1- MEMBERS

New members have been appointed for period 1998-2001.

2- MEETINGS AND VISITS

The members of the Commission have met in a first meeting during the ASME 1998 Technical Conferences in Atlanta, U.S.A., in September 1998. In 1999 a meeting has been held in Oulu during the IFToMM World Congress.

Prof. Ceccarelli visited some members also with the aim to discuss personally on History of TMM.

Next meeting of the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM has been scheduled during HMM2000 Symposium in Cassino on 12 May 2000.

3- DISCUSSION AND ACTIVITY

A proposal has been discussed to update the objectives of the Commission.

Agenda n.1-1999 has been communicated and the members have discussed the subjects.

A proposal has been formulated for the IFToMM Archive.

4- ACTIVITY TO SOLICIT WORKS

Prof. Ceccarelli reported that he has worked personally with historical papers that he submitted for publication in Journals.

In addition, He had several discussions for publishing regularly historical papers in the IFToMM Journal Mechanism and Machine Theory .

A promoting activity has been carried out in order to have historical papers in the IFToMM World Congress and in Mechanism and Machine Theory through letters and personal contacts. The success is documented by the 12 papers, which have been submitted for the IFToMM World Congress. They have been presented and published in the Proceedings.

5- CONFERENCE HMM200

As a major initiative to re-invigorating the field of History of TMM, International Conference HMM2000 will be organized at University of Cassino, Italy, from 11 to 13 May 2000. A financial support has been already obtained by University of Cassino, Chamber of Commerce of Frosinone Province and IFToMM. December 1 st 1999 will be the deadline for submission of papers so that a continuous promoting activity is desirable.

The above mentioned activities have been reported and discussed at the meeting 1999 of the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM. The report is enclosed.

Cassino 25 May, 1999

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Meccanica, Strutture, Ambiente e Territorio

Università di Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

Telephone +39-0776-299663 fax +39-0776-310812 e-mail: ceccarelli@ing.unicas.it

To Members

of IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

To Invited persons

Prof. Jorge Angeles, prof. Giovanni Bianchi, prof. Terry Shoup

To prof. Tatu Leinonen

Secretary in General IFToMM

add@mecf.wustl.edu; cimar@cimar.me.ufl.edu; efilemon@mm.bme.hu; kkimura@mei.titech.ac.jp; teun@cs.vu.nl; marek.kujath@dal.ca; jean-pierre.merlet@inria.fr; ipopescu@mecanica.ucv.ro; jsrao@mech.iitd.ernet.in; shoham@tx.technion.ac.il; jkshim@kuccnx.korea.ac.kr; hsyan@mail.ncku.edu.tw; herman.bruyninckx@mech.kuleuven.ac.be; jcuadrad@mcm.upv.es; Jian.s.dai.@sunderland.ac.uk; H.Kerle@tu-bs.de; irina@mx.bmstu.ru; lhzhou@public1.tpt.tj.cn; macevedo@mixcoac.upmx.mx; public@ifdtung.if.ua; husty@unileoben.ac.at; zhen_luh@ yahoo.com

ref: repmeeting99

Dear Colleagues:

please find enclosed the report of the meeting of the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM held on June Monday 21 at 15.00 during the IFToMM World Congress in Oulu, Finland.

Sincerely Yours

Cassino 1 July 1999

Marco Ceccarelli

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of the Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Meccanica, Strutture, Ambiente e Territorio

Università di Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

REPORT OF the meeting of the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM held in Oulu, Finland, on May 21, 1999

The discussion followed the items of AGENDA N.1-1999

1) Opening by prof. Marco Ceccarelli and communications

2) Duties and goals for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

3) Promoting activities

4) Activity to solicit papers on History of TMM

5) IFToMM archive

6) Conference HMM2000

7) Next Meeting

8) Other business

1) Opening by prof. Marco Ceccarelli and communications

Prof. Ceccarelli presented himself and the present members; he reported the apologizes from absent members.

Attached please find the up-dated list of the members (Enclosure n.1a).

Prof. Ceccarelli explained that the request to new members for biographical notes and last publications has the purpose to introduce the new members and he will recommend this submission also for the future.

Prof. Ceccarelli briefly illustrated the report 1998 (Enclosure n.1c) and the report that he presented to the IFToMM EC by using this report. He reported great satisfaction for the contacts he had with the members, mainly by e-mail. He expressed particular thanks to prof. Teun Koetsier for the help and advises in the working for the Commission.

He stressed that the goal of meetings for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM should be to have short and clear discussion with possibility to end with decisions and/or official documents when preliminary exchange of opinions, comments and suggestions are carried out among all the members, preferably by e-mail.

2) Duties and goals for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

The current objectives of the Commission are from IFToMM Constitution and By Laws (1995):

• to work for the preservation for the preservation and duplication of important literary works, models and teaching aids;
• to facilitate the republishing of classical works of reference;
• to collect the basic information concerning the results of technical and scientific meetings of TMM.

Remarks: The current issue is very poor for a Commission that should promote the field of History of TMM. In fact, the republishing and duplication of classical works are usually achieved by individuals or small groups of persons (who indeed the Commission can and did stimulate), mainly through a collaboration with interested international Publishers. The collection of basic information is not well defined since it is not said where or who should preserve it and what for.

We may propose to update the objectives of the Commission as the following (Enclosure n.2a):

• to promote and facilitate the republishing and reviewing of classical works of reference;
• to promote and facilitate the collection and circulation of material and information in the field of TMM, mainly for the IFToMM archive;
• to promote and initiate activities and works in the field of History of TMM.

Motivations: if the field of History of TMM is recognized of interest within IFToMM, the Commission should work to promote and initiate activities, such as conference, workshop, investigations and publishing of articles. Any library can easily do the only collection of material.

In particular prof. Ceccarelli reported that he has worked personally with historical papers that he submitted for publication in Journals (Enclosure n.2b and n.2c).

In addition, He had several discussions for publishing regularly historical papers in the IFToMM Journal Mechanism and Machine Theory (SEE point 4 of the Agenda).

