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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241106T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241106T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20241028T135817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241106T093013Z
UID:15849-1730919600-1730926800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The Telegraph to India in the Victorian Era' by Dr John Moyle
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ON LINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nMuch has been heard about laying the under-sea telegraph cables across the Atlantic and other oceans\, particularly around the 150th anniversary of the first transatlantic cable laid in 1866. However\, the need to extend the telegraph lines\, mainly over land routes to\, and across\, India was also vital to British colonial and military interests.  \nWith strained relations between Britain and several other European countries in the mid-18th century\, there was also a need to route the lines to avoid crossing unfriendly countries. Before the technology for underwater cables had been perfected\, there were sometimes gaps in the route\, requiring messages to be forwarded by steamer before re-entering the telegraph system. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr John Moyle is a Chartered Engineer\, retired physician & anaesthetist plus historian with a particular interest in telegraphy and medical technology.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-telegraph-to-india-in-the-victorian-era-by-john-moyle/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-11-06_TheTelegraphToIndiaInTheVictorianEra_v2_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241204T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241204T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20241028T141901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241128T173931Z
UID:15859-1733338800-1733346000@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'How Chaddesley Corbett changed the world' by David Hardwick
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in. \nThe Role of the Potter family in the Industrial Revolution\nThe beginning of the Industrial Revolution is often traced back to 1712 when Thomas Newcomen built a mechanical pump that was not powered by wind\, water\, or human/animal power in Dudley. There are\, however\, many myths and mistakes in this traditional narrative\, particularly regarding the role played by a small boy called Humphrey Potter in creating the first truly self-acting machine. The Potter family were from Chaddesley Corbett. \nThis talk looks at the facts around the earliest Newcomen Engines and what role the family played in changing the world. \nAbout the Speaker\nDavid Hardwick is a Chartered Building Surveyor specialising in historic properties and particularly in industrial archaeology. He is an experienced lecturer at colleges and universities in all aspects of construction and heritage\, as well as giving talks to a wide range of local and national history organisations. It is his passion for industrial archaeology and\, in particular\, mining history and the development of the early Newcomen Engines\, that results in his latest research. 
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/how-chaddesley-corbett-changed-the-world-by-david-hardwick-2/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24-03-06_HowChaddesleyCorbettChangedtheWorld_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250205T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250205T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20241028T144840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250110T100344Z
UID:15865-1738782000-1738789200@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Drifting into Digital Dependence' by Vaughan Pomeroy
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nDigital systems can be found in all sorts of unlikely\, and arguably sometimes unnecessary\, places that we increasingly depend on in modern life. Unlike most changes in technology where take-up follows a similar pathway from early adoption to market dominance\, the digital revolution is more subtle. The distance between the operator or user and the ‘machine’ she controls becomes invaded by digital systems which have the seductive power to lull a sense of security whilst being an incomprehensible black box. \nUsing the modern merchant ship as the basis\, the talk will consider the pathway towards adoption of new technology\, the development of automation and the resulting impact on usability. When did we become dependent on digital systems without a manual work around? How should this sort of development be recorded for historical purposes to inform future generations? The speed of change is extraordinary\, and the drivers for adoption are not always clear. \nAbout the Speaker\nVaughan Pomeroy joined the British Aircraft Corporation at Weybridge from school in 1970 as an undergraduate apprentice. His daughter points out that it is now a museum! After graduating\, Vaughan returned to Weybridge working on aircraft systems\, particularly avionics. He joined the consulting engineers Mott\, Hay and Anderson in 1974 working on a variety of infrastructure projects\, before joining Lloyd's Register of Shipping in 1980. \nVaughan retired in 2010 as Technical Director\, since when he has worked with Southampton University and with universities in Singapore.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/drifting-into-digital-dependence-by-vaughan-pomeroy/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24-02-15_DigitalDependence_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250305T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250305T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20241028T150418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250226T165459Z
UID:15868-1741201200-1741208400@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'A Warwickshire Eclipse' by Mike Frost
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in. \nOn February 18th 1737\, there was an eclipse of the Sun visible from Warwickshire. It was one of an extraordinary series of British eclipses which occurred in the eighteenth century\, and inspired a generation of astronomers and cartographers to produce ever-more elaborate charts and maps of the eclipse tracks. \nHenry Beighton – surveyor\, engineer\, draftsman and mathematician\, drew one such chart to illustrate the 1737 eclipse. Mike Frost found this chart in the papers of Roger Newdigate\, a young aristocrat who lived in Arbury Hall\, Nuneaton. \nMike uses the story of these two fascinating historical figures\, and the map that connects them\, to trace the flowering of mathematical talent in the wake of Newton\, Halley and others. In the case of Beighton and Newdigate\, these talents played a direct part in bringing the industrial revolution to Warwickshire. \nAbout the Speaker\nWarwickshire’s Mike Frost is a Systems Engineer working in the steel industry. In his spare time\, Mike is an astronomer who chases eclipses and visits astronomical sites worldwide. \nMike is a member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Astonomy Society\, The Society for the History of Astronomy\, The British Astronomical Association and The Royal Astronomical Society. He also writes articles and gives talks to societies around the UK & beyond. In April 2010\, Mike became director of the Historical Section of the British Astronomical Association.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/a-warwickshire-eclipse-by-mike-frost/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/25-03-05_AWarwickshireEclipse_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250402T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250402T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20241028T155529Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250728T150155Z
