Quality of GRO Digital Images

[Jon_ni]

Of course reported pages should be redigitised

Nothing wrong with many of the originals of the whole page, is likely what they manipulate to produce the pdf or cert. The problem is the image is misaligned squif or horizontally (the top of all the originally loose leaf quarterly copy pages are not level) so the auto-selection box is over the wrong part of the full image. Perhaps worked loose over the years.

Redigitisation would mean getting the original volume from archive, scanning and attaching/relinking new to the 10 people appearing on the page and indexed, involving IT, so more time-consuming.
They still have to manually do all marriages and 1935/1958 onwards births and deaths not imaged by DOVE back in 2008, thence they are not offered as a jpeg or pdf. Done individually to order using office equipment only.

The following is worth a watch, is only a few minutes long. Shows a birth registration 1937 then the process involved in Somerset House to order a BMD from the printed indexes, then the bound quarterly copy ledgers being picked and moved. Parts of the full pages can be seen. Back then we see the clerk overlaying a page with a box cut out to ensure her eye does not stray and transcribe the row above or below as she types.
https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/67429/

[Nick_Ips]

If it is correct that a report of a misaligned image and refund results in the whole page of entries becoming unavailable as digital images then you might not want to wait too long before getting the adjacent entry... assuming it isn't too late already.

If that were the case, I assume that a steadily growing number of pages would become unavailable as more users reported problems ?

Yes, if what people are saying is correct, the number of pages for which digital images will be available will be slowly declining.

Of course reported pages should be redigitised, but perhaps that is expecting too much ? 

AIUI the problem isn't with the original scanning, rather with the process (presumably 100% software) which works out where the relevant entry is on the page and extracts that area.

If so, it would need a better software system to more accurately 'guess' where the entry is on the page and deal with any orientation issues.  But at only £3 per image and seemingly the vast majority of images having no issues, I'm not sure there would be much desire to invest in a better system.

[Jon_ni]

rather with the process (presumably 100% software) which works out where the relevant entry is on the page and extracts that area.

Thats an interesting point, is there an unseen row indicator on the modern re-index that orders must be placed from, or does AI attempt to decifer the writing & locate. All we can see is the old District Volume and page, thereafter staff used their eyes to find the entry requested.
Not sure what they did if were two John Jones on the same page before mother's maiden surname appeared to assist.

[Essnell]

Hi,  I was just wondering how you got the information for the certificate to order it. 

I   know GRO only shows a list with the basic and you choose that which then sends to the order page as required.  But can you view the image elsewhere such as via parish register image etc  those show amazing details at times. 

if the first, no way of dealing with this other than what's been suggested.  GRO pulls the strings.  or sets up the hoops. 

Essnell

[Jebber]

GRO Certificates for Births and Deaths have nothing to do with Parish Registers and the only way to see them is to buy them from  the GRO, or if you know where it was registered you should be able to order paper copies from that local Register Office.

 Marriages in  Church can often be viewed in the Parish Register if you know where it took place. Many have been filmed and are available online, mainly on subscription sites. Civil marriages are only available from the GRO or the local office.

[BushInn1746]

I ordered a Digital Image for Sarah WILLIS Death, 1905, Dec Qtr, at Selby, 09C page 458

1905 Burial Register
Sarah WILLIS, 132 Millgate, Oct: 28, 87 yrs J [l ?] Turner, Curate.

The GRO link provided gave me more or less (top dividing line missing) a complete image of the bottom entry of the page:-

Twenty Sixth October 1905
At 18 Shipyard Road, Selby UD,
William LORD,
Male,
5 Years,
Son of Tom Gaskin Lord
Engineman at Waterworks Rd,
Scarlatina 21 days Heart Failure
Certified by [?] L Schilling LSA
T. G. Lord Father present at death
18 Shipyard Road Selby
Twenty Sixth October 1905
E Shipman Registrar

The GRO letter says I need to order a PDF image (which can be manipulated) or a certificate.

I was tempted to order poor young Master ... Wm Lord's and see what I get.

But I will settle for the Burial entry, because I can identify her in the previous Census at that address, but I won't know who was present at death.


The Mystery

Robert Willis
Moved here to West Yorkshire ...

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=895314.0

[rosie99]

Mark, it may be better if you get the Mods to move your post and set it up as a new query as this topic is really discussing the quality of the images produced and your post looks to be something we can be investigating.

Rosie 

Now reposted as per link at bottom of post