3) Promoting activities

We have worked for promoting activities, which can be summarized as:

• to establish a Commission with several members (Enclosure n.1a);
• to exchange personal contacts among members (Enclosures n.3a to n.3d) ;
• to solicit papers on History of TMM (SEE point 4 of the Agenda);
• to circulate information on the Commission;
• to exchange opinions among the members of the Commission, mainly by e-mail;
• to convince on the interest for History of TMM (SEE Enclosures n.1 and n.4);
• to organize the Symposium HMM2000 (SEE point 7. Conference HMM2000).

However, more promoting activities should be scheduled as:

• to exchange visits among the members of the Commission;
• to organize lectures and/or Workshop on History of TMM;
• to establish collaboration for historical investigations.

4) Activity to solicit papers on History of TMM

Regarding to the papers to Journal, the promoting activity has not been successful. Great perplexity is still persistent both in possible authors and technical Editors. Papers should be submitted to Journals, and particularly to MMT, mainly by the members of the PC at this preliminary stage. A massive submission will probably convince the Editors to recognize History of TMM as suitable for publication.

Prof. Ceccarelli reported that he personally worked with writing historical papers (Enclosure n.2b). He also discussed the problem with prof. Terry Shoup, Editor-in-Chief of MMT, with the aim to have accepted historical papers as regular paper in MMT (Enclosures n.4a , 4b, 4c and 4d).

5) IFToMM archive

During the 1998 meeting of the Executive Council (EC) the problem for an archive has been asked to be discussed by the IFToMM Permanent Commission (PC) for History of TMM because the archive could be recognized as one of the duties and goals of this PC.

What is an archive?

-From Dictionary (i.e. The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary): "a place in which collected public or corporate records are kept".

CURRENT STATUS AND PLACE

DESIRABLE STATUS AND PLACE

However, IFToMM EC should first ask to CISM if they can provide the service, or what they can ensure, since CISM has been the IFToMM archive from the beginning and seems still to be a feasible institution from all points of view.

The chosen institution should have the following qualifications:

1. To be an international reputed institution;
2. To be recognized as operating in the field of Mechanical Engineering;
3. To be able to ensure the prescribed requirements, which are listed in the following points a) and b), independently of whatever will be fixed.

Of course, the IFToMM archive could continue also in the current way.

Moreover, depending on the way the IFToMM archive will be re-organised, the hosting institution should be supported with proper funds by IFToMM.

Opinions and goals for an IFToMM archive with full capabilities can be summarised by the following list:

a) Archive should have sections for:

a.1) IFToMM documents and reports of Pcs and Tcs (like in the past);

a.2) Proceedings of the IFToMM World Congresses;

a.3) Proceedings and Books of the activities held under the support or auspicious of IFToMM;

a.4) IFToMM Journal Mechanism and Machine Theory;

a.5) Any material regarding TMM that can be bought and/or donated by privates and/or institutions;

a.6) Electronic files of previous sections, when available and/or of interest to help circulation;

b) Service should provide:

b.1) storage and coding of the material of a);

b.2) circulation of the information (a web page can be recommendable);

b.3) access to the public for consulting the material, even with an exhibition section of historical documents;

b.4) reproduction of the material for mailing to users, when the copyright permits;

b.5) consulting and files mailing via internet.

PROPOSAL FOR IFToMM ARCHIVE TO THE IFTOMM EC (Enclosure n.5)

The following options has been proposed at the IFToMM Executive Council:

1. IFToMM archive should be re-organized with the above mentioned full capabilities;
2. Minimum arrangement: a storage of the above mentioned sections a.1), a.2) and a.4) should be ensured with a service for members of IFTOMM EC and PC for History of TMM;
3. Place: CISM should be preferable or any other chosen institution should fulfil the above mentioned qualifications.

6) Conference HMM2000

The Call for Papers has been circulated since November 1998, (Enclosure n.6). A web page has been activated with basic information (SEE http://www.unicas.it/ingegneria/hmm2000/index.htm).

Financial support has been obtained by University of Cassino and IFToMM EC. More funds has been obtained also by Chamber of Commerce of Frosinone Province in order to have the possibility to help participation and attendance from countries with financial difficulties. Past IFToMM Presidents have been invited to give a speech on IFToMM History. December 1^st 1999 will be the deadline for submission of papers so that a continuous promoting activity is desirable. Members are encouraged to submit contributions on the historical developments of TMM in their countries.

7) Next Meeting and eventual

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of the Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Meccanica, Strutture, Ambiente e Territorio

Università di Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

members of the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Meccanica, Strutture, Ambiente e Territorio, Università di Cassino

Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

Tel + 39-0776299663 fax +39-0776-299711

e-mail: ceccarelli@ing.unicas.it

prof. Mario Acevedo

Universidad Panamericana

Augusto Rodìn 498 Insurgentes Mixoac

03920 Mexico D.F., Mexico

Tel + 525-4821600 Fax + 525-4821717

e-mail: macevedo@mixcoac.upmx.mx

Dr. Herman Bruyninckx

Departement of Mechanical Engineering

Division PMA, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Celestijnenlaan 300B B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium

Fax : +32 16 32 29 87 tel +32 16 32 2528

e-mail : herman.bruyninck@xmech.kuleuven.ac.be

Prof. Juan Ignacio Cuadrado Iglesias

Departament d’Enginyeria Mecànica i de Materials

Universitat Politècnica de València

Cami de vera, s/n.,46022 València, Spain

e-mail: jcuadrad@mcm.upv.es

Dr.Jian S. Dai

School of Engineering and Advanced Technology

University of Sunderland

Sunderland SR1 3SD, U.K.

