Kim--

At a small science center I worked at in Fort Wayne we had a great deal of
success attracting items we needed (specific hardware and "junk" pieces for
"invention" programs; rocks, pinecones, etc. for a trading area) by:

1) putting out press releases with the "wish list" and explaining why we needed
them, i.e., how they would be used

2) having a related sheet in the building for visitors and staff (which
included hundreds of volunteers) to take home with them.

Together, these were also very helpful with out community relations, media
relations and volunteer program efforts--as well as helping the exhibits and
programs agendas of the institution.

Also, Cliff Wagner, who developed the "Contraptions A to Z" temporary
exhibition now at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum, once mentioned that he had found the
exact hard-to-find item he was looking for in that show (I think it was an
old-fashined plow?) by going on the EBay auction site.  Not free, of course, but
there's a tremendous amount of "stuff" out there.  Probably on amazon.com and other
auction sites too.

--Todd Happer
Scientific American


On 7/18/99, Museum discussion list wrote:
>I am writing on behalf of a colleague here in Rockford at a local historic
>house museum.  Their time period is 1890 - 1910.  He is interested in
>acquiring several objects for the museum's hands-on collection.  The
>list has
>approximately 50 items on it and I have enclosed it at the end of this
>message.  Does anyone know of a good source for these objects -
>either
>authentic or reproductions?  Please contact me offlist or David Oberg at
>Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum 815/964-2424.
>
>Thank you,
>Kim Stull
>[log in to unmask]
>
>bedwarmer
>bootjack
>bottle w/ old-fashioned cologne
>bottle w/rosewater or lavender
>bracket fungus
>bustle
>butter churn, handcranked
>buttonhook
>calling cards
>cane/walking stick
>chamber set
>chess set
>china (fine or utilitarian)
>clothing
>coffee grinder
>comb
>corset
>cosmetics
>doll w/ porcelain head
>floor grates
>gilt frame
>gas lamp lighter
>hair art
>hair combs
>hat pins
>hats, men's or women's
>lazy susan
>linens
>mortar and pestle
>mortise and tenon joint (miniature)
>parquet pieces (miniature)
>powder box
>pipes
>quilt
>ruffle iron
>sachet
>shoes, button
>silverware, bone handled or otherwise
>soap
>wooden sppon
>stereoscope
>swimsuit
>tea set
>tools
>toys
>transon, model
>underwear
>washboard and basin
>woodburning irons and inks
>
>For texture boxes
>alabaster w/carving
>beadwork
>bone handle
>canvas
>carved wood fragment
>horse hair upholstery swatch
>ivory fragment
>leather bound book
>marble fragment
>painted plaster fragment
>quilt fragment
>rush seat section
>screen
>velvet swatch
>wicker fragment
>
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