Restorers of Alchemical Manuscripts Society Digital Library
©2006-2011
About us
CONTACT:
GENERAL: information[at]ramsdigital.com
ORDERING: orders[at]ramsdigital.com
On 17th January, 2006 http://www.ramsdigital.com website sucessfully evolved from http://go.to/ramsdigital webpage. The initial project was created as a pilot on 05 May, 2005 to design and construct an online presence for the Restorers of Alchemical Manuscripts Society (R.A.M.S.). RAMSdigital is slowly establishing itself as the online doorway to the R.A.M.S. material with an RSS feed for news, newsletter and development projects.
In 2004, Philip Wheeler uncovered an early archive of R.A.M.S. library in his basement. Philip was associated with Hans Nintzel in the early to mid-1980's, and collected everything offered at that time. The Glauber Index was the most notable of his contributions to the library.
Knowing that Hans had passed away in 2000, Philip decided to make digital copies of his library available for a limited time on Ebay. Following the advice that he gave to Hans nearly two decades earlier he started digitizing the collection. Hans had argued that it wasn't economically feasible to do this in mid-80's, and he was probably right. Presently with the use of a multi-sheet-feeder scanner real progress has be made. Nevertheless, it took many months.
In digital format, one may easily search for keywords and phrases -- difficult with the printed versions. In addition, the original high-resolution scans are included, page-by-page, in optimized JPEG format. This allows the serious student or researcher to compare the original materials with the OCR text version. While OCR software is good, it is not perfect, and spot corrections almost certainly did not mitigate all errors; with the original scans, readers are able to compare these as needed. Some of the documents are text-only where original scans were not available. These titles which were a part of the R.A.M.S. material, are included in the Collection in an effort to present as complete a set of R.A.M.S. material as possible.
To date, 120 of the 128 planned volumes have been scanned.
R.A.M.S., the Restoration of Alchemical Manuscripts Society, was based in Richardson Texas, U.S.A. R.A.M.S. was loosely knit group composed of private citizens around the world, directed by Hans Nintzel.
The goal of the society was to seek out and obtain copies of very limited editions of ancient Alchemical manuscripts, tracts, printed works and other such materials and literature. From these, certain items are selected for ‘restoration’ . This consisted in translating, indexing and re-typing the material to render it readable, therefore useable. The reading Is made more enjoyable by the use of charts, symbols, dictionaries, diagrams, insertion of printed illustrations and other annotations to abed additional light on the text.
R. A. M. S. was a non-profit organization with members from all walks of life. There was no ‘organization’ per se, just individuals desirous of performing a labor of love. It was their hope that these efforts will perhaps result in renewed interest in the science of Alchemy or even contribute to new discoveries or fields of experimentation. While this material is for all on the path of Alchemy, it is particularly for the sincere practicing Alchemist.
The transcription of this material was as verbatim as human skills permited. The only exceptions was to make the matter more readable, or understandable, with some ‘modernization’. This is done ONLY where it is judged that no ambiguity will arise from a slight departure from the original and there is no danger of deleting key words or phrases where a possible use of Gematria, Temura, Notariqon or other form of written code exists. Thus, misspelled or grammatically Incorrect material is to be found as well as archaic or strange words. This is in an effort to maintain the original text as far as possible. The completed material is then reproduced, sometimes bound, and offered to interested parties. The costs for these copies are used to defray reproduction costs and to obtain additional material for restoration.
The work of R.A.M. S. included such material as “Last Will and Testament” of Basil Valentine, Important selections from the invaluable Bacstrom Manuscripts such as “Golden Chain of Homer”. “Lamspring’ a Process for the Lapis Sophorum”, “The Chemist’s Key”. “The Mineral Gluten of Nitre and Sulfur”, “Coelum Philosophorum” and others.
It is highly appropriate to acknowledge the many people who had either materially or philosophically contributed to the effort. This might well be the first Indication that such a group even exists! For their labors and contributions, grateful thanks are given. Let their unselfish efforts inspire others to light the fires of Alchemy.
While the list is long, it Includes: Carr P. ColIins Jnr. [Distinguished Professor of Management Sciences, author of 'Royal Ancestors of Magna Charta Baron' (1959), One hall at SMU's Dedman School of Law is named after him]?, Rick Stern, Doris Edlein, Arpad Joo [(born 1948 in Budapest, Hungary) a Hungarian conductor], D. and J. Nintzel, N. Ogle, G. Price, Francis Isreal Regardie, William (Bill). van Doren, K. von Koenigseck and especially David Ham.
NON-PROFIT & DONATIONS.
As a not-for-profit organisation, money raised will be donated to the Hans Nintzel estate and active alchemical non-profit organisations teaching alchemy. Presently awarding donations to The Paracelsus College, Australia.
About Hans W. Nintzel (1932 - 2000).