Fax +44- 191- 5152703

E-mail : Jian.s.dai.@sunderland.ac.uk

prof. Andrew D. Dimarogonas

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Washington University, Campus Box 1185,

St Louis, Missouri 63130, U.S.A.

tel +1-314-9356091 fax +1-314-9354014

e-mail: add@mecf.wustl.edu

prof. Joseph Duffy

Dept of Mechanical Engineering

University of Florida

300 Mech. Eng. Bldg.

Gainesville, Florida 32611, U.S.A.

fax +1-352-3921071

e-mail: cimar@cimar.me.ufl.edu

prof. Elisabeth Filemon

Dept. of Technical Mechanics

Technical University of Budapest

Muegyetem rkp5, 111 Budapest, Hungary

ph +36-1-4631367 fax +36-1-4633471

e-mail: efilemon@mm.bme.hu

prof. Alexander Alexandrovich Golovin

Moscow State Technical University

2-nd Baumanskaya Str., 5

Moscow 107005, Russia

Tel.: (095) 261-40-55;Fax: (095) 267-98-93

E-mail: irina@mx.bmstu.ru

prof. Hanfried Kerle

Institute of Machine Tools and Production Engineering

Technical University Braunschweig

P.O. Box 3329, D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany

TEL+49-531-3917602 FAX+49-531-3915842

e-mail: H.Kerle@tu-bs.de

prof. Koji Kimura

Dept of Mechanical and Environmental Informatics

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Ookyama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8552 Japan

fax +81-3-5734-3179

e-mail: kkimura@mei.titech.ac.jp

Dept. of Mathematics and Computers Sciences

De Boelelaan, Vrije University of Amsterdam

Postbus 7161, 1081 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

tel +31-20-4447684; fax +31-20-6427705

e-mail: teun@cs.vu.nl

prof. Bohdan Kopey

Ivano-Frankivsk State Technical University of Oil and Gas

15, Karpatska str., Ivano-Frankivsk, 2840019 Ukraine

Ph. +380-3422-42353 fax+380-3422-42139

e-mail: public@ifdtung.if.ua

prof. Marek Kujath

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Dalhouise University

p.o. box 1000 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J2X4

ph +1-902-420-7811 fax+1-902-423-6711

e-mail: marek.kujath@dal.ca

Jean Pierre Merlet

INRIA Sophia Antipolis

2004 route des Lucioles

06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France

ph.+33-93-657777 fax +33-93657765

e-mail: jean-pierre.merlet@inria.fr

prof. Iulian Popescu

Faculatatea de Mecanica

Calea Bucuresti 165, 1100 Craiova, Romania

fax:+40-51-416630

e-mail: ipopescu@mecanica.ucv.ro

prof. J.S. Rao

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Indian Insititute of Technology

New Delhi 110016, India

ph+91-11-6867485 fax +91-11-6862037

e-mail: jsrao@mech.iitd.ernet.in

prof. Moshe Shoham

Robotic Laboratory

Technion Israel Institute of Technology

Technion City, Haifa 32000 Israel

fax 972-4324533

e-mail: shoham@tx.technion.ac.il

Prof. Jae-Kyung Shim

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Korea University

5ka-1 Anam-dong, Sungbuk-ku, Seoul 136-701, Korea

tel:+82-2-920-1433 fax:+82-2-926-9290

e-mail: jkshim@kuccnx.korea.ac.kr

prof. Zhen Lu

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Beijing Universityv of Aero. & Astro.

Beijing, 100083 P.R. China

TEL+86-10-82317741 FAX+86-10-82316100

e-mail: zhen_luh@ yahoo.com

prof. Lihua Zhou

School of Mechanical Engineering

Tianjin University

Tianjin, 300072 P.R. China

TEL+86-22-27401009 FAX+86-22-27403434

e-mail: lhzhou@public1.tpt.tj.cn

prof. Hong-Sen Yan

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

National Cheng Kung University

Tainan 70101, Taiwan

tel +886-(6)2757575 fax +886(6)2084972

e-mail: hsyan@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Cassino, 21 june 1999

REPORT of the meeting of the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

Held in Atlanta, U.S.A. on September 14th Monday at 18.00 p.m. at OMNI Hotel CNN Center.

Ref: relmeet981

The discussion followed the items of AGENDA N.2-1998

1) Opening by prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Prof. Ceccarelli presented himself and the present members: prof. Joseph Duffy, Prof. Hong-Sen Yan and prof. Jae-Kyung Shim. He reported the apologizes by prof. Teun Koetsier, prof. Moshe Shoham, prof Iulian Popescu, prof. Jean-Pierre Merlet and prof Andrew Dimarogonas. Others persons have been nominated as members very recently and probably they did not get aware in time of the meeting. Attached find the up-dated list of the members. Prof. Ceccarelli explained that the request to new members for CV and last publications has the purpose to introduce the new members and he will recommend this submission for the future.

Prof. Ceccarelli stressed the fact that at his knowledge this is the first meeting of the Commission since it has been established from the beginning of IFToMM. He thanked profs Lipkin and Mistree, Chairmen of 1998 ASME DETC, who kindly hosted the meeting. He thanked also the persons who attended the meeting as observers, to whom a copy of this report will be send by e-mail.

Prof. Ceccarelli briefly illustrated the report that he presented to the IFToMM EC in July 1998.

He stressed that the goal of meetings should be to have short and clear discussion with possibility to end with decisions and/or official documents when preliminary exchange of opinions, comments and suggestions are carried out among all the members, preferably by e-mail.

2) Duties and goals for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

Prof. Ceccarelli advised that what is prescribed in the IFToMM Constitution for the Commission should be enlarged to work similarly to other IFToMM Commissions. This means to include activities like those listed in the agenda. We should try to write what duties and goals we should have for the period 1998-2001. Prof. Yan suggested to try to write a draft proposal as soon as possible; prof. Duffy suggested to recognise first what the Commission will do, even in this first year, and with the done work at hand discuss a proposal. Prof. Ceccarelli reminded that, indeed, any change should require addressing modifications in the IFToMM Constitution and this will require time and work at the IFToMM EC. It has been recognised that the current duties and goals are equally important.

