02/13/2020
𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 @ 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐬, #𝟐: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫
The Hinman collator was developed in the late 1940s by Charlton Hinman. It uses a series of mirrors, lenses, and lights to superimpose images of two texts such that minute differences become apparent. Optical collation of this kind was most notably used by Hinman himself while writing 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦 (1963). Seeing the value of optical collation, the crude prototype that Hinman had constructed out of scavenged material was perfected and 59 units were eventually produced. Hinman collators have aided researchers and scholars in achieving an increased understanding of historical printing, editing, and binding practices, and have opened avenues of inquiry that would otherwise have been unavailable until the introduction of digital imaging. Today only 40 or so Hinman collators remain.
I find it fascinating that the collator can be used not only to compare manuscripts, but any 2-dimensional items where small differences need to be identified. This could include aerial photos, maps, engravings, astronomical images, or artwork; and the collator does it without relying on complex computer systems, just flashing lights, a couple mirrors, and the human eye.
We are looking to re-home our collator, so if you know of any organizations that could put it to good use and keep this cool piece of history vibrant and alive, please do let us know.
If you would like to know more about Hinman collators, check out:
-https://collation.folger.edu/2018/05/hinman-redux/
-https://uh.edu/engines/epi1020.htm
-http://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=2408
