FUND
RAISING WITH AUTOMATA COLLECTING BOXES
A case study of the Pitt Rivers Museum Collecting box
(written for the 2008 fund raising edition of Museum Practice magazine)
The Pitt Rivers collection box
has eight carved wooden anthropologists, with a copper bowl in front of
them. When you approach, the figures point and stare accusingly at you.
If you drop a coin into the bowl, the anthropologists bend over to
inspect it. The anthropologists are cartoon portraits of the interesting
characters who have contributed to the museum since its opening in 1861.
I made it in 1996, and
though I’ve made other collecting boxes, it remains my favourite. The
friends of the Pitt Rivers got a grant from South East Arts
and invited several automata makers to apply. I was writing a TV
proposal at the time and was frustrated at not making anything in my
workshop, so I was particularly keen. I also loved the museum with its
densely packed showcases, handwritten (sometimes opinionated) labels,
and straightforward
categories. I wanted the box to blend in with the place, so they found
me a small old showcase to convert. I had intended my anthropologists to
bow as a gesture of thanks when coins were inserted. It was only when I
connected the motor that I realised they were not bowing, just looking
at the cash.
The coins fall past an inductive
sensor (which senses any metal) to make the figures move. The
disadvantage is that the bowl accumulates a lot of copper coins. I used
to use optical sensors. These detect anything that breaks an infrared
beam, so they respond to notes as well as coins, but in practice
visitors put in scraps of paper. Some museums have fixed donation
automata collecting boxes. These take more per turn, but get used less
frequently. The income is roughly the same but they need less frequent
maintenance.
The anthropologists had teething
problems. The accusing, pointing action which works whenever anyone
approaches, is very effective at getting visitors’ attention, but
greatly increases the wear on the parts. Each anthropologist has a fine
tension wire to pull their arm up, and at first all these wires kept
breaking. It took several attempts to find a long term solution. Not all
collecting boxes have teething problems, but its obviously an advantage
if the maker lives reasonably nearby! (I don’t, but I often visit
London which is only an hour away).
The anthropologists still need a
maintenance visit every couple of years or so. The Pitt Rivers is good
at telling me when they need attention – many museums aren’t, I
think because after the novelty has worn off, the staff don’t always
notice. I still maintain the anthropologists myself, though with most
other boxes I’ve made, museums technicians or local electricians have
taken over.
A particular problem with the
anthropologists is that the museum and I both decided it should be made
out of recycled materials. This was fine for the timber, but I also
scavenged all the motors and electronics from a local scrapyard. Twelve
years on I regret it because it makes fault finding and maintenance
difficult for me, and almost impossible for anyone else. I will have to
bring the box back to my workshop and replace all the recycled
electrical parts soon.
I doubt the anthropologists generate more cash
than a plain glass box. Many more people put money in, but a lot of it
is copper, and no notes. However it still provides a useful income. The
box collects £4-5,000 a year, about 3p per visitor. It is also popular
with visitors, and appreciated by the museum staff as a sort of
introduction to the place and the characters that created it.
Postscript:
The box came back to the workshop in March 2009. I replaced the surplus
electronics and after some discussion, added a £1 coin acceptor so it
now only takes £1 coins. We
decided that in this particular situation, it was worth trying. They
have added an ordinary glass collection box by the entrance, but kept
mine nestling amongst the exhibits (which everyone, including me,
wanted). Unfortunately they now don't separate the income from my box
from the main box, but the general impression is that its takings have
increased.
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