Prof. Ceccarelli stressed that the members, although they can be not experts in History of TMM, should be active and mainly react to any discussion or activity of the Commission. He advises that the Internet connection be of basic importance. In addition he stressed that the Commission should promote the interest in the field of History by the same IFToMM technicians in the sense that they are the only persons who could understand the technical contents and efforts of past works and personalities. This is to say we should promote activity of "Historicians", who should be intended as persons who are experts in technical fields with interest and background in the History of TMM. We should not compete or substitute the Historians who treat with historical developments and facts.

3) New members for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

The Commission started with a few people and prof. Ceccarelli should think to add more people who are interested and could help in the Commission activities, even if they do not work specifically in the field of History of TMM. Prof. Ceccarelli explained that the request to new members for CV and last publications has the purpose to introduce the new members and he will recommend this submission for the future. He presented the attached list of members.

4) Activity to solicit papers for IFToMM World Congress

Prof. Ceccarelli illustrated the promoting activity, which has been carried out by circulating letters by mail and e-mail to attract interest since October 1997. It seems that it has been successfully because at least ten abstracts have been submitted. Thus this would be the first time that in the IFToMM Congress there will be complete sessions on History of TMM. In the case prof Ceccarelli suggested to indicate as Session Chairmen himself and prof Koetsier, past Chairman of the Commission. If more sessions will be organised it will be advisable that other members could be available for this charge. The present agreed. In addition at the last IFToMM EC it has been decided that the revision of the full papers will be on charge of the corresponding Commissions. Prof. Ceccarelli will ask such a work to the members by distributing the papers among all the members and this work should be done between February and march. All the members are requested to give their time for this task. The present members expressed to be available.

5) Activity to solicit papers for IFToMM Journal "Mechanism and Machine Theory"

Prof. Ceccarelli illustrated the promoting activity, which has been carried out by circulating letters by mail and e-mail to attract interest since October 1997. Nevertheless prof Shoup, Editor of the IFToMM Journal, did not receive more than papers by prof. Ceccarelli. Therefore prof. Ceccarelli suggested that all the members should submit papers and then ask people to submit other papers. The goal is to have the field of History of TMM as recognised from technical viewpoint and regular contributions should appear in the journal.

6) IFToMM archive at CISM, Udine, Italy

Recently prof. Ceccarelli discussed with prof Bianchi and prof Angeles about the IFToMM archive. The problem has been addressed also during the last meeting of the IFToMM Executive Council in Paris.

At the moment the IFToMM archive is stored at CISM in the form of archiving mainly secretary documents and great appreciation for that has been expressed to CISM and prof. Bianchi during the discussion of EC. The discussion has been addressed to the fact of organising or not a complete archive. The problem has been asked to be discussed by the IFToMM Permanent Commission for History of TMM because the archive can be recognised as one of the duties and goals of this PC.

Therefore, in his capacity of Chairman of PC for History of TMM prof. Ceccarelli opened a discussion and proposals among the members of the Commission and IFToMM officers at large.

In Paris they told that probably the archive of IFToMM should be moved elsewhere, in some institutions that can ensure an efficient service as a complete archive and access to users. Prof. Ceccarelli expressed the personal opinion that we should first ask to CISM if they can provide the service, or what they can ensure, since CISM has been the IFToMM archive from the beginning and seems still to be a feasible institutions from all points of view. Recently prof. Bianchi of CISM expressed interest to continue to have the IFToMM archive at CISM.

However, now the problem is to understand and agree on the aims and goals of a "new" archive.

Of course, we should consider also that the IFToMM archive could continue also in the current way.

Prof. Ceccarelli also suggested at the IFToMM EC meeting in Paris that depending on the way the IFToMM archive will be re-organised, the hosting institution should be supported with proper funds by IFToMM.

Summarising the opinions and goals which can be expressed for an IFToMM archive (some of them you already discussed with me):

a) The archive should have sections for:

a.1) IFToMM documents and reports of Pcs and Tcs, as in the past;

a.2) Proceedings of the IFToMM World Congress;

a.3) Proceedings and Books of the activities held under the support or auspicious of IFToMM;

a.4) IFToMM Journal Mechanism and Machine Theory;

a.5) Electronic files of previous sections, when available and/or of interest to help circulation;

b) The service should provide:

b.1) Storage and coding of the material of a);

b.2) Circulation of the information (a web page can be recommendable);

b.3) Access to the public for consulting the material;

b.4) Reproduction of the material for mailing to users, when the copyright permits;

b.5) Consulting and files mailing via Internet.

The members of the IFToMM PC for History of TMM with the aim to determine a proposal, which will be submitted to the IFTOMM EC, will discuss the abovementioned subjects and any other. Prof. Ceccarelli expressed the hope that a final discussion can be held during the meeting of the during the World Congress in Oulu, Finland, in 1999. Prof. Ceccarelli is expected to receive opinions and suggestions from all the members.

7) Project TMM21 of the IFToMM Executive Council

This is a fundamental project for the future of IFToMM according to the President prof Angeles and mainly in one item the Commission for History should be active. Prof. Angeles listed the items for a final report as follows:

a) State of art for knowledge in TMM at the end of this century;

b) State of art for teaching in TMM around the world;

c) Advances in TMM in this century and comparison with advances in the past;

d) A view of future for TMM and IFToMM.

Although we may be involved for all the subjects, we should be more interested to develop a report for item c). The members have discussed it that prof. Ceccarelli should prepare a draft proposal when he will have collected comments and suggestions.

Prof. Ceccarelli reported that also the Commission for Terminology asked the support of our Commission in the work of updating the Vocabulary, which has been published in 1991.

8) Organisation or patronage of Conferences

Prof. Ceccarelli expressed the hope that in the future a list of Conferences, Symposium and Meetings of interest in the field of History of TMM could be developed and in addition have for some of them the patronage of IFToMM under our Commission to stimulate participation from people of the IFToMM Community. Prof. Duffy announced that he would organise a Symposium on Screw Theory with a specific attention to Ball history. Prof. Yan announced that next November will be held a China-Japan Conference on History of Mechanical Technology. Prof. Ceccarelli announced that prof. Dimarogonas with Greek colleague prof Paipetis will organise a Conference on Extraordinary Machines and Structures in Antiquity in 1999. Organising Chairmen expect detailed information.

