A correspondent writes with an interesting query about a novel book cradle for copying manuscripts.
Most used are the copy stands, and I found an Austrian system called “Traveller’s copy stand”.
But last year I saw in Athos someone using a portable device with 2 glass windows and a system allowing the camera to change position for taking pictures of both pages of an opened manuscript.
Do you happen to know the name of this device? I would like to get more info on it, but I don’t know what to look for.
Copying manuscripts is the very devil to do. You can’t open the thing flat, so it ends up in a book rest open at 45 degrees. You want the camera facing each page at 90 degrees. So you have to take one side of the book, turning the pages; and then flip the book around and do the other side. It’s a faff.
I think the “Austrian travellers’ copy stand” is mentioned here. A description at a vendor site is here. I wonder what it costs?
But does anyone recognise the description above? If so, info very welcome!
UPDATE: From the comments, it seems to be the Ion Book Saver. I want one!
UPDATE: There’s a very poor demo of it on YouTube here, but it gives an idea. It also states that UK price will be 129 GBP. A comment on the video says release was postponed to December 2011.
Here’s a DIY bookscanner kit; not sure if it’s quite the same thing.
I think StGall (CESG) were recently describing a “portable” MSS scanner/camera(?)as one of their latest acquisitions… so they can add the contents of other libraries. Hardly cheap!!
These things ought not to be expensive; they are, after all, simple things.
The ION Book Saver seems to have been delayed for a while now, but if it goes it should be out soon for around $200 US.
I wonder if that’s it? Looks interesting, doesn’t it?
I’d want one too but I can’t see how you can do 200 pages in 15 minutes if you have to lift that contraption off the book every time to turn a page…the demo makes it look…awkward.
I thought the same. So evidently the claim is eyewash, or else the system doesn’t work quite as we suppose.
I’ve written to the firm and asked how I can get one. I think it isn’t available yet, tho.