Europa Archives - Museum of Photocopies

PINS – Rule Fifty: Despair

Despair is all around, as we know, even in PINS, though maybe the maker of the game tried not to think too much about that, as there had been plenty of *that* over the years. You can peruse the images below, or read about despair, here.

A photograph a screenshot from a 1970s Dutch-Belgian art film filmed in different Dutch homes that look like anywhere in the 1980s. This was taken on location in an art gallery, using an iPhone pointed at a small TV screen. The image that is ripe for photocopying in the correct circumstances and using the correct paper (we suggest a grey or pastel variety).

PINS – Rule Forty-nine: Don’t be Daft

This rule tells you what to do when you’re exasperated by your partner leading the wrong Do down the club, a double nine! they’re daft.

A photograph a screenshot from a 1970s Estonian film, taken by an iPhone pointed at a TV screen; one that is ripe for photocopying in the correct circumstances and using the correct paper (we suggest a coloured variety). These are daft because tha’ doesn’t know what’s goin on and you can make owt up.

PINS – Rule Forty-seven: On Leave / RnR

PINS needs its units to get some RnR before they can carry on. Being on leave can be very surprising, mind and can get you into all sorts of scrapes. You can read about all that kind of kerfuffle here.

A heavily filtered photo of one of a set of porcelain plates depicting kittens. Part of the Kitten Classics series made in fine bone china by Royal Worcester Crown Ware, England, the plates were strictly limited to a 14 day firing period. Originally on a wall in Felling, Tyne and Wear, thence to a lincrusta wall in East Lancashire, the kittens now get their RnR in the province of Zuid Nederland. They’ll make good photocopies.

PINS – Rule Forty-four: Disobeying orders

Disobeying orders is no joke.

If you don’t do as you’re told, you’ll go to the workhouse. Or be at the beck and call of someone else for the rest of your life, bowing and scraping, ugh.
But you can disobey if you’re smart, find out how, here.

An unfiltered photograph of a collage using photocopies and drawings and clippings from various sources, some photocopied. Here we see the Curator sending messages using flags that remind him of a plastic Airfix figurine, of a British Tommy from the First World War waving similar flags. The messages should not be disobeyed. But will anyone understand? Still: a Treecreeper and a Mistle Thrush, that’s clear.

PINS – Rule Forty-one: Judging character

A good character isimportant in PINS, it helps you get into an elite unit and have extra PINS, which is the whole point, isn’t it. Plus, it stops gossip, whcih you can find plenty of here.

A filtered photograph of an out of focus photograph of the view form the old railway bridge in Accrington, East Lancashire. You had to be of good character not to be a div and jump from the bridge. The Photocopier never did but would spend time up there, musing about the unfairness of Life. Care is needed when photocopying these images.

A filtered photograph of an out of focus photograph of the streets of Accrington, East Lancashire. The image shows buildings of good character where, unfortunately, some right old bad do’s happened, especially at closing time. You had to be of good character not to get into trouble. The Photocopier’s character was never impeached, well, only a few times. Care is needed when photocopying these images.

PINS – Rule Thirty-seven: On Manoeuvres

When we are on manoeuvres we need to know how to look out of the back of the Morris Oxford’s window, or ensure we wear the correct cricket whites. You can find out about that here. For now, peruse these images that were once taken by persons unknown, or once known but no longer, on manoeuvres.

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph from a page of an old holiday snaps book from the 1950s and 1960s. Standing next to things of note, and putting your feet up, are the only two prerequisites of manoeuvres in this period.

A photograph of a photocopy of a photograph from a page of an old holiday snaps book from the 1960s and 1970s. Standing next to things of note, and putting your feet up, are the only two prerequisites of manoeuvres in this period.

A photograph of a photocopy of a printed itinerary for old folks. And one young folk, who hitched a lift. There was no rhapsody, just a manoeuvre.

PINS – Rule Thirty-four: Danger Zone, Steady Up!

Oh heck, things are getting tricky, the Danger Zone can be an uncertain place full of experienced people who don’t give a damn and maybe you’re not the sort of character who should be there. But this is PINS and PINs is a life we’ve all been through. More Danger Zones are described here. For now, draw your qwayout of trouble, it’s the only way. Don’t be soft!

A photograph of a drawing from a surveryor’s notebook from the 1970s. These quick sketches of revelatory dreams, remembered during a spring in Accrington in 2022, and using fountain pen and biro, are to be used as charms for when you enter the Danger Zone.

A photograph of a drawing from a surveryor’s notebook from the 1970s. This quick sketch,using fountain pen and biro, of a German plastic soldier, made by Airfix from the First World War wielding a flame thrower, was remembered during a spring in Accrington in 2022. It is to be used a a warning for when you enter the Danger Zone.

PINS – Rule Thirty-one: More food.

There are lots of places to go and things to do with a full stomach, so the most important thing is having no interference in the kitchen. That’s where the food is.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

For their own comfort and safety, children under 5 and babes-in-arms are not admitted.

These photocopies accompany a post that is not a rule as such, it’s more an adjunct to Rule Twenty-nine and a reminder. You need to put some meat on your bones. And you need to make sure everyone is out of the kitchen. Don’t be soft and don’t be numb.

A photograph of a photograph of an image in an old book celebrating photographs. Here are some women shifting coal in 1916. They need meat on their bones if they want to carry out PINS Rule 29, and they are put of the kitchen.

A photograph of an illustration of a dinosaur in an old, old book celebrating The World in the Past. The curator has no doubt the dinosaur would get meat on its bones and could carry out PINS Rule 29 with ease.

A photograph of a photograph of an image in an old book celebrating British Wildlife. These are dippers, which spend a lot of time at the water’s edge putting meat on their bones, (if they should ever need to carry out PINS Rule 29).

PINS – Rule Twenty-seven: Mascots for Morale

Just like in Real Life (what’s that?), morale plays an important part in the game of PINS. Mascots help morale. It could be Tokor the cat. Or Edwyn Collins.

Here are some photocopies of mascots that can help your morale.

A photograph of a photocopy of an etching that didn’t have enough ink, but looks nice as a photocopy, made by the curator in Leiden. It is of a totemic goat herder figure from the Romanian-Hungarian regions. You wear this mask at Easter, don’t forget. This can be your mascot.

A photograph of a photocopy of an etching made by the curator in Leiden of a totemic goat figure from the Romanian-Hungarian regions. This can be your mascot.

A photograph of a photocopy of an etching made by the curator in Leiden of a totemic goat herder figure from the Romanian-Hungarian regions. You wear this mask at Easter, don’t forget. This can be your mascot.

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.