9) Proposal for Conference HMM2000

10) Next Meeting

It has been decided that next meeting will be held at the IFToMM World Congress in 1999 at Oulu, Finland. In the year 2000 a meeting will be organised in occasion of HMM2000 Conference.

11) Others and communications

Nothing to discuss.

prof. Jorge Angeles

IFToMM President

Prof. Giovanni Bianchi

Chairman of the Constitution Committee

c/c Prof. Tatu Leinonen

IFToMM Secretary-in-General

c/c prof. Teun Koetsier

Past Chairman

Commission for History of TMM

Ref: Proposal to update the objectives of the Commission for History of TMM

Dear prof. Angeles

Dear prof. Bianchi

Please, find enclosed a proposal to update the objectives of the Commission for History of TMM in IFToMM Constitution and By Laws.

I will propose to update the objectives of the Commission as the following:

• to promote and facilitate the republishing and reviewing of classical works of reference;
• to promote and facilitate the collection and circulation of material and information in the field of TMM;
• to promote and initiate activities and works in the field of History of TMM.

Motivations: if the field of History of TMM is recognized of interest within IFToMM, the Commission should work also to promote and initiate activities, such as conference, workshop, investigations and publishing of articles.

I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in Oulu.

Best regards

Cassino 30 April 1999

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of the Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Meccanica, Strutture, Ambiente e Territorio

Università di Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

ENCLOSURE n.2b

To members

IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

To members

IFtoMM Executive Council

prof. Terry S. Shoup

Editor-in-Chief, Mechanism and Machine Theory

prof. Barham Ravani

Past Technical Editor, ASME Journal of Mechanical Design

prof. Lung-Wen Tsai

Technical Editor, ASME Journal of Mechanical Design

cc To members

International Steering Committee for HMM2000 Symposium

Dear colleague,

Please, find enclosed a copy of my "historical paper", which has been recently published in the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design.

Indeed, this is a real signal that we may succeed to address interest on History of TMM as technical content too.

Therefore, in my capacity of Chairman of IFToMM Commission for History of TMM, I kindly suggest you once more to promote submission of papers on History of TMM to the Symposium HMM2000 and to Journals in the area of Mechanical Engineering at large and particularly to the IFToMM Journal Mechanism and Machine Theory.

Of course, we cannot pretend to have published several papers in the same issue, but we should improve the presence of historical papers.

I intend as historical paper a contribution that may have an evident historical content in the form of review or reformulation of past works and methodologies together with short presentation of past authors’ personality and historical developments.

I look forward to hearing you and I thank you in advance for the efforts and time you will spend for the promoting activity of IFToMM Commission for History of TMM.

Cassino, 11 January 1999

Sincerely Yours

ref:ipchair16

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Meccanica, Strutture, Ambiente e Territorio

Università di Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

SHORT REPORT of the visit of prof. Marco Ceccarelli to prof. Teun Koetsier in Amsterdam, 13-14 November 1998.

Ref: rep98-1

The following subjects and activities have been discussed.

1. Teaching activity

Ceccarelli gave a lecture in the class of History of Matematics on recent developments in Robotics, mainly regarding the Laboratory of Robotics in Cassino. Ceccarelli will invite prof. Koetsier in Cassino to give lecture on History of TMM in the class of Mechanical Design.

2. Organization of HMM2000

If prof. Freudenstein will not accept the invitation for the general lecture at HMM2000, prof. Koestier will be available.

The tentative program, the reviewer form, the manuscripts guidelines were discussed and defined. Kluwer has been confirmed as desirable for publishing the Proceedings. Prof. Koetsier will provide addresses of people in the field of History of Science.

3. New members

New members have been indicated for nomination. E-mail connections have been recognized necessary and unique means for regular communications.

4. Soliciting papers

More actions have been recognized necessary. Ceccarelli suggested Koetsier to submit to Mechanism and Machine Theory (MMT) a revised extended version of the paper he presented at RAAD’97. Satisfaction has been expressed for the 11 abstracts which have been submitted for the IFToMM World Congress.

5. Meetings

Next meeting will be held in Oulu during the World IFToMM Congress and should have a few important points for discussion. Another meeting will be desirable in Asian area. Prof. Yan would be asked to host such a meeting and organize perhaps a short seminar with the present colleagues, maybe in occasion of the opening of the Museum of Science he is organizing.

6. Crossley’ s hand notes

Prof Koetsier show the material that he received some years ago by prof. Crossley of U.S.A. on the beginning of IFToMM. Ceccarelli recognized great interest and importance of the material and asked pof. Koetsier to keep it. Prof. Crossley will be invited by Ceccarelli and Koetsier to write a paper on that material and submit it to MMT.

7. Aims and goals for the Commission

Ceccarelli and Koetsier have recognized the necessity to update the aims and goals for the Commission. A draft proposal will be prepared by Ceccarelli and will be submitted to the other members. Nomination for a Vice-Chairman and a Secretary has been recognized feasible and useful when the Commission will have enough members.

8. TMM21 project

Prof Koetsier declared to be available to prepare a draft paper which will be completed by Ceccarelli before to propose it to other members for final form, and finally to prof. Angeles, president of IFToMM.

9. Round Table at the World Congress

Great importance has been recognized to such an event, but since the Commission is still at its early organization a Round Table can be dangerous for future developments of the Commission. It has been thought that if only members of the commission or a very few people will show up then the event will have a negative influence on the credibility of the Commission activities. Moreover, so far it is not clear what subject should be discussed in a Round Table. However the proposal by the Organizing Committee of the World Congress will be submitted to the other members of the Commission for the final decision.

