Sherman ARV at Camp Borden??

[maple_leaf_eh]

http://www.emebranchgem.ca/english/view.asp?x=898

Sigh, some of the back end work that has to happen with volunteer museums.

[Dean (Ajax)]

I am glad to see that many on this forum are AGAIN insulting and hammering those that try to keep the Museums alive. Perhaps a little research before you spout off would be good.

That Sherman that this thread started about is NOT part of the Borden Museum collection..it is one of a few Vehs that are owned and paid for by the CFEME Association, and is held at the CFEME school...not by the Museum!!!!

Perhaps when the question was asked as to where it was..the person they talked to might have been a Volanteer.. or one of those Military People that is there for a day or a week to help out.

Regardless..it is so very easy to insault those that are trying to save our Military History...


Just My Thoughts. waiting for the shit storm

Dean O

[David Herbert]

No need for a shit storm ! In Bob's first post he specificaly says that he knows it is not part of the museum collection. No one disagreed with him as far as I can see but people did lament that a vehicle that had been brought to running condition should be plinthed outside.

That seems fair comment to me. We all know that all organisations and enthusiasts have finite resorces. I have had to store things in damp conditions in the past with the result that they deteriorated. It was certainly a bad thing to do but you can only do your best. My pet hate is when things are scrapped when they could be offered to other people / organisations.

David

[Bob Phillips]

Well first a thankyou to Dave for pointing out that I asked about a vehicle that was not part of the museum collection and seemed lost on the base somewhere.
In fairness the gentleman I talked to told me they had 50 plus outdoor exhibits to keep track of but never heard tell of the said ARV. I point out again that I had a personal interest in the fate of the vehicle as I was involved in locating the replacement engine and parts. No slam here, though as I pointed out the haste at which the reassembly occurred resulted in temporary difficulties.
So with respect to the Base Borden museum they have an amazing collection of vehicles and you can get close enough to rub elbows with them all. I do find it frustrating that so little resources are available to restore, display them in a more interactive way with the general public, but then the function of the armed forces is not primarily to do with museums.
It is probably also true that museums such as Bordens feel like they are dammed if the do and dammed if they don't when they try something. Some years ago they sandblasted all the outdoor exhibits and repainted them' removing any specific markings but preserving the vehicles under a fresh coat of paint. Some in the restoration community were critical of this.
And finally they are justifiably gunshy about dealing with the public or hobby enthusiasts. Most of us in Ontario remember the fiasco a few years back when a high school shop program proposed to restore and repower a Sherman firefly. It did not end well - if for no other reason that when you get down to it armor is expensive to repair, to drive and to transport, hardly a job for a novice.
What is the answer? I dont know but it bothers me to see vehicles rotting that could be restored and running. The gatepost Sherman ( Grizzly?) does have a complete radial engine in it- could it have gone into the firefly? There are at least 2 Shermans In Ontario bases with Chrysler multibanks, and couldn't they collection of T54/55 &0,90 etc been started up once or twice per year to keep them mobile?? Just a few thoughts...

[Robert Bergeron]

My friends,

I am late reading this post . Sorry.

We must admire and encourage our curators and volonteers who work and keep the CF Museums going against incredible budgetary odds.


Cheers.

[jdmcm]

In my opinion, we should be courting Canadian corporations to assist in funding the restoration and preservation of our heritage. I do not want to get into a political debate here but they have greatly benefited over many years from favorable tax and environmental legislation in Canada so why not give back? I for one do not want to see our forces choosing between preserving our military heritage and being ill equipped. Has this partnership been tried before or is it even in place now? I know in the UK they use lottery funds to assist with the Tank Museum and other collections...maybe this is an option as well? Come on Lotto max! Daddy needs to repaint the ARV!