with you! So I will be transferring it to my smart phone and or iPad in due course!

I have not really gone through all of the material much of it appears to be the authors diagrams and maps. It is not clear which could be the offending items. As CD burning can be achieved on a PC why not make some new disks or post the non Bedford Estates copyright material on the society web site?

John

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To defend the Society it was error it is a small group of mining historians like us. They have in good faith asked people to return the Cd and costs would be refunded, this was to satisfy the estate every reasonable attempt has been made to remove the offending images.

The estate could have stopped the book sales and bankrupt the society we should support the society in there attempt to rectify an error. I should imagine they are feeling guilty enough without us getting on their backs.

It is inevitably difficult to contact customers and no idea how they communicate with members

Mike

I am certainly not having a go at the Trevithick Society.

I have been a member since my teens in the 1970s and though due to distance I am unable to participate in meetings and field visits and these seldom corresponding with periods when I am in the area I enjoy receiving their newsletters and journals and have over the years bought many of the socity's publications.

If one bought a car and then the dealer asked for a wheel back one would not be too pleased would they?

My anger is aimed at Bedford Estates who I understand sold off the land around Tavistock many years ago! This seems like an awkward technicality in this age that the material can be put out in printed form but not digital form.

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Private archives and the people who own them sometimes have some pretty funny ideas. But it is their stuff to set fire to, if they choose.

Whilst I don't want to get too involved in this discussion it is worth noting that the information reproduced in the book and CD, whilst the property of the Bedford estate, has been cared for at public expense in the Devon Record Office since the 1970s at least. Make of that what you will.

Just received the good new that the Duke of Bedford has remitted any reproduction charges for images used in the canal book.

Good news indeed.

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Just received the good new that the Duke of Bedford has remitted any reproduction charges for images used in the canal book.

Thanks
I presume this now means TS don't want the CDs back?!
John

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