10. IFToMM Archive

Short Report of the visit

of prof. Marco Ceccarelli to prof. Moshe Shoham in Technion (Israel), 20-21 January 1999

Ref. : rep 99-1

The following subjects on History of TMM have been discussed:

1) Papers for IFTOMM World Congress

Great satisfaction has been expressed for the received 12 papers, which prof. Shoham suggested to consider all for oral presentation if the quality is acceptable.

2) Papers for HMM2000 Symposium

The format should clearly prescribed, also to avoid too descriptive papers. Members of the Commission and Steering Committee should be kindly suggested to submitt papers.

3) Contacts among members of the Commission

E-mail connections have been recognized necessary and unique for regular communications. Members should react to any communication.

4) Meetings

Next meeting will be held in Oulu during the IFTOMM World Congrress and all the members should participate. A meeting can be scheduled during HMM2000 symposium.

5) Aims and goals for the Commission

Prof. Shoham agrees that some change should be proposed to up-date clearly work of the Commission to current interests and needs. However, primary goals should be to refresh past works by stimulating also papers with modern reviews, contaning both tecchnical details and information on circulation and authors biography.

6) IFTOMM archive

The need for an IFTOMM archive has been discussed through several critical points: publication preservation should be on charge of the Commission for Publications; CISM should be preserved as location; a specific person, as a librarian, should take care of the archive; importance reference works should be identified and acquired for the archive; a financial support would be fundamental for an efficients working of the archive;

the requirements list, which has been proposed for the archive by prof. Ceccarelli, can be considered quite completed, but nevertheless the IFTOMM archive can be continued with the current issue consisting of storage of documents from the IFTOMM secretary only, since many libraries around the world preserve the published material of TMM.

Cassino, 29 January 1999

Short Report of the visit

of prof. Juan Ignacio Cuadrado to prof. Marco Ceccarelli in Cassino (Italy), 1-2 February 1999

Ref. : rep 99-2

The following subjects on History of TMM have been discussed:

2. Papers for IFTOMM World Congress

Great satisfaction has been expressed for the received 12 papers. Prof. Cuadrado examined some of them and gave his review judgment.

2) Papers for HMM2000 Symposium

3) Contacts among members of the Commission

E-mail connections have been recognized necessary and unique for regular communications. Members should react to any communication.

4) Meetings

Next meeting will be held in Oulu during the IFTOMM World Congrress and all the members should participate. A meeting can be scheduled during HMM2000 symposium. The discussion should be focused on a few points to promote the field. Congreses will be the proper site to present specific work and papers on History of TMM.

5) Aims and goals for the Commission

Prof. Cuadrado agrees that some change should be proposed to up-date clearly work of the Commission to current interests and needs. However, primary goals should be to refresh past works by stimulating also papers with modern reviews, contaning both tecchnical details and information on circulation and authors biography. The final goal should be that Histroy of TMM will be recognized as technical content since it is the base for future developments and gives information on methodology for new problems.

6) IFTOMM archive

The need for an IFTOMM archive has been discussed through the following main points: publication preservation should be on charge of the Commission for Publications; CISM should be preserved as location; a specific person, as a librarian, should take care of the archive; a financial support should be fundamental for an efficients working of the archive; the requirements list, which has been proposed for the archive by prof. Ceccarelli in the comments to Agenda 99-1, can be considered quite completed. Nevertheless the IFTOMM archive can be continued with the current issue consisting of storage of documents from the IFTOMM secretary only, since many libraries around the world preserve the published material of TMM.

7) A virtual archive

Prof. Cuadrado expressed the interest to build a virtual archive by copying the past masterpiecse on TMM in a web page that can be easily used by pubblic. A reference list could be also included. He will try to ask for funds and then he will ask cooperation to members of the Commission.

Cassino, 2 February 1999

Short Report of the visit

of prof. Marco Ceccarelli at the Universidad Nacional de Lima (Perù) on 18 February 1999.

Ref. : rep 99-3

Prof. Marco Ceccarelli visited the facilities of the University of Lima and he had the possibility to speak with prof. Josè Ignacio Lopez Soria (e-mail:jilsoria@uni.edu.pe) about the activities on History of Engineering. The University of San Marco in Lima is the oldest University in America and the Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria de Lima has been established as indipendent institution on Engineering in 1876. In particular, prof. Lopez reported on a project to estabilish a Museum of Science in Perù and write monographies on historical developments of Engineering in Perù. Prof. Ceccarelli visited also the established office for the project and talked with Dr. Katya Valencia, with the aim to explain details on a desirable participation to HMM2000. He suggested a contribution that can be related with historical developments of Mechanical Engineering in Perù with technical details.

The group of prof. Lopez is organizing a very interesting Conference on the History of Engineering and Architecture in Perù. Details and information can be asked by e-mail to prof. Lopez (chiouni99@uni.edu.pe) or in web page: http://www.uni.edu.pe/Publicacion/Historia/index.html).

Cassino, 2 March 1999

ENCLOSURE n.4a

Dear Professor Shoup

I just received your letter of 17 December 1998 with communication of the rejection of the paper MMT 32-12 (revised), which I submitted in January 1998 for publications in Mechanism and Machine Theory.

I am really surprised to read only now the motivation of the rejection: "the article does not fall into any of the three categories indicated at point 1 of the Guide of Reviewers". This seems to indicate that the subject is not feasible for the Journal. If this is the real motivation for the rejection, I criticize strongly the decision, also in my capacity of Chairman of IFTOMM Commission for History of TMM.

Therefore I wonder that now in the IFTOMM Journal, History of TMM is not recognized as feasible topic for publication. In addition, it is not indicated in the excluded subjects.

In conclusion, this letter is to ask you to consider the submission of papers on History of TMM, and in particular the paper MMT 32-12 (revised).

I send copy of this letter to the IFTOMM president prof. Angeles to inform him about this policy of the Journal.

I look forward to hearing from you at your early convenience.

