Archives in Action - FULL STEAM AHEAD!
“You have no idea how important a piece of paper can be…” This was wonderful for any archivist to hear as we chatted while children were busy recreating ‘Fodens classics’ in Lego.
Our collections have sparked artistic creations this summer - see our Astbury Bound event - but this time it was our turn to be inspired, as we designed new family activities based on original Foden drawings. And where better to introduce the resulting Lego build kits than Kelsall Steam Rally, an event that attracts thousands of steam enthusiasts and their families?
On a bright and sunny morning on a hot weekend in June with storms threatened, we squeezed our gazebo next to the Foden Society – good to catch up with them again and talk all things DFO, and so lucky to have them on hand for help with info and a mallet!
DFO is our reference for the Fodens collection – a large and comprehensive collection that reflects Fodens’ importance at the forefront of steam road transport technology in the 19th and early 20th century, becoming the largest producer of trucks globally by the mid 20th century. The collection includes thousands of individual truck buildsheets with the kind of detail you need to repair and restore your vintage Foden truck – hence the importance of just one piece of paper that we were reminded of.
The other good news was, for a firm originating in Sandbach whose society still meets there, that our decision to keep the collection in our new Crewe centre was so warmly and enthusiastically received. The firm’s founder Edwin Foden was an apprentice at Crewe works so the collection complements Crewe’s other records of innovation in engineering.
Given how much the children who had a go enjoyed our Lego creations, our plan to have it on hand as a family activity at Cheshire Archives Crewe seems a good one.
A long and busy day, with just a couple of rain interruptions that didn’t stop play and some fascinating conversations. My favourite: the story of the wedding cake with a company logo for the woman marrying into Foden management!
By Lisa Greenhalgh, Senior Archives Collections Officer
