Has anyone ordered anything from the National Archives? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Chris55000 · 22nd Apr 2022, 7:02 pm

Hi!

Has any Member ordered a copy of anything from the National Archives at Kew, and if so, can anyone give me a rough estimate of the likely cost please?

I am aware of the compulsory £8.40 "Page Check Fee", so to take the three parts of AP2536C, "Common Test Gear for Radio Equipment" as an example, it would cost £25.20 in "Page Check Fees" plus whatever the copying/postage costs are, so I'm trying to work out if paying three "Page Check Fees" plus copying/delivery costs would be cheaper than going to the Reading Rooms in person!

Chris Williams

M0FYA Andy · 22nd Apr 2022, 10:21 pm

Chris,
I have bought copies of various documents 'pre-covid' from TNA, this service was then discontinued once the lockdowns began - has it now restarted?

Costs are high if the document is of any size, for example I went through the page-check process for a sonabuoy system AP, but didn't proceed when the copy cost would have been £700-plus! The killer is any fold-out or large diagrams.
I think the cost per A4 page was about £1?
The whole process is quite slow, I think about three weeks to get the page-count and then a further three weeks to get the copy.
I only went for the electronic copy once, and was disappointed with the low-resolution copies provided, adequate but not enjoyable to read. On the other hand paper copies were fine, I suspect photocopied rather than scanned. Of course things might have changed from pre to post-covid.

Andy

jamesinnewcastl · 28th Apr 2022, 8:05 pm

Chris

I would go to the TNA just for the experience! I really look forward to getting the notification that my documents are in the cubby hole! You can take them to a window seat - set your camera up on the stand provided and snap away!

And so nice to pass a table where an ordinary member of the public is unrolling some ancient medival scroll!

And there is always somewhere very quiet to go for some deep thinking. I often go to such a room in my own home!

Cheers
James

22nd Apr 2022, 7:02 pm	#1
Chris55000 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walsall Wood, Aldridge, Walsall, UK. Posts: 2,864	Has anyone ordered anything from the National Archives? Hi! Has any Member ordered a copy of anything from the National Archives at Kew, and if so, can anyone give me a rough estimate of the likely cost please? I am aware of the compulsory £8.40 "Page Check Fee", so to take the three parts of AP2536C, "Common Test Gear for Radio Equipment" as an example, it would cost £25.20 in "Page Check Fees" plus whatever the copying/postage costs are, so I'm trying to work out if paying three "Page Check Fees" plus copying/delivery costs would be cheaper than going to the Reading Rooms in person! Chris Williams __________________ It's an enigma, that's what it is! This thing's not fixed because it doesn't want to be fixed!

22nd Apr 2022, 10:21 pm	#2
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: Has anyone ordered anything from the National Archives? Chris, I have bought copies of various documents 'pre-covid' from TNA, this service was then discontinued once the lockdowns began - has it now restarted? Costs are high if the document is of any size, for example I went through the page-check process for a sonabuoy system AP, but didn't proceed when the copy cost would have been £700-plus! The killer is any fold-out or large diagrams. I think the cost per A4 page was about £1? The whole process is quite slow, I think about three weeks to get the page-count and then a further three weeks to get the copy. I only went for the electronic copy once, and was disappointed with the low-resolution copies provided, adequate but not enjoyable to read. On the other hand paper copies were fine, I suspect photocopied rather than scanned. Of course things might have changed from pre to post-covid. Andy

28th Apr 2022, 8:05 pm	#3
jamesinnewcastl Heptode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 722	Re: Has anyone ordered anything from the National Archives? Chris I would go to the TNA just for the experience! I really look forward to getting the notification that my documents are in the cubby hole! You can take them to a window seat - set your camera up on the stand provided and snap away! And so nice to pass a table where an ordinary member of the public is unrolling some ancient medival scroll! And there is always somewhere very quiet to go for some deep thinking. I often go to such a room in my own home! Cheers James Attached Thumbnails