Sincerely Yours

Prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Meccanica, Strutture, Ambiente e Territorio

Università di Cassino

Via Di Biasio 43 - 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

Ph. +39-0776-299663 fax +39-0776-310812

e-mail: ceccarelli@ ing.unicas.it

ENCLOSURE n.4b

Prof. Terry Shoup

Editor-in-Chief

Mechanism and Machine Theory

c/c prof. Jorge Angeles

IFToMM President

c/c prof. Teun Koetsier

Past Chairman

Commission for History of TMM

Ref: Publication of historical papers in MMT

Dear Terry

I thank you for the reply of March 17 to my letter of January 18.

I write the following considerations to you in my capacity of Chairman of the Commission for History of TMM.

History of TMM is a subject of TMM; IFToMM has a PC for History of TMM and MMT is the Journal of IFToMM.

These facts give to History of TMM the dignity of suitable topic for regular papers in MMT.

I do not refer to "humanistic" historical papers but those with technical content, about History of TMM. As I explained also at the EC meeting in Paris in July 1998, and I stressed in many other circumstances (like in the article "De Re Machninarum" in the IFToMM Newsletter of 1998) I intend as historical papers from the IFToMM viewpoint those papers that have a considerable content of technical information. Thus I shall call the authors as "Historicians" since they will be Experts in TMM with an Historian feeling. With the term Historician I will like to stress that an Historian in the field of TMM is a person who is an Expert in TMM with knowledge on History of TMM so that he can understand, appreciate and refresh past works in TMM.

I still think that the Commission for History of TMM should have the duty and goal to stimulate and promote researches and publications in the field of History of TMM within the IFToMM Community. This is why the technical content of past works and efforts can be understood and appreciated only by Experts in the field of TMM. This means that historical papers with technical content, as I intend historical papers in the History of TMM, are devoted to Experts in TMM with the aim to get them aware of technical developments and give them further motivations and ideas for their research.

Because of the technical content, probably these historical papers will be not acceptable for publication in the circuit for History of Science.

These are the reasons why historical papers in the field of TMM should be published in MMT.

Moreover, it is evident that publication of historical papers in MMT is fundamental for the activity of the Commission for History of TMM.

If the publication of regular papers is restricted or even denied, the work and efforts of the Commission to promote and reinvigorate the interest on History of TMM will vanish.

As illustrative example, let us refer to the International Symposium of History of Mechanisms and Machines HMM2000 that I am organizing with the help of the members of the Commission by asking to Experts in the field of TMM for written contributions on History of TMM. If historical papers will be not recognized of interest in the IFToMM Community, since they are not suitable for publication in MMT, few people will work for developing research and documentation on the past developments of TMM. Consequently no future will have the Symposium and the Commission itself. Indeed, when I contact peoples asking them to write a communication on the History of TMM in his field of expertise in TMM or on historical developments in his country, sometimes they argue that it is not possible. The reason is that since they cannot spend so much time, as historical studies require, in an activity that is not recognized.

This recognition is documented when historical papers are presented in regular sessions of Conferences and in Journals.

Since the Commission works within IFToMM we need that historical papers are accepted regularly at least in the IFToMM World Congress and in the IFToMM Journal MMT. In the next IFToMM World Congress we succeed to have two sessions for oral presentation and some additional papers for poster session. This is a real signal that History of TMM is of interest in the IFToMM Community and it can have further improvements when it is known that the subject is suitable for publication in MMT.

Another problem seems that usual Reviewers of MMT would not like to read historical papers published in MMT, although the may declare they are interested to listen about History of TMM. I am aware that it is not easy to convince them but we should try to demonstrate that History of TMM is a part of TMM.

In conclusion, I feel an aversion to the field of History of TMM and in my capacity of Chairman of the Commission for History of TMM I must try to change the situation.

I hope we can reach a suitable solution for all the points of view.

We do not need to be in hurry and indeed I would like to discuss the subject with you personally before bringing it to the attention of the IFToMM Executive Council.

Sincerely Yours

Cassino 29 March 1999

Marco Ceccarelli

Prof. Terry Shoup

Editor-in-Chief

Mechanism and Machine Theory

prof. Jorge Angeles

IFToMM President

Prof. Tatu Leinonen

IFToMM Secretary-in-General

c/c prof. Teun Koetsier

Past Chairman

Commission for History of TMM

Ref: Publication of historical papers in MMT

Dear Terry

I thank you for the kind attention to my request for publishing historical papers in MMT.

I appreciate your efforts to understand my point of view.

Nevertheless, I still think that the only solution is to consider historical papers as suitable for publication in MMT.

The basic reason is that History of TMM is a part of TMM and IFToMM recognises all the activities in TMM with the same dignity.

In fact, History of TMM has been recognised as suitable topic for the IFToMM World Congress. In addition, also the IFToMM EC recognised History of TMM as a topic of basic interest for the IFToMM Community when in the 1998 meeting in Paris gave patronage and approved financial support for the HMM2000 Symposium on History of TMM.

Although I can understand you reluctance to accept History of TMM as suitable for MMT since your long charge of Editor-in-Chief of MMT, I think is time to update the IFToMM Journal.

Regarding the content of historical papers, I agree with you that a serious Reviewing is necessary, likewise for any other topic of TMM. I will suggest that the corresponding IFToMM PC or TC will handle the Reviewing of papers in a specific domain, and the Chairmen should be responsible for the quality of the accepted papers. Therefore, the members of PC for History of TMM should review historical papers.

I appreciate your suggestion for a Monograph on History of TMM. This is indeed the aim for HMM2000 Symposium, i.e. to establish a forum within which starts working for the project of a Handbook on History of TMM. This was, in fact, the idea that Teun Koetsier has been working for since long time.

We already contacted an International Publisher that will publish the Proceedings of HMM2000 Symposium. If you agree, we may work for a special issue of MMT containing selected papers from the Proceedings of HMM2000 Symposium.

Finally, I think that the discussion should be addressed to the attention of the IFToMM EC for a final decision, since the Agenda for the 1999 meeting of the IFToMM EC has been just fixed. Therefore I send this message also to the IFToMM President and Secretary in General.

