I have spent the last few days continuing to digitize content for the online archive. I'll state for the record, we are still a ways out from having the archive accessible, but I starting to get pretty excited about it. In answer to Brian Robinson's request for a CD of the old factory 35mm scans, it is my goal to have all of this available online. We are developing a system that will serve resolutions on the fly. The Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club member will be able to determine what resolution he/she wants based on their specific need.
1. We have scanned several hundred original factory 8 x 10 B&W prints. These prints were scanned as grayscale at 600 DPI, yielding a 70Mb uncompressed file. They look great. For the most part these scans cover 1956 through 1964. There's some great stuff here. Lots of unusual models and configurations, including a couple of dozen Cavalier Division photos, a couple of dozen Sea Skiff Division photos, many large cruisers, up to 65 footers including a few Roamer shots.
2. I scanned the entire 275 page Chris-Craft marketing communications plan from 1966 which I purchased from a non-member. This marketing plan is pretty fascinating with goals and strategies for each Chris-Craft Division.
3. Next, a 250 page, A-120 engine parts specification for all variations of the A-120, including race variations.
4. Next an article from Business Week 1964, "Building Boats Like Cars" an interview with Pompano execs with a tour of the plant. Some great photos in this article of big cruisers coming down the assembly line.
5. Newspaper clippings from December 1988 Miami Herald, disclosing Murray Chris-Craft's closing and pending reorganization.
6. 1964 article, "Hank Bowman Tests the Commander 38"
7. Complete color scans of 1941 Chris-Craft Water Ways catalog
This amounts to nearly 2,000 pages of content (documents and photos) that have been digitized in the past week or so.
Fun stuff.
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Bill Basler
Director of Marketing and Membership
Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club
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