Posted by Scott Ellis (206.168.33.195) on November 12, 2002 at 15:09:09:
In Reply to: link to sketches? posted by Rob on November 12, 2002 at 14:40:21:
Hi Rob,
I have been trying for about 2 years now to figure out a way to make Bessler's Maschinen Tractate (MT) available to the public. The problem is the Kassel Library in Germany wants more than $100 per plate per year in license fees (which would add up to well over $14,000 a year). My pockets aren't that deep, and I don't think it would be possible to recoup that amount of money. So in effect, the Library is permanently suppressing Bessler's work. I have made numerous creative proposals to the Library, but they have rebuffed me at every turn.
In the meantime, a friend of mine named Bill McMurtry is putting together a website called orffyre.com. There he hoped to publish "original interpretations" of MT. He thought he could circumvent the copyright laws by reproducing each plate using an image editing program on his computer (he is a graphic artist by trade). About a month ago, he had reproduced and uploaded about half of the drawings, and I had added a link on this site.
Unfortunately, he later discovered that the copyright laws also cover what are called "derivative works," and Bill's reproductions clearly fell under that definition. Fearing a lawsuit from the Library, he removed the images and I removed the link a few weeks ago.
I am not going to give up, though. I'm still working on ideas for getting MT into the public's hands. Bessler intended to publish it, and I don't understand why the Library is so stubbornly thwarting his wishes. I think it might just come down to greed. I believe the more people that see the drawings and the clues they contain, the more likely it is that someone, somewhere will stumble upon the secret.
If all else fails, one day I hope to provide "MT Ordering Kits" on this website, which would help people order a copy of MT as I did directly from the Library. The Library makes you go through quite a few hoops, and I hope to help streamline the process for the average Bessler enthusiast.
Best,
Scott
: Hi Scott,
: A while ago there was a link from your site to Bessler's "Maschinen Tractate" sketches which I found most enlightening, but which I can't seem to find again. I wish I had bookmarked it. Or was it only temporarily on the web? Thanks.