posted 12-01-2000 04:35 PM               

$250 + tax (if applicable) - items such as small pressure fittings

posted 12-01-2000 05:08 PM               

No really, this is great for all the people who haven't been able to participate.

This might move some of the money from the eBay auctions to the museum where it is more deserving

posted 12-03-2000 03:39 PM               

...could not be reattached "because of the corroded condition of the components to which they were originally attached.

posted 12-03-2000 04:16 PM               

That being said, mine has a very small portion on the head of the small bolt IF its actually corrosion which I dearly hope not, as it will continue even sealed. Very typical to being removed and transferred fairly quickly. And of course, "fairly quickly" being subjective.

But the major question not being addressed here is, why would the Cosmosphere fake these? I certainly understand the concern over the number of items being offered but I'm still very confused as to why anyone from the Cosmosphere, when it has all these items at their fingertips, would fake such a thing.

posted 12-03-2000 06:03 PM               

1. Doubts concerning authenticity:

   I realize of those reading these posts, not everyone may be aware of the reputation and experience that the Kansas Cosmosphere brings to restoring spacecraft.

   NASA and the Smithsonian broke tradition by giving the Liberty Bell 7 to the Cosmosphere. It is the only American spacecraft not owned by the space agency or national institution.

   I am assuming part of the decision to go ahead with the transfer of the Liberty Bell 7 was the Cosmosphere's past performance restoring spacecraft, including Apollo 13's command module Odyssey as well as the recreation of much of the Apollo hardware for the movie "Apollo 13." NASA and the Smithsonian must of have been confident that the Cosmosphere would treat the Liberty Bell 7 with the respect and care it deserves as a national treasure.

   I am also aware that a majority of you reading this probably have not had a chance to see the restored Liberty Bell 7. As someone who has, I can attest that (in my estimation) 90-95 percent of the spacecraft's original parts were saved. Where pieces had degraded past the point of restoration, the Cosmosphere used clear plexiglas replacements so as to show what was missing.

2. The number of parts being offered:

   We should be clear that beyond the count of 220 nuts, bolts, and the like, no other quantity has been confirmed. There are rumors, based on information provided by gift shop employees (who have no part in the acrylics production), of a larger run of the smaller acrylics being produced and a run of 40 large ($400) pieces being sold. It is still unknown how large any second run of the small ($150) acrylics will be nor is known the final count of the middle ($250) and large ($400) pieces.

   I think we should hold off commenting until the facts are known.

posted 12-03-2000 07:33 PM               

My specific concerns are:

1. You try removing all the nuts, bolts, washers and screws from your car and put it back together WITHOUT them.
   
2. If the items are in a usable state they should have been put back when the restoration was done.
   
3. When dissembling the capsule I would assume it was carried out under standard archaeological conditions which would mean every single item would have been catalogued, so why aren't they selling these artifacts with the catalogue numbers?
   
4. Why don't they announce the total number of artifacts they have available? I understand there is a marketing aspect here (keep them guessing, a little and often, etc.) but for an organisation such as that they should be more concerned with reputation and integrity of sales than sales hype.
   
5. Authenticity is everything and everything should be done to ensure that the artifacts have the correct provenance provided. A nut and a certificate ensure nothing.
   
6. How come they made the 150 or whatever the first run was and as soon as demand was there they made more? Let's face it costs go down in bulk production and are you seriously gonna tell me that if they had 500 they would get 150 done, and THEN the others? It's commercially sensible to get them all done at once and keep the production costs down. They KNOW they will sell, don't tell me they didn't! Especially if they have such a sound knowledge of the subject then they would know from the popularity they would sell PLUS THEY announced people had been offering to buy bits of the sand, marine growth, anything from the capsule so they knew the market was there.
   
7. Why are they so cheap? Anyone with half a brain knows they are worth a heck of a lot more than that. Don't try telling they are under-selling them through altruistic reasons, this is a business!
   
8. They are NOT the Smithsonian and from what I have seen my reaction is "thank goodness".
   
9. Why are they so vague about what orders are filled, which not, what is being produced, items changing, etc.?
   
10. I cant think of a "10" but I'm sure one will occur to me.

posted 12-04-2000 03:59 PM               

It is not a nut, bolt or washer. It is a small [steel] metal cylander; approx. 1 cm in diameter, and 2/3 cm tall. It has some rust on it as well.