MAFFI Parts Project - UPDATE (August 2002)

The outcome was a redesign of the fields of the Data Entry Form. Non-essential information was deleted, fields were relocated and space was left for more pertinent information.

In addition to software/program changes, "Volunteer General Information Guidelines" were written, to insure uniform and consistent work habits among the volunteers. Such mundane items as part numbers, drawing dates, notes, and the use of abbreviations are areas covered in the new guidelines.

The redesigned program was tested recently. It ran very smoothly, and addressed pertinent indexing information speedily and with simplicity. Our sincere thanks to Cathy Latendresse - Henry Ford Museum Research Department Coordinator, Dave Renner - advisor, and MAFFI Index Volunteers: George deAngelis, Nick Markes, Stewart Murray, Bruce Palmer, Larry Sadoski, George Barbat and Violet Williams for their cooperation and supportive effort in performing a far reaching service to the Model "A" hobby.

Bob Anderson (Spring 2000)

December 2001

Although the original drawings were discarded, 90,000 photographic negatives were made. Not all the drawings were used in actual production. The Museum and MAFFI have refocused the project to first develop an index of the negatives. Once the content and status of each negative is known, then the pertinent drawings can be selected and scanned more efficiently. To date, over 25,000 negatives have been processed.

August 2002

The Parts Project volunteers have made stellar progress this past year, handling and processing 10,500 negatives, for a total of 32,272 negatives recorded to date. They are working from box #19 and up to part #A-13620, or about 35% finished. Although work was temporarily recessed until the Research Center moved to the new facility (Benson Ford Research Center), the database is operational and may be sorted by part number, then by date, making it functional and of value to Museum staff in response to questions from Model A'ers.