When you hear its nickname and learn how it works, you can’t help but think it’s some high-tech weapon that Dr. Evil would love using to take over the world. (Cue up sinister music and his waaaay-too-long laugh.)  

Alas, our State Archives’ Imaging Services staff isn’t using “The E-Beam” for nefarious purposes. Instead, it is a new tool that offers an inexpensive way to preserve and reproduce many documents at a much higher visual quality than before.  

As the only one of its kind used in the Western U.S., The E-Beam is a key tool in the State Archives’ successful quest to preserve documents and images that are part of Washington history.

Also known as the MP 6000 Electron Beam Microfilm Recorder, the E-Beam uses an electron beam, which is able to focus electrons into a much smaller area than a standard laser or LED, according to David Tuckett, Customer Services Manager with State Archives. “This allows Imaging to get the resolution on microfilm down to the width of just a few carbon atoms,” David explained. “What that means for the customer is that, when they have an aerial photo, when they have a very detailed drawing, even the very most minute drawings will be as perfectly detailed as the original would be. When you’re talking about microfilm, where you’re already reducing the image, that’s very important.”    

The E-Beam is especially adept at recording anything done with shades of gray, as well as black and white documents. Older documents that have fine details also show up very well once The E-Beam has had its way with them.

Imaging Services staff is using The E-Beam on some large-scale projects. One involves converting all of the King County Recorder’s Office’s 800-900 deed books, which have to be scanned because of the nature of the image that is on the paper. At roughly 670 pages per book, it’s a HUGE undertaking.  Another project is the reproduction of Lewis County marriage records dating back to the 1840s. It takes The E-Beam about three seconds to produce a 35-millimeter image.

Tuckett expects other local and state government entities will ask Imaging Services to put The E-Beam to work on some of their old items. One example would be large drawings and other documents that County Auditors would like to see put on microfilm. 

The State Archives is a division of the Office of Secretary of State.