Hi all!

[ccamfield]

Glad to be here on the forums!

My interests are mostly the WW2 land war, the North African, Italian, and NWE theatres. I am a beginner-level scale modeller but not really improving as other hobbies including research and writing are taking more of my time. I am hoping to write a book about the Archer, aka Valentine 17-Pounder SP, which will hopefully include a mixture of technical detail, the story of its development, and discussion of its use by both British and Canadian units. I hope I'll be able to help with questions where I know something worth contributing!

I semi-regularly visit Library and Archives Canada, so if you would like photographs of a document there send me a line and I might be able to accommodate you.

Cheers,
Chris

[BFBSM]

G'day Chris and welcome aboard.

I semi-regularly visit Library and Archives Canada, so if you would like photographs of a document there send me a line and I might be able to accommodate you.

That is a generous offer, and I think it may well be taken up.

[Phil]

I semi-regularly visit Library and Archives Canada, so if you would like photographs of a document there send me a line and I might be able to accommodate you.

A generous offer indeed! I'll let my contract researcher know he's got to look for other work

[ccamfield]

Maybe I'd better check with him about what the union rate is

Kidding aside, I have not in the past charged anyone. Mostly I've been exchanging document photographs with folks in the UK who obviously don't have easy access to LAC.

Getting institutions to copy stuff, on the other hand, can get a bit expensive!

[Phil]

Maybe I'd better check with him about what the union rate is

Kidding aside, I have not in the past charged anyone. Mostly I've been exchanging document photographs with folks in the UK who obviously don't have easy access to LAC.

Getting institutions to copy stuff, on the other hand, can get a bit expensive!

I've found the contract researchers to be very affordable, as well as prompt since some of them have privileged access. In addition I think the LAC is more apt to fill their requests since they're so familiar with the systems, processes and people involved that many delays are harder to explain.

I can PM you some names of those I've worked with, there's also an index on the LAC site,

Freelance Researchers

[ccamfield]

Oh, interesting. I'd forgotten that LAC had any contract researchers. Thanks!

[ccamfield]

Random related thoughts:

I'm only at the archives every 2-3 months on average. if you want something done soon or you have a big job I might not be able to help.

On the other hand, helping people out exposes you to new material and information - and I also just like helping people out. I wouldn't have had the idea of researching the Archer if I hadn't been taking photographs of AFV Technical Reports for a fellow in the UK.

Those are quite interesting if you like that kind of thing - it's feedback about technical issues with vehicles and sometimes replies from the UK. Also stuff about field adaptations like unofficial roofs made for M10 tank destroyers.