1939 National Register??

[andycand]

I agree MagicMirror. Additionally, I do take on board some of your constructive comments Guy. I'm of the mind that those researchers in places like Canada, Australia or America, for example, benefit as they are much more hindered by distance than we are. I appreciate your constructive debate Guy.  Borderslass 

What you have to keep in mind is that the 1939 Register is different to other major databases such as the 1911 census. First of all, because about 27% of records are 'closed', all work must be done in a secure location and all people working on the Register both now and in the future require a security clearance (this is stated in the Tender Document). Also it is not just a case of digitising the records but checking who is deceased and redacting where necessary. Findmypast are also responsible for the work involved in verifying and un-redacting when necessary.

Findmypast should have clearly advised people a lot earlier that it wasn't going to be part of their subscriptions, I only saw one mention of that, on facebook a couple of months ago, although their answers when asked were vague but, given the huge costs, there was no way they could absorb it in subscriptions.

http://www.government-online.net/scanning-tender-for-national-archives/

Andy

[groom]

I think for people to have expected it to be part of existing subcriptions without any increase was unrealistic considering what it must have cost FindMyPast to produce it. Perhaps once they see how much it will be used they may offer it as an extra package.

[carol8353]

Can anyone remember how much we had to pay to view the 1911 census when it first came out and how long it was till it was included in your annual subscription?

[andycand]

Hi

I think it could be a very long time before it becomes part of a subscription or available elsewhere (other than TNA) as looking at the tender it would appear that if Findmypast took up all the options they would have exclusive rights for 30 years.

Andy

[ScouseBoy]

How much time will they budget for staff to establish whether the subject person has since deceased?

And how many mistakes will be  made?

Will the site crash on the first day?

[groom]

Can anyone remember how much we had to pay to view the 1911 census when it first came out and how long it was till it was included in your annual subscription?

They charged 40 credits to look up the 1911 as compared with 60 for the 1939.

[smudwhisk]

The 1911 Census on the pay per view site was 30 credits to view an original image and 10 credits to view a transcription.  I think, from memory, after about 12 months it became available as an add-on to a subscription but it was about £50 extra.   They subsequently reduced the prices of the subscriptions when other companies were allowed to purchase copies.

I think the issue with the pricing with the 1939 Register will depend on how much of an uptake there is at those prices and whether FindMyPast feel they need to perhaps reduce the pricing to recoup their outlay perhaps more quickly.  If they do have a long exclusivity period, which it would seem they have, its unlikely to drop that early unfortunately.   That said, they are a commercial company needing to make a profit, but everyone can vote with their feet so to speak and not pay the costs.  It will then be down to FindMyPast to decide if they should revisit their pricing to ensure they recoup their costs and make a profit in the time period they will have chosen.

It really depends on whether you feel that the benefit of the information to your research outways the costs involved. 

[ScouseBoy]

The only question which I anticipate getting an answer to from this register  is whether my dad was already enlisted in the Army.   I think that his effective date of enlistment in RASC/EFI  was 3rd September 1939.  The register MAY  help provide an answer.

[LizzieL]

I'm a little confused here. Will we see the household  as a snapshot of the day it was taken in 1939or will we see updates of the same household Blog on FindMyPast implies the latter.

Quote from FindMyPast:
"Also you will find out what names the people in the household have also been known by. This could include maiden names or changes by deed poll. The register itself was maintained up until 1991, so the other names could be names the people in the house were known as prior to 1939 and also up until 1991. For example, I'd expect to see my auntie who was 4 when the Register was taken, then I'd expect to see the name she took when she married in 1960. Again, usually you'd find this information out by ordering copies of birth and marriage certificates. "

see
https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/what-does-the-1939-register-mean-for-family-historians-1406538193.html

My father joined the Royal Navy pre war and was in Hong Kong when war broke out, so was not with  his parents and his siblings. Would he feature at all with the household of his parents and siblings, which would be his official permanent address in UK in 1939.