Museum of Photocopies

PINS – Rule Thirteen: Localities – Imaginary Worlds

Some photocopies to accompany a post that explains more about a rule where we have to make a local decision. We still don’t know what a local decision is, yet. Will we ever?

You can drive through imaginary, or lost worlds in real time, or write them down and forget about them. As long as they don’t get faxed somewhere.

A photograph of a photocopy of a still of an Estonian television commercial in the early 1980s, made by Harry Egipt (born 1950). This image never officially existed when it was made and does not exist outside of this moment, captured by the curator. There is only one known photocopy of this image. Look at the two boys cooking, and realise this image proves localities can be made up.

PINS – Rule Twelve: Localities – Tyneside

Look at the dank and ashen, perma-littered pavements of Fenham running along the Moor and wonder, what is there here for you? Le Grove du Sydney is not for you, that’s for sure. This is the problem with localities, some are good some are bad, but you need to know your local, to make your local decision in PINS. PINS demands it. Here are some hints on localities from Tyneside, and below some photocopies to help you decipher what you need. Howay!

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of the activities of the Mayor and Mayoress of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, 1977-1978. Here we see a march past of the lads who came back. Does the image of this intimate locality propel you to choose your own?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of the activities of the Mayor and Mayoress of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, 1977-1978. Time for a communal tea, a bit dinner, in other words. Does the image of this intimate locality propel you to choose your own?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of the activities of the Mayor and Mayoress of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, 1977-1978. Here we see some lads at work. Work is serious stuff on Tyneside. What Tyneside was built for. Does the image of this intimate locality propel you to choose your own?

PINS – Rule Eleven: Localities – Lancashire

We decided, in the latest post, to suggest some localities. And we decided to start in the County Palatine of Lancashire; a place which, as the journalist Charles Nevin outrageously suggests in the title of his book on the ceremonial county, a place where Women Die of Love.

Heere are some local localities, a local which may of may not still exist in this way. Soak up their atmosphere, captured deeply and darkly on a December day and ask yourself, is this the locality for me? And where is Peter on the Piano?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of a pub on the road to Accrington centre. It’s Christmas, hence the happy atmosphere. This one shows the BUNGER. Does the image of this intimate locality propel you to choose your own?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of a pub on the road to Accrington centre. It’s Christmas, hence the happy atmosphere. This one shows the TABLE and the door to the OUTSIDE JAKES. Does the image of this intimate locality propel you to choose your own?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of a pub on the road to Accrington centre. It’s Christmas, hence the happy atmosphere. This one shows the ORIGINAL NORTHERN SMOOTHIE. Does the image of this intimate locality propel you to choose your own?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of a pub on the road to Accrington centre. It’s Christmas, hence the happy atmosphere. This one is sideways and shows TH’ARRERS board. Does the image of this intimate locality propel you to choose your own?

PINS – Rule Ten: A Local Decision

Local decisions are important in the game of PINS. That’s where most decisions are made, locally. You can learn more here. For now, here are some photocopies to help you make your very own local decision.

A photograph of a collage using photocopies pencils, and pen and ink, showing Louis Napoleon of France, in his role as President of the Second Republic. This image is housed in a stamp album full of empty leaves, once used and since abandoned by the curator’s father, to house his collection of old French stamps. We all know Louis was a C.O. – a disastrous one ultimately. He ended up in Southport, South Lancs at one point. And his son was killed in the Zulu War of 1879. All bad decisions. Can you make a good local decision?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of the works in Accrington centre, near where Intack was. In the snow, in the early 2010s. A place where many decisions were made, making things. Now no decisions are made here. Maybe you can make one last one.

A photograph of a photocopy of a pencil drawing the curator made when he was 17. It’s from a book about either Accringon or Gateshead. He can’t remember which. The lads are showing the dedication you need when a local decision has been made and you get stripped and ready for action.

PINS – Rule Nine: Move 2 – That Which Cannot Be Altered

Things cannot be fully explained because it’s Move 2, which as the rules shown in Rule Eight state, “cannot be altered, except by Pin and Local Decision.”

In order not to alter anything we advise you to read Rule Nine. And peruse the following photocopies in case you need further inspiration.

A photograph of a collage using photocopies pencils, and pen and ink, showing a vaguely threatening situation the curator thought up. It reminds him of a regular Saturday night in Accrington in the late 1980s. The heads are those of Edward VIII. One is the bust that appeared on the standard issue postage stamps, whilst the other (the three-quarter portrait) is from a broken coronation mug, inexpertly glued together, and still in the curator’s possession. This was saved from the royalist (East Lancastrian) side of the family. Other images are the Spanish police, made suitably anonymous and given more rustic aspect; the first depiction of Britannia (modelled, suposedly, on Charles I’s mistress, Nel Gwynne); and an old acquaintance of the curator’s from his Bollenstreek Party years. This image is housed in a stamp album full of empty leaves, once used and since abandoned by the curator’s father, to house his collection of old French stamps of the various republics and empires the French have had since the first release (depicting Ceres, goddess of corn) in 1849. This is an image specially prepared for Move 2, which cannot be altered.

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of a page from a book on flowers and garden shrubs, in which we see a listing of some Hardy Plants. The book is called The Flower Garden, and written by T.W. Sanders, F.L.S., F.R.H.S.. This is the third edition and is printed by W.H. & L. Collingridge, (“Amateur Gardening” Office, 148 & 149 Aldersgate Street, E.C. 1). The curator suspects this is a wartime or Austerity edition, given the relatively thin paper and inexpensive bind. But it does have a number of coloured plates, including the frontispiece, which shows “A Colony of Stately Eremurl”. This is an image specially prepared for Move 2, which cannot be altered.

