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Articles: Literature | How the Guinness book began (A brief Study)
- Mr. VIRABHADRA SASTRI KALANADHABHATTA
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For nearly half a century, the Guinness book of world records has been chronicling the outer limits of the universe and life on earth. It has become the fastest selling book in the world and the total sales worldwide have passed more than 42.5millions.
A small incidence, a small question, and a small experience – all these will lead to many inventions. Actually Sir Hugh Beaver, the Managing Director of Guinness Brewery, London never anticipated the upcoming of a great publication like the Guinness book simply from his enthusiasm to know how fast the bird flies. The credit of producing the magnificent volume also goes to the Mcwhirter Twins.
THE INCREDIBLE MCWHIRTER TWINS
Norris and Ross Mcwhirter were born in London on August 12, 1925 with Norris the older identical twin by twenty minutes. Their father William Mcwhirter was a newspaper editor editing three national newspapers at the same time. He also subscribed to hundreds of newspapers and magazines. This has facilitated both the twins to have plenty of reading matter. From their early age, they used to clip unusual information from the newspapers and magazines.
In 1943 they were trained in 6 months course at Oxford’s Trinity College to prepare for service in the Royal navy. Later they worked in Navy in two different assignments. After relieved from the Navy, Norris obtained degree in Economics while Ross got his degree in Law. In 1949 they started a fact-finding business, called Mcwhirter Twins, Ltd., a unique enterprise at the time mainly for encyclopedias, periodicals, yearbooks and advertisers. They were also hired as correspondents on tennis, rugby, track and field. During this time Norris started his career as a BBC reporter also.
INCIDENT LED TO PUBLISHING THE GUINNESS BOOK
One day, Sir Hugh Beaver aimed and shot a flying bird but missed it. He wondered how he missed the shot and thought that it was probably due to the bird flying very fast beyond his aim. He was curious to know how fast a bird could fly. But he could not find any record to show the answer. He felt that big big volumes of costly reference books should include such records as these were hitherto just the things that started public and bar arguments all over the world and it was about the time a book should be produced with full of factual records that could settle disputes. So he made up his mind to publish such books and started searching for suitable personalities to take up this task. The Mcwhirter twins were suggested to him, and immediately they were called for.
Series of meetings between the twins and Sir Hugh Beaver took place where they discussed on various problems and methods of producing a big volume. He was satisfied with the twins and felt that he made a right choice. He resolved to publish the book under the Guinness imprint. Target date for the book was fixed in July 1955. The twins hired an office manager and the three of them worked until late into the small hours night after night.
THE FIRST GUNNESS BOOK
The main problem is to extract “ests” ( highest, lowest, smallest, oldest, fastest, heaviest etc., ), “ists” ( ich-thyologists, paleontologists, dendrochronologists etc., ). They corresponded with so many experts. Without asking for a direct bit of information, they used to state a fact that they figured might be close to being right and asked the experts to confirm it or correct it. Norris once said that people have a total resistance to giving information but often have an irresistible desire to correct other’s impressions.
As expected, they received stream of replies. The twins were busy in sorting out the information and to arrange for printing. On August 27, 1955 THE FIRST COPY OF THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS, hard bound with more than 200 pages, full of illustrations was released for sale. Only 50,000 copies were first printed and priced 5 shillings. Messrs W.H.Smith, the largest book supplier in Britain were first approached who to their disappointment, ordered for only 6 copies. But to the unexpected demand from the public, they placed an order for 100 copies. British records as well as world records found place in this first edition. But the initial query about the speed of a fastest bird was missed by over sight.
HOW TO GET INTO THE GUINNESS BOOK
(Extract of answers by the Publishers to many readers )
1. You have a greatest chance of getting your record into the book if you attempt a record that is already in the book.
2. There is no necessity to register with the Guinness before attempting a world record, but it will be good to check the rules and find out the latest record.
3. To enter a record in the Guinness, it must be competitive and , therefore, measurable.
4. A new event may not find place in the Guinness book. But they reserve the judgment until they collect information on the event.
5. Guinness will establish a new category if that event does become subject to widespread and international competition.
6. Your record claim and documentation can be addressed to : Guinness Book of World Records, sterling Publishing Co., Two Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA enclosing copies of the main features of your documentation.
(Better check this address once again before you send)
EPILOGUE
'Guinness Book of World Records' to turn 50:
The Guinness Book of World Records' is setting a record of its own in 2005 -- it's turning 50 years old. The special-anniversary edition of the book features records set in every category imaginable, including the arts and media.
Although some of the records there are familiar -- yes, 'The Matrix Reloaded' set the mark for highest box-office gross on an opening day ($42.5 million) -- tucked into the list are numerous Lesser-known feats and facts:
Most prolific producer: D. Rama Naidu, who has produced 110 films during his career in Indian cinema.
Longest film documentary: 'Grandmother Martha,' a 1996 Dutch film about the life of ex-actress and entertainer Martha Stelloo, runs 24 hours, 12 minutes.
Oldest No. 1 box-office star: Marie Dressler was 64 when she became the No.1 box-office star in 1933.
Recent editions have focused on record feats by human competitors. Competitions range from obvious ones such as weightlifting to the more entertaining ones such as longest egg-throwing distance or the number of hot dogs that can be consumed in 10 minutes - although eating contest style entries are no longer accepted, possibly for fear of litigation. Besides records about competitions, it contains such facts as the height of the tallest human (Robert Pershing Wadlow), the heaviest tumour, the most poisonous plant, the world's shortest river (the Roe River), the longest-running drama (Guiding Light), etc.
Each edition contains a subset of the larger set of records in the Guinness database, and the choice reflects the year of publication. In recent years, many records devoted to current pop culture trends have been added.
The Guinness Book of Records is the world's most sold copyright book, thus earning it an entry within its own pages. A number of spinoff books and television series have also been produced.
(Extracts edited from various sources)
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