It was an idea to make a statement about the fragility of family objects with the passing of the generations. It seemed appropriate to make a photographic record of assorted items with specific associations. Access to a Canon Compact camera simplified the photography with choice of a square image format. The images captured were mainly mechanical items as listed in the table – spanning around three generations. The model steam engine probably dates from the 1930’s and which is linked to the items on either side of it. I remember it well when we assembled the rails in our garden in North Wales and fired it up with meths as fuel. The spirit level is still in use for occasional tasks around the house. The oil gauge is typical of the objects once so common in army surplus stores but which are now assuming an aura of rarity.
| object | object | object |
| spring | oil gauge | clamp |
| spirit level | match holder | circuit board |
| spare boiler | model train | metal syringe for model train |
The match holder in the centre is of particular interest. This was an item turned on a wood lathe and then drilled using a metal template for pocket money. This would sharpen up no end awareness of the risks of workshop equipment (keep that necktie away from rotating surfaces). The workshop area for this was in the basement of the family house and where the necessary headroom was achieved by essentially excavating a large quantity of earth from underneath the house. The circuit board was linked to something I was developing for educational science – Silicon Playground.
Through time, through life events, items fall by the wayside – to landfill, a box in the attic/garage or the modern curiosity shop. The half life of stuff, however, can be remarkably short.
