Manchester exhibits

As MOSI is no longer a stand alone Museum, but part of the Science Museum family, I would like to think any exhibits that were not returned to owners would go to Wroughton or their other stores.

…………..never to be seen again!! The Science Museum makes very little effort to promote access to its exhibits at Wroughton. Will be very sorry if this closure (Manchester) goes ahead.

Thanks for that JDH. Certainly all makes sense but presumably if an accredited museum goes into receivership then the receiver will dispose of items as he sees fit?

The best outcome in this case would be for MOSI to give the item to Newark as they have the connection, assuming Newark want it that is. Always more things to consider than at first appears to the layman.

With regards donating/loaning to museums. Museums that are accredited, most larger museums are. Will need to have a proper accessions policy by which they add to the collection. Once an item is donated and accessioned sole title to the object is with the museum. The original depositor relinquishes any ownership. It is then the museums to do with what they will. Display, store or dispose. Disposal procedures are quite long winded for accredited museums. They are obliged to try and pass on to another more relevant collection. Only when that has failed are they allowed to sell an item. In reality most museums just end up storing items not needed for display. They can of course get them out for interested parties, but unless you know of an item’s location how do you know where to ask? Lots of items just disappear from sight. As for long loans most museums now only take fixed term loans for specific exhibitions. This is because they cannot build long term exhibitions around objects that might get recalled by their owners. Nor can they store indefinitely objects they do not own that are not needed for display. Obviously most depositors hope and think their treasured items will go on immediate and permanent display. This sadly is not they case. I love museums and work in them, but I always advise people to think carefully before donating, as you cannot get it back again if circumstances change.

As MOSI is no longer a stand alone Museum, but part of the Science Museum family, I would like to think any exhibits that were not returned to owners would go to Wroughton or their other stores.

I’d love to see the Shack at East Fortune (After all, they apparently turned down the chance to obtain one in 1991 in the hope it would mean one would remain flying) but I’m not sure they would have the under cover space at present.

Hmm must type faster. But Newark is an excellent museum ?

Newark is an excellent museum and you should have a chat with twinotter who may well be along soon.

Probably not if gifted or donated which is why I would take the precaution of making a “long term loan”. In this way ownership stays with you and should the receiving museum go out of business owing money then the official receiver is not able to sell property that does not belong to the museum.
In the specific case at MOSI I doubt very much if the new broom would want to keep it if the other aeronautical exhibits go. Although they would have the option of selling it to buy something, in their eyes, more interesting, sorry I ment more relevant to the museum. ?

467 sqn RAAF – if you would like me to pass on any details to NAM’s Curator please send me a PM and I will do the necessary; I know they’re always interested in any RAF Winthorpe connections. 🙂

A few weeks back I hosted an Australian visitor at NAM who’s researching a 467 Sqn crew that crashed on the Mailly-le-Camp raid; I understand that he will soon be printing a book about one of the crew members.

Once something is donated, can you ask for it back?

Thanks for that Paul, will get in touch with them. Don’t think my Grandfather would want to loan it more likely gift it somewhere, will speak to him in the next couple of days and see what he thinks. Maybe somewhere like the Newark Air Museum would be a good place as he served there as a gunnery instructor when it was RAF Winthorpe after completing his tour with 467 Sqn.

Get it back quick would be my advice and “loan” it to one of our excellent dedicated air museums. Times are hard and no where is “safe” but if you retain ownership the receiver cannot touch it.

My grandfather donated his aircrew medical kit from his RAF days to MOSI, what’s likely to happen to bits of stuff like that?

Crash and Smash still exist as JARTS (Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transport Squadron) based at Boscombe Down

Lets hope so. In the old days crash and smash would move everything… do they still exist?

The Comet wasn’t scrapped without the RAF Museum knowing about it. They organised the survey and they decided it couldn’t be saved at reasonable costs.
Not likely to be the same case with aircraft that have been undercover for 30 years.

Unfortunately the raf museum didn’t prevent their Comet being destroyed.

David is, of course, right and all this has been well covered in previous threads. Even so I am sure a careful eye should be kept on events.

The museum has most of the aircraft on loan so scrapping isn’t really something they can contemplate . The aircraft owners are aware of the situation at Manchester .

So now this issue is out in the open on this forum perhaps some plan of action can be formed? This disposal of airframes is not yet urgent and hopefully can be sorted out well before threats of scrapping are made.

Yes Pete it certainly is, there is a new broom.:D and she doesn’t like aeroplanes.

Thanks for replying Paul. That one had totally passed me by, a real shame if it happens, even on a reduced scale.

Pete