11-02 KM: "Order 1950-9 Bound Volumes!"

by AMNESIAN 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  AMNESIAN

  waiting:

  Yeah right. Even back then, I wasn't braindead enough to not realize that they wanted to unload these old books

  Lol! Even my husband, Society-Man-down-to-his-BVDs-at-the-time, would look over at me and we'd share the "yeah, right..." eyeroll.

  If the organization allowed X-mas celebrating, they'd claim these volumes were required stocking stuffers for the mature Christian, and, "...if you already have one, get some for your bible studies."

  Even after so many years of it and so much exposure, their dishonesty never abates.

  AMNESIAN
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  James2300

  Here's the reason they push these old bound volumes:

  Those of you who identified that it had to do with the business side of the operations are absolutely correct. However, it is not about unloading inventory as some of you also suggested. They don't keep large inventories of these old bound volumes. That explains why it usually takes several months to fill these type of orders.

  The reason they push old bound volumes has to do with keeping the printery and bindery busy. Much of the costs of the bindery and printery are fixed--that is, they have to pay for labor and maintenance whether the machines are used or not. When they get a lull in production of recent publications, they switch to these old bound volumes. Although they no longer charge for publications, they do tend to get more donations when publishers order more literature. Bound volumes look big and expensive so they pay off pretty well, yet don't cost a lot to make.

  Also, because of the switch to softbound books, I believe they have more hardbound bindery machines idle.

  Hope this helps,

  James
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  blondie

  Actually, this all started supposedly to allow the R&F to complete their personal libraries and congregation libraries. Note in the KM announcements below the progression. Eventually, we have an announcement in 1999 that shows the overstock the WTS is trying to get rid of. Evidently, the 1950's weren't too popular if they are still pushing them in 2002.

  *** km 5/88 7 The Theocratic Ministry School Library ***

  
  The Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985, which is designed for research and study, is an essential item in a good theocratic library. However, many Kingdom Halls do not have all the publications referred to in the Index. In order to make more material available, the Society is planning to reprint The Watchtower bound volumes for the years 1960 to 1979, in English only. This will make a fine addition to those Theocratic Ministry School libraries that do not already have these references.

  *** km 3/89 3 Announcements ***

  
  The Society is now accepting orders for reprinted Watchtower bound volumes in English for the years 1970 through 1974.

  *** km 7/89 3 Announcements ***

  
  The Society is now accepting orders for reprinted Watchtower bound volumes in English for the years 1975 through 1979.

  *** km 1/92 7 Announcements ***

  
  The Society is now accepting requests for reprinted Watchtower bound volumes in ENGLISH for the years 1980 through 1985.

  *** km 5/93 7 Announcements ***

  
  The Society is now producing English bound volumes of The Watchtower for the years 1986 to 1991 as permanent stock items.

  *** km 7/93 3 Announcements ***

  
  The Society is now producing English bound volumes of The Watchtower for the years 1980 to 1985 as permanent stock items.

  *** km 9/93 3 Announcements ***

  
  The Society is now producing English bound volumes of The Watchtower for the years 1970 to 1979 as permanent stock items.

  *** km 1/94 6 New Publications Available ***

  
  The Society is now producing English bound volumes of The Watchtower for the years 1960 to 1969 as permanent stock items.

  *** km 7/95 3 Announcements ***

  
  The Society is producing ENGLISH bound volumes of The Watchtower for the years 1951 to 1959.

  *** km 9/98 3 Announcements ***

  
  The Society has a supply of ENGLISH bound volumes of The Watchtower for the years 1951 to 1959.

  *** km 6/99 3 Announcements ***

  
  The Society has a supply of ENGLISH bound volumes of The Watchtower for the years 1951 to 1955, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1989, 1995 to 1997, and the Awake! for the years 1989 and 1994 to 1997. Also, ENGLISH editions of the Yearbook of Jehovahs Witnesses for 1987 as well as for the years 1992 to 1998 are available. Featured in the 1987 Yearbook are such countries as Puerto Rico, Switzerland, and Trinidad; in the 1992 Yearbook, Kenya, along with other East African countries, and the Solomon Islands; in the 1993 Yearbook, Denmark, Honduras, and Malaysia.

  Blondie
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  James2300

  Blondie,

  You've only got part of the story. Yes, the ostensible reason for the old bound volume drive was to fill publisher's libraries. In harmony with that they began to reissue the bound volumes in 5 year blocks. At the end of this drive (in 1999) they were left with a supply of some odd years. The latest announcement (in 2002) is not because they still have bound volumes left since the last announcement in 1999. Rather, they've finished (or nearly finished) yearbooks. Next year's district convention releases probably won't be ready for press for another month or two. In the meantime, they'll run bound volumes (perhaps this year's in conjunction with the old ones).

  Hope this helps,

  James
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  SYN

  One thing that's nice about Tower Bound Volumes (sounds like something you'd buy at Kentucky) is that they smell very good. It's just this idiosyncracy I have, that I enjoy the smell of Tower Literature. Oddly enough, they're a symbolic shade of brown too

  The actual contents of the bound volumes bears a curious resemblance to the colour of the covers

  And they're definitely doing a bit of house-cleaning!!!!!! The Tower's motto is, if it can make a profit, then DO it! It's not like anyone's actually gonna sit down and read the volumes, we all know exactly how much spare time Dubs have to begin with!
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  waiting

  Well, hey James,

  Thanks for the added info - makes good sense too. The bound volumes do look more expensive than just loose magazines. Not much more, but still..........

  And I agree. If a machine sits idle - it & it's operator still are costing fixed overhead. If one can figure out how to keep both of them busy............ the company stops losing money on idle time.

  "Now if we can just figure out how to get the locals to buy these.........................." WT handlers

  Welcome to our forum, James.

  waiting
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  LDH

  If this information was so critical it required re-printing, why not produce it on a CD for a fraction of the cost???

  Lisa
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  NeonMadman

  I suspect that back in 1950, the WT was pushing all the half century old books onto the current publishers - at current prices.

  When I became a JW in the late 1960's, at least some of the Studies in the Scriptures volumes were still listed as "in-print" and available. Don't remember what the prices were, though. They must have had a huge print run on those babies!