This is an artefact from the Robert Owen Museum that Bridget and I were both very taken with. It is a Spanish coin, which must already have been out of circulation in Robert Owen's time, as it has been requisitioned and used as a form of internally exchangeable currency at the New Lanark woollen mill. This has been done simply by stamping its new name and value on top of the old one. It shows an economy of means, and allows the coin to visually display its double identity. Is it more or less respectful to the original than melting it down and starting again? Hmmm.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Waste Not
This is an artefact from the Robert Owen Museum that Bridget and I were both very taken with. It is a Spanish coin, which must already have been out of circulation in Robert Owen's time, as it has been requisitioned and used as a form of internally exchangeable currency at the New Lanark woollen mill. This has been done simply by stamping its new name and value on top of the old one. It shows an economy of means, and allows the coin to visually display its double identity. Is it more or less respectful to the original than melting it down and starting again? Hmmm.
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Hi Bridget,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you. Yes, it would be great to collaborate in some way on the idea of localised hi-tech production, open source, repraps etc.. Let me know when you're next at CAT and we can meet up. I'm in touch with the RepRap research group at Bath University and also a london based open hardware maker space, who are involved with this sort of work.
All the best
Suneil