I just watched banderson's "haul" video, where he showed all the old service manuals he just acquired. That got me thinking... who owns the copyright to all that old stuff? Is it public domain? Easily accessible?

The reason I ask is that I work with Google Book Search, preserving and sharing old books. If this stuff is public domain, but hard to find, I could look into getting it scanned and added to books.google.com. Would any of these manuals be in a "normal" library?

-Jason

Generally pre 1964 stuff is public domain according to the ETF. Check out this webpage: http://www.earlytelevision.org/tv_schematic_diagrams.html

They've been building up a nice library of scanned service info. I've only scanned a few Sams and Wallace Telaides so far. The huge schematics in the Rider's are a real challenge to scan.

How large do they fold out to?

-J

Pretty darn big in letter sized volume II. Very easy on the eyes :yes:
I don't have and have never seen volume I so couldn't say about that one.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5287514872_de368b1b06_z.jpg http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5286912845_1a0393d7b9_z.jpg

Later ledger sized volumes have a single page fold out. I only have a letter/legal sized flatbed scanner. I imagine ledger sized scanners are pricey.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5287515000_5bee00913b_z.jpg