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of a page from a book on flowers and garden shrubs, called The Johnny Garden Book (Arthur Prensky, Garden Publications Ltd., 55 Russell Sq., London, W.C.1. 1950). The illustration shows raised patios and walkways, and accompanies an instructive text on how to build them. Eagle eyed viewers will note the instruction to see the previous page. This is an image specially prepared for Move 2, which cannot be altered.

PINS – Rule Eight: Moving – But Where?

Order needs an architect! Last time we were worried about orders . But a newly discovered photocopy in the archive tells us that we have moved. So: we do know we have moved. But what have we moved? And how, or where?

Here are some photocopies to help you know where you have moved. Good luck. And remember: Cliff Richard never got as far as Wakefield.

A photograph of a collage using photocopies and mixed media (urgh, hateful term), showing some places in the curator’s imagination. The images are housed in a stamp album full of empty leaves, once used and since abandoned by the curator’s father, to house his collection of old French stamps of the various republics and empires the French have had since the first release (depicting Ceres, goddess of corn) in 1849. The images – regardless of provenance (Paul Nash woodcut calendar from 2017, photos of animals in Berlin Zoo, 1930, photos and drawings by the curator) – are linked, somehow, to East Lancashire. Did you move here?

PINS – Rule Seven: Write Out More Orders

In rule seven we are told that we have three more orders to write out, that are placed on a table and then turned over. They then become moves. Even though rule six says we have two full moves, with no objectives. It’s all very complicated. Never mind. Here are some photocopies to help us on our way in writing out these orders.

A photograph edited using filters, of a specialist book from the 1950s showing the movements of a surveyor in the field, enacting various marking gestures. Can you WRITE THREE ORDERS using these prompts?

A photograph edited using filters, of a photocopy from a specialist book from the 1950s suggesting where you should place your shed. Can you WRITE THREE ORDERS using these prompts?

A photograph edited using filters, of a photocopy of a cover of a school exercise book from the 1920s, laying out a number of working recipes, handwritten in ink and amended in pencil and, later, biro. Can you WRITE THREE ORDERS using the recipes within?

Maybe we need something more outré.

A photograph edited using filters, of a photocopy of a cover of an unopened pack of A4 tissue paper, probably from the 1960s. Can you WRITE THREE ORDERS on modern tissue paper?

A photograph of a photocopy of two photographs of two residences in Felling, Tyne and Wear. The photocopier remembers both with fondness in the 1970s and 1980s. Can you WRITE THREE ORDERS by imagining the residences’ interiors?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of a health centre in Accrington, Lancashire. The centre’s honours those who carried out some very bad orders indeed. Can you WRITE THREE ORDERS that are MUCH BETTER than those given at 07:20 hours, on July 1, 1916?

PINS – Rule Six: No Clues to Objectives

In rule six of PINS we admit to having no clue to the objectives. The original photocopy – where we found the rules – underlines this point so it must be important, but we are not really sure why.

A photograph edited using filters, of a photocopy of a photograph of an article in a military modelling magazine from 1972. This shows ancient Roman defensive earthworks. Maybe you can take inspiration from such arcana to AVOID ALL OBJECTIVES.

A photograph edited using filters, of a photocopy of a photograph of an article in a military modelling magazine from 1972. This shows mediaeval defensive earthworks, with an implied scatalogical joke. Maybe you can take inspiration from such arcana to AVOID ALL OBJECTIVES.

A photograph edited using filters, of a photocopy of a photograph of an article in a military modelling magazine from 1972. This image shows marching tin soldiers from the mid-1930s, a Cape of Good Hope Highlander and the Emperor of Abyssinia’s Bodyguard. Maybe these tiny tinpot guards will ward you away from ALL OBJECTIVES.

A photograph of a photocopy of a sketch by the photocopier, using various pencils on a wooden drawing board (hence the textures) showing a crow. Maybe you can take inspiration from a bird long associated with warnings to AVOID ALL OBJECTIVES.

PINS – Rule Five: What is a Unit?

A unit can be many things, as we say in our explanation to what a unit actually is. And to be honest, we don’t really know either. Here are some images you can photocopy and use to make up units of your own, or maybe inspire you to find similar things.

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of the photocopier’s partner at an exhibition in a Rotterdam dock yard. The exhibition was a retrospective that also claimed it was a vision of the future. The photocopier finds these things very tiring. Can you MAKE A UNIT using this image?

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of an Estonian television commercial from the early 1980s. Commercials weren’t allowed to be shown in Soviet Estonia but they had to be made, by law. Apparently. Maybe this is meant as a critique of the capitalist system.The bizarre nature of this image could help you define the boundaries of what your UNIT could comprise of.

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph of a military modelling magazine from 1972. The image shows father and son (both of a British Hussar regiment, one serving, one retired, looking at a diecast mess scene with the soldiers wearing patrols). The photocopier thinks this image is part of a huge body of socio-cultural evidence of the homegrown emotional and psychological therapies service personnel used back in the 1960s and 1970s. Without them realising. Can you MAKE A UNIT using this image?

A photograph edited using filters, of a photocopy of a book showing the cassette tape collection (classical) owned by the photocopier’s father. Such a devotion to log-keeping. All these books (there were over 50, all told) were kept under the photocopier’s father’s bed and never really used, as the cassette player broke. Can you MAKE A UNIT using these titles?

PINS – RULE FOUR: WRITE OUT ORDERS

According to the photocopy that shows the rules, we have to write out orders for each move for each unit – “without a clue to the objective.”

In writing orders and ignoring objectives, we must remember the second Golden Rule of the Buddha, or consult Old Moore’s Almanac, or at least, Shurmer’s Official Guide of Hyndburn. None of these can be found in the Yellow Pages.