PK Porthcurno

Two Days to Go… Cable Display

As we move closer to Saturday 14th June I thought it would be nice to share a sneak preview of one of our displays.

As you will have read in the previous posts, a lot of time and careful planning goes into our displayed collection. Something we have plenty of at the museum are cable samples. From the earliest prototypes made of copper and gutta percha to the modern fibre optic cables, we have got cables coming out of our ears.

With plenty of cable samples to choose from we have been preparing a display cabinet in the north tunnel.

The first stage is to prepare the display case, dusting and cleaning the glass and putting up glass shelves.

Preparing the Area - Rudy is shown putting glass shelves into the cables display case.
Preparing the area. Rudy is shown putting glass shelves into the cables display case.

Then we identify and locate the cables we want to display depending on the size of the case.

ID Tags - Each individual item has a unique object number. This is used to manage information about our vast collections and is essential for keeping track of the location of thousands of items.
ID tags. Each individual item has a unique object number. This is used to manage information about our vast collections and is essential for keeping track of the location of thousands of items.

We produce condition reports for each item, commenting on the condition and composite materials of each object.

Then we carefully transport the items to their new location, noting the change of location on the movement forms.

Moving the Objects - Each object is selected by the Interpretation Team for display. Then the Collections Team use the location information to find each item from the Museum's Object Store and they are carefully transported to their new home.
Moving the objects. Each object is selected by the Exhibitions Team for display. then the Collections Team use the location information to find each item from the museum’s object store and they are carefully transported to their new home.
Movement Form - Whenever we move an object we fill in a movement form to keep track of the locations of all our objects and documents. This data is then used to update location information on computer database.
Movement form. Whenever we move an object we fill in a movement form to keep track of the locations of all our objects and documents. This data is then used to update location information on a computer database.

The creative part is arranging the cables to look their best and creating a display that looks interesting and dynamic.

Finally the display is checked over and the supporting information text is added. Then it’s onto the next case…

Finished Display - Once every item has been examined and cleaned, a condition report has been done, the ID tags have been removed and the locations have been updated the display is then ready for public view.
Finished display. Once every item has been examined and cleaned, a condition report has been done, the ID tags have been removed and the locations have been updated the display is then ready for public view.
Two Days to Go… Cable Display
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