In February 2012 the Milton Historical Society undertook a project to digitize a number of VHS analogue video tapes that were in the MHS Archives. Additions were made to the collection in June of 2015. Other files will be digitized as they become available. If you have videos of value to the MHS suitable for addition to the MHS Archives, please contact us directly.
Digitized files can be produced from standard VHS tapes, 8 mm analogue video tapes, 8 mm digital video tapes or DVD.vob files. Analogue or digital are first converted to VOB format using a Sony Multi Function DVD Recorder and thereafter are converted to WMV files using Prism NCH Software. The last stage of the process is then to use Windows Live Movie Maker to edit the files, add tiles and credits then prepare the files for uploading to the archives. At this time video projection film formats (8 mm, Super 8, 16 mm, 35 mm) must go to a commercial facility for conversion to a standard DVD or digital tape prior to submission to the MHS for archiving. We are desperately searching for an old 8 mm film projector so we can convert those films in-house!
Once digitized, converted and edited, the videos are uploaded to the Internet Archive (Archive.org), a non-profit digital library of cultural artifacts in digital form, which like a paper library, provides free access to researchers, historians, scholars, and the general public. As part of the process, Archive.org converts the uploaded files into a number of different formats suitable for on-line viewing or download. Major international Universities and similar research groups (including individuals), digitize and upload print, audio and video collections. In addition to the videos shown below, the Milton Historical Society also digitizes and uploads audio files, such as those detailed in the “MHS Remembers Project“.
When you click on the links to the MHS uploads, you will be taken to the individual page for that specific video. An image will appear such as the following:
To play the movie, click on the “Windows Media” tag on the left side of the page (red arrow <). The files were edited and digitized with “Windows Live Movie Maker” thus will play in default with Windows Media Player, standard issue on all Microsoft based computers. If you use an Apple computer, you may need to install additional software. The Internet Archive also recommends using VLC Media Player, as a cross platform system that eliminates many of the errors reported by viewers.The following movies have been digitized, edited and uploaded to the Archive.org web site:
- A Different Time – Milton’s Victoria Park
- Martin’s Mills – The Founding of the Town of Milton
- Restoration of the Waldie Blacksmith Shop, Milton
- Main Street Walk (with Jim Dills, Milton Historical Society)
- Profile of P. L. Robertson Screws & Drivers (based on the book “P. L. – Inventor of the Robertson Screw by Ken Lamb of the MHS)
In August 2016 the MHS began the process of uploading the videos to the MHS YouTube Channel as well as Archive.org. As the videos are uploaded, these links will become active. For embedded versions of these movies, all on one page, please select “Embedded Videos“.
- Milton Historical Society (new August 2016)
- A Different Time – Milton’s Victoria Park
- Martin’s Mills – The Founding of the Town of Milton
- Restoration of the Waldie Blacksmith Shop, Milton
- Main Street Walk (with Jim Dills, Milton Historical Society)
- Profile of P. L. Robertson Screws & Drivers (based on the book “P. L. – Inventor of the Robertson Screw by Ken Lamb of the MHS)
More video files will be added as time permits, so check back later for new additions. Alternatively, subscribe to the MHS Twitter feed and you will receive an automatic notification when the new videos are added (MHS Twitter Link).
NOTE: The video of P. L. Robertson and the Robertson Screw was on The History Channel and was based on the 1998 book by Ken Lamb of the Milton Historical Society “P. L. Inventor of the Robertson Screw”. It would appear that the History Channel objected to the MHS loading the video to Archive.org as it was removed. As such, it was not uploaded to YouTube at this time.
If you have any problems viewing these videos on Archive.org, please e-mail me with the details of your problem. In particular, please tell me which Operating System you are using (Apple MAC; Windows 7, Vista or XP) and which program you are using to view the video (Media Player, VLC, etc.). Please note and submit any error messages you see on your screen. At any time on the Archive.org web page (see sample above) you can click on the HELP button which is the same as this HELP BUTTON for details on viewing the videos. There should be no issues with the new YouTube versions of the videos.
