Wet Collodion

Our staff have created this image using the latest in obsolete photographic technology. We coated a glass plate with a liquid emulsion and then ran outside to a preset large format camera and took this image. We ran back to the darkroom a block and a half away where we developed the image while the emulsion was still wet.

Un-Official Washington

 Lest our readers think that we here at American National Standard are hopelessly stuck in the past. We provide here an example of our most current work. An investigation into the industrial transition zone in SW Washington DC. Spittin' distance from some of our nations greatest monuments and part of the "Un-Official Washington" Series.

Lucky Seven Pawnbrokers

Friends, even we at American National Standard have been down on our luck and had to pawn our Magnavox combo stereo Hi Fi and color TV set here at Lucky Seven. Lets say they had better days than what you see here.

Spartana, Baltimore MD ca. 1990

An associate of ours has recently reminded us of this little jem of a photo. Our Scanning technicians and digital restoration experts have lovingly resurected this image from our deep archives. Enjoy.

A message from Ed Porter

Many of you have wondered who it is that lurks behind the blog known as American National Standard. Some of you have commented that we are a little sinister. Well rest assured gentle reader--we wish you no ill will. On the contrary we are ordinary folk just like you. To prove it we have posted a recent photograph of our managing director Mr. Ed Porter. There, see he is a regular guy just like you. Someone you would trust with the keys to your house, or to take your dog out for a walk. In other words just a regular working stiff like your old man's boss. 

The Room of the Dead Machine

A major find from our archives! This tiny doorway was located at the bottom level of a downtown Wakefield County office building. This magical place was discovered by Mr. Porter and Mr. Randall while conducting extensive field survey work to scout out locations for experimental performance spaces. The truth is that there were no venues available for our budding performance efforts, so the "Room" served as our rehearsal space and concert hall.It was called the "Room of the Dead Machine" because inside the space was some form of disabled machinery--whose purpose we could not determine. Inside was a dirt floored utility space the size of a large living room. Unfortunately there are no interior shots known to the staff here at ANS, and there is one very crappy recording on audio cassette in existance. This recording is avaiable in digital form, however the technical staff here does not know how to distribute mp3's via the internets yet.

"Z" Site

Mr. Porter is getting the hang of this blog thing. He knows his readers crave archival photographs of the budding Wakefield County Punk Rock Art Scene back in the '80's. Here is another gem from deep in the archives of an unidentified location we will call "Z" site. 

Archival Research

Ah, we see you have come back for more. Good. Our team of forensic archival researchers have uncovered some new images of the activities found in Wakefield County. We surmise that one image is of the area known a "B" site. This zone was originally discovered by our very first staff members as they drove around the Wakefield area late at night. Like good budding documentarians they were compelled to photograph any signs of non-surburban activity.

American National Standard Headquarters

 We Thought you might enjoy a snap shot of our first corporate headquarters circa 1984. We were located on the top floor of this wonderful postmodern office building designed by Mies Van der Rohe.

Opening Statement

Welcome to the inaugural post to the American National Standard blog. We here at ANS strive to bring you products mined from the collective efforts of our research teams. Please bear with us as we explore new ways to tap our potential and deliver to you our latest creations.

ANS originated in the humble back country of Wakefield Oklahoma in 1979 when our two founders Mr. Clyde Randall and Mr. Ed Porter first met at what would later become known as "A" Site. That locale, centered around a high tension wire pylon at a mid-point between our two studios became the focus for a collective site specific art instalation that would later expand into several locations scattered around the metropolitan area.

Expanding operations into underground parking garages near the Radio and GC Murphy buildings, our founders assembled a team of experimental performance artists who gave limited invitation concerts in such art spaces as: the Room of the Dead Machine, the sub-electric room, Baltimore Air Coil, and other locations. Indirectly associated with underground publications such as Squirm, Fat Bleed Comics, Swollen Family, and New York Skyline; several affiliated efforts began to coalesce in the Wakefield County area.

Now over thirty years later our archivists are busy locating the relevant historical records that document these efforts. It is hoped that in this humble venue the fruit of many laborious researches will be revealed to you--our loyal customers.

Mr. Ed Porter

Senior Assistant Managing Vice Director

KinoRama Division

Department of External Communications

American National Standard

an FBC affiliate