I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in Oulu.

Best regards

Cassino 9 April 1999

Marco Ceccarelli

Prof. Terry Shoup

Editor-in-Chief

Mechanism and Machine Theory

prof. Jorge Angeles

IFToMM President

Prof. Tatu Leinonen

IFToMM Secretary-in-General

c/c prof. Teun Koetsier

Past Chairman

Commission for History of TMM

Ref: Publication of historical papers in MMT

Dear Terry:

I am very glad that you will accept History of TMM as suitable topic for MMT.

Regarding the reviewing, I agree with you that we should avoid conflict of interest when a Chairman or a member of a PC or TC submits a paper. In this case I may suggest that the substitute can be selected among Associate Editors of MMT, Vice-Chairman or Past Chairman of PCs and Tcs. However, these are details that you will manage with a sure capacity.

It is important that PCs and Tcs are recognized for the promotion and reviewing of papers in their field of expertise. This is one more reason to have very active PCs and Tcs.

I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in Oulu.

Best regards

Cassino 14 April 1999

Marco Ceccarelli

ENCLOSURE n.5

prof. Jorge Angeles

IFToMM President

Prof. Giovanni Bianchi

CISM, Udine

c/c Prof. Tatu Leinonen

IFToMM Secretary-in-General

c/c prof. Teun Koetsier

Past Chairman

Commission for History of TMM

Ref: Proposal for an IFToMM archive

Dear prof. Angeles

Dear prof. Bianchi

Please, find enclosed a proposal for an IFToMM archive by the Commission for History of TMM,

after one year of discussions.

DESIRABLE STATUS AND PLACE

However, IFToMM EC should first ask to CISM if they can provide the service, or what they can ensure, since CISM has been the IFToMM archive from the beginning and seems still to be a feasible institution from all points of view.

The chosen institution should have the following qualifications:

1. To be an international reputed institution;
2. To be recognized as operating in the field of Mechanical Engineering;
3. To be able to ensure the prescribed requirements, which are listed in the following points a) and b), independently of whatever will be fixed.

Of course, the IFToMM archive could continue also in the current way.

Moreover, depending on the way the IFToMM archive will be re-organised, the hosting institution should be supported with proper funds by IFToMM.

Opinions and goals for an IFToMM archive with full capabilities can be summarised by the following list:

a) Archive should have sections for:

a.1) IFToMM documents and reports of Pcs and Tcs (like in the past);

a.2) Proceedings of the IFToMM World Congresses;

a.3) Proceedings and Books of the activities held under the support or auspicious of IFToMM;

a.4) IFToMM Journal Mechanism and Machine Theory;

a.5) Any material regarding TMM that can be bought and/or donated by privates and/or institutions;

a.6) Electronic files of previous sections, when available and/or of interest to help circulation;

b) Service should provide:

b.1) storage and coding of the material of a);

b.2) circulation of the information (a web page can be recommendable);

b.3) access to the public for consulting the material, even with an exhibition section of historical documents;

b.4) reproduction of the material for mailing to users, when the copyright permits;

b.5) consulting and files mailing via internet.

The following options will be proposed:

1. IFToMM archive should be re-organized with the above mentioned full capabilities;
2. Minimum arrangement: a storage of the above mentioned sections a.1), a.2) and a.4) should be ensured with a service for members of IFTOMM EC and PC for History of TMM;
3. Place: CISM should be preferable or any other chosen institution should fulfil the above mentioned qualifications.

I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in Oulu.

Best regards

Cassino 30 April 1999

Marco Ceccarelli

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT and CALL FOR PAPERS

May 11-13, 2000: Cassino, Italy

The aim of the Symposium is to establish an international forum for presenting and discussing historical developments in the field of Theory of Machines and Mechanisms.

The purpose of this Symposium is to bring together historians and TMM researchers to discuss and learn from past experiences in order to enhance our vision of developments in the next millenium.

The Symposium will be held at the School of Engineering of the University of Cassino in Cassino.

It is interesting to know:

It is important to know and become aware on:

Therefore, papers on historical subjects are solicited and not only in the following topics:

J. Angeles (Canada)

E. Baker (Australia)

R. Bansevicius (Lithuania)

M. Ceccarelli (Italy)

I. Cuadrado (Spain)

A. Dimarogonas (U.S.A.)

J. Duffy (U.S.A.)

E. Filemon (Hungary)

K. Guo (China-Beijing)

T. Koetsier (Netherlands)

Y. Hori (Japan)

V. Marchis (Italy)

A. Mezentsev (Russia)

A. Morecki (Poland)

S. Paipetis (Greece)

J.S. Rao (India)

B. Roth (U.S.A.)

M. Shoham (Israel)

J.Takeno (Japan)

I. Tempea (Romania)

H.S. Yan (China-Taipei)

M. Ceccarelli University of Cassino Chairman

M. Cigola University of Cassino

P. Corsi University of Cassino

A. Dimarogonas University of Washinghton (U.S.A.)

T. Koetsier Vrije Univeristy (Netherlands)

H.S. Yan National University (China-Taipei)

The official language of the Symposium is English.

Three copies of full draft paper should be sent by December 1st, 1999 to:

Acceptance will be notified on January 10th, 2000.

The full paper prepared in camera-ready form must be received by January 30th, 2000.

Web page:

http://www.unicas.it/ingegneria/hmm2000/index.htm

Cassino is located about 150 Km South of Rome. Cassino is a modern town since it has been completely rebuilt after the destruction during the II World War. The town lies just below the mountain where the famous Montecassino Abbey is situated.

The average cost for a three-star hotel is about 60.000 lire per night (or about $35.00 U.S. at current rate). Cassino can be reached easy both by train and by car. There are hourly trains from Rome to Cassino and the trip takes approximately two hours. A gate of the Highway A1 is located at Cassino and a car trip from Rome may take one hour and half. A pick up bus will be provided from and to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.

In May the weather is sunny and the temperature is up 20°C.

University of Cassino

IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

IFToMM