Born on April 1st, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY. Hans Nintzel was one of the most significant of the late twentieth century's alchemical enthusiasts; a highly unique and charismatic man, he was well known in the Dallas Metroplex among those who choose to study alternative subjects.
Hans was very well read and was influenced by the late Dion Fortune (1890-1946) and other famous figures in the metaphysical arenas. From the 1970's he worked tirelessly to promote interest in alchemy, the subject he dearly loved. He was among Frater Albertus' , Dr. Albert Riedel (1911-84), earliest pupils having been encouraged to attend by Irael Regardie. Intensely inspired by Frater's practical approach to alchemy Hans spent seven years studying with him sharing the class with fellow students: Russ House, Art Kunkin (founder of the L.A. Free Press, and inheritor of Regardie's library), Dave Hamm, or Paul Clark.
In M. Nicolas' Memorium to Hans he indicated, under Frater Albertus' direction he studied and discovered the Mercury of the Philosophers, (the true key of the hermetic sanctuary), which certifies him as an Adept of the Alchemical Science.
In 1977, at the age of 45, Hans purchased 733 Melrose Drive, Richardson, Texas. with his wife, Jody, and converted the garage into a lab with the installation of a gasline. This address was central to the establishment of his best known work - the R.A.M.S. publications - the Restoration of Alchemical Manuscripts Society and the primary location for his classes that he held two - three times a year.
Through a close knit groups of friends he struggled to make rare Alchemical manuscripts available to the English speaking audience until the 1990's. The publications were produced to order. The material supplied by Hans were simple looseleaf photocopies of carefully researched, typed, and often translated manuscripts. Hans was very particular about which Alchemical materials he included in the R.A.M.S. collection, rejecting as worthless most of the modern books commonly available in University libraries.
R.A.M.S. published a truly unique collection of Alchemical knowledge which is sought out by all serious students of alchemy.
Hans often lectured on Qabala and alchemy, and organised a number of workshops on practical alchemy to pass on his extensive knowledge, demonstrating alchemical procedures and perform practical work (oil of egg and oil of gold that he had extracted as a tincture).
He attended a Solazaref encampment in France in 1986. In 1995 the workshops where only two to three times a year on an 'as needed' basis. His massive class hand-outs of over 150 pages contained information on Alchemy, Qabbalah, Astrology, Enochian, and Ceremonial Magick. Extremely generous with his time and shared his enthusiasm liberally with others, he took on a number of pupils and was always willing to make time for people, or to share his contacts. He routinely made various oils used mostly for healing.
Hans invited and organised workshops for overseas practitioners, such as the event of Manfred Junius's first American Alchemical class at his Texas home in July of 1990.
Hans had a remarkable book library and collection of unusual information in several file cabinets, gathered and studied over many years. His alchemical lab consisted of a small area carved out of a very packed garage, but it worked and was used to instruct his students in the nuances of alchemy. He said a drop of the oil of gold could be placed on the tongue of a person having a heart attack and it would stabilize them within minutes. The gold he extracted the oil from was quite peculiar, dull and somewhat brittle for gold since the oil its the 'life' of matter had be removed.
Hans was instrumental in the publication of the English translation of Manfred M. Junius' Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy'. Adam McLean utilised the R.A.M.S. mailing list to publicize the Hermetic Journal (1978-92) which brought an immediate base of subscribers. Time-Life consulted Hans about alchemy for "The Secret of the Alchemist", 1990, a 144p book in the "Mysteries of the Unknown" series.
He was a member of the Celtic Christian Church, Texas that he had helped to found. Carr Collins Jr., Hans and others had arranged an English Adept of the SIL Lineage, Alan Adams, to establish the group. The "Star and Cross", "Dallas Group" or "Celtic Christian Church", (one and the same) was an branch of an esoteric order called the London Group. The London Group was founded by Alan Adams (aka the author Charles Fielding) in London in the early 1970s. Adams had trained and been a senior member of Dion Fortune's Society of the Inner Light prior to setting up the London Group.
In the late 80's he began to have health problems including diabetes and this became more severe in the closing few years of the twentieth century when he became limited in what he could do by his health and suffered a stroke after Jodie passed away. Nevertheless he kept up a considerable correspondence with his colleagues and friends in the work and continued to be a focus of inspiration.
Hans died on December 3rd, 2000. A Service was held at the Unity Church, 6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX on December 14th, 2000 at 7PM.
Jody worked as a counselor with troubled teenagers while Hans, a graduate civil engineer with an MBA, worked in the real world as a member of corporate management in information systems; they had three sons: Peter, Jeff & Doug.
Retrospectively, if there was a trigger or point of encouragement to start R.A.M.S. then it may have been the work of Alan Leo and his Para Publishing through the Paracelesus Research Society (1960-84) that predates this project. When Para closed it may have reinforced Hans' commitment.
[Source of Hans Nintzel Article: The Alchemy Library, keelynet.com and assorted email discussions.]