UID:15872-1743620400-1743627600@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'History of research in British Gas' by Chris Hodrien
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nThe British gas industry has a long and proud history of technical innovation\, but very little is known or appreciated by the general public. \nTown gas production technology for gas lighting by the carbonisation (destructive heating) of coal was invented by William Murdoch in Redruth in 1793 and subsequently developed by him in Boulton & Watt’s Soho Foundry in Smethwick during 1995-1805\, initially for the gas lighting of factories and mills. This was the first industrial scale example of what is nowadays termed the Process Industry\, and long predated the better-known chemical industry. \nThe basic production technology remained unchanged into the 1950s\, with gradual evolutionary equipment improvements\, but formal R&D on both production and utilisation was considerably accelerated first during WorldWar 2\, then by the nationalisation of the industry in 1948 and again with the formation of British Gas Corporation in 1973\, forming a powerful fully vertically-integrated organisation covering all aspects of gas technology. This led to two successive and very successful total technical revolutions\, from coal carbonisation to steam reforming of light oils in the 1960s-70s followed immediately by the conversion to North Sea natural gas in the 1970s-80s. \nBy the time of the privatisation in the early 1990s \, British Gas was one of the most powerful\, modern\, technically advanced and profitable industries in the UK\, with an R&D budget of c. £55M/year and a long term 25-year R&D strategy. \nAbout the Speaker\nChris Hodrien is the son of two industrial chemists who met in the laboratory. He formed an intent to become an industrial Chemical Engineer at about age 11 and had by far the largest home chemistry set in the neighbourhood! Chris graduated with an M.A. in Chemical Engineering from Pembroke College\, University of Cambridge in 1973 and went straight to work in cutting-edge world-class gas production R&D at Midlands Research Station\, Solihull. \nOne important role (1974) was the introduction of brand-new computer-aided gasification process simulation methods\, another (1980-83) was as team leader of the initial pilot plant for the world’s highest efficiency coal gasification process. A project for advanced low-cost drying of natural gas (1996-2000) won an internal Chairman’s Award for Chris. \nSubsequently\, the work was relocated to a new integrated national Gas Research Centre at Loughborough after privatisation in 1993\, under the new banner of Advantica plc. \nChris is a visiting industrial tutor on biotechnology scale-up\, industrial design and costing\, bioenergy and process egineering for the University of Warwick.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/history-of-research-in-british-gas-by-chris-hodrien/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/25-04-02_HistoryOfResearchInBritishGasV2_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250507T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250507T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20250423T091238Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250423T130851Z
UID:16342-1746644400-1746651600@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'From craftsman’s bench to factory floor: the Birmingham Rule Trade 1750-1920' by David Bryden
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in. \nDuring the 19th century\, there was a marked change in the structure and form of the rule-making trade in Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Making rules for tradesmen across the UK and abroad to measure\, lay-out and calculate\, effectively vanished from Wolverhampton. Established craft skills\, practiced in small Birmingham workshops by a skilled master\, assisted by trained journeymen using techniques passed onto apprentices\, were swept aside by mechanisation. \nDespite the active opposition of time-served journeymen\, unskilled young operatives of both genders came to dominate a growing workforce\, along with a decline in the number of employers and the emergence of a few large manufacturing units – the rule factory. A leading activist in this change was the entrepreneurial John Rabone II (1820-1892). \nInformal and formal records kept by the Rabone business and preserved in Sheffield and Birmingham\, together with data drawn from Census returns\, the local press\, and publications by or for the rule manufacturers\, have been examined for the first time. \nAbout the Speaker\nDavid J. Bryden BSc MA PhD FSA took a degree in engineering at Leicester in 1964 followed by a year taking a taught course in the history and philosophy of science at Oxford. \nDavid was then employed for nearly four decades in various national and university museums. His PhD (Cambridge 1993) was awarded on the basis of publications on early scientific instruments and the British instrument making trade. \nRetiring to the West Midlands\, David has continued to research and publish.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/from-craftsmans-bench-to-factory-floor-the-birmingham-rule-trade-1750-1920-by-david-bryden/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/25-05-07_BirminghamRuleTrade_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251001T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251001T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20250929T110540Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T110540Z
UID:16613-1759345200-1759352400@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The Hallmarking of Silver and Gold' by Dr Jim Andrew
DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Rodolph at the English-language Wikipedia \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \nThe UK’s consumer protection started some seven centuries ago with the marking of gold and silver products to show purity\, date tested and the maker. The method of establishing the purity of silver products evolved over many years with a need for both accuracy and the time taken to test items submitted for assaying\, particularly in busy assay offices.  \nJim Andrew will explain the system and how to access the details of date and maker\, with examples from the last two centuries. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr Jim Andrew is a former museum manager at Birmingham Science Museum\, and is currently Chairman of Newcomen Midlands.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-hallmarking-of-silver-and-gold-by-dr-jim-andrew/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/25-10-01_TheHallmarkingOfSilverGold_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251105T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251105T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20251103T145417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251104T152945Z
UID:16669-1762369200-1762376400@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'History of Research in British Gas - Part 2' by Chris Hodrien
DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Random Group \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \nIn April 2025\, Chris Hodrien gave the first part of his account of the history of research in British Gas\, including an introduction to the gas industry in the United Kingdom\, and the consolidation and nationalisation of the industry in the mid-20th-century. \nThe basic production technology remained unchanged into the 1950s\, with gradual evolutionary equipment improvements\, but formal R&D on both production and utilisation was considerably accelerated first during WorldWar 2\, then by the nationalisation of the industry in 1948 and again with the formation of British Gas Corporation in 1973\, forming a powerful fully vertically-integrated organisation covering all aspects of gas technology. This led to two successive and very successful total technical revolutions\, from coal carbonisation to steam reforming of light oils in the 1960s-70s followed immediately by the conversion to North Sea natural gas in the 1970s-80s. \nBy the time of the privatisation in the early 1990s\, British Gas was one of the most powerful\, modern\, technically advanced and profitable industries in the UK\, with an R&D budget of c. £55M/year and a long term 25-year R&D strategy. \nIn part 2 of his talk\, Chris covers the later technical developments that resulted from the world-class research that he was involved in. \nAbout the Speaker\nChris Hodrien is the son of two industrial chemists who met in the laboratory. He formed an intent to become an industrial Chemical Engineer at about age 11 and had by far the largest home chemistry set in the neighbourhood! Chris graduated with an M.A. in Chemical Engineering from Pembroke College\, University of Cambridge in 1973 and went straight to work in cutting-edge world-class gas production R&D at Midlands Research Station\, Solihull. \nOne important role (1974) was the introduction of brand-new computer-aided gasification process simulation methods\, another (1980-83) was as team leader of the initial pilot plant for the world’s highest efficiency coal gasification process. A project for advanced low-cost drying of natural gas (1996-2000) won an internal Chairman’s Award for Chris. \nSubsequently\, the work was relocated to a new integrated national Gas Research Centre at Loughborough after privatisation in 1993\, under the new banner of Advantica plc.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/history-of-research-in-british-gas-part-2-by-chris-hodrien/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/25-04-02_HistoryOfResearchInBritishGasV2_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251203T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251203T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20251124T120226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251126T103736Z
UID:16682-1764788400-1764795600@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The History of Measurement of Oxygen in Medicine' by Dr. John Moyle
DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Uusi Ajaja Creative Commons \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \nOf the gases involved in life\, oxygen is the most important!\n \nThis lecture relates the history of measurement of oxygen in medicine\, as a gas\, in solution in bodily fluids and on haemoglobin; from the Haldane apparatus to Pulse Oximetry. \nAs a gas: \n\nHaldane\nParamagnetic\n(Raman spectroscopy)*\n(Mass spectroscopy)*\nAcoustic\nFuel Cell\n\nDissolved in Plama: \n\nClark electrode\n\nAttached to Haemoglobin: \n\nNon-invasive “Oximetry”\nPulse Oximetry\n\n*Research only \nAbout the Speaker\nDr John Moyle is a Chartered Engineer\, retired physician & anaesthetist plus historian with a particular interest in telegraphy and medical technology.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-history-of-measurement-of-oxygen-in-medicine-by-dr-john-moyle/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/25-12-03_HistoryofMeasurementofOxygeninMedicine_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260107T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260107T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20260102T095533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260102T150342Z
UID:16730-1767812400-1767819600@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'A short version of the long history of automation on the railways' by Felix Schmid
DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Benutzer:Bukk \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \nThis lecture was originally given as the Presidential Address to the Newcomen Society in London in 2025. \nThe presentation will commence by introducing very early mechanical systems\, including some that were used on waggonways 300 years ago. These were quite primitive but reduced the labour requirement\, e.g. by automating passing loops on tramways. \nThe automatic systems that came about in response to the Regulation of Railways Act 1889\, which made the railway much safer and also improved its economy\, will be discussed\, followed by the origins of the train stop and warning systems that came into operation in the early 20th century. The electronic safety and operational management systems instigated by computerisation\, where British Rail had a leading role\, will be reviewed. \nThe presentation will finish with some reflections on fully automated railways and the role of machine learning and what is often termed artificial intelligence. Throughout the talk\, the speaker will comment on the importance of including human skill and perception in automated systems for the railway. \nAbout the Speaker\nFelix Schmid is an Emeritus Professor of Railway Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham and\, currently\, serves as the President of the Newcomen Society. \nHe has had a long-standing interest in railway systems and\, more particularly\, the automation of activities necessary for the safe and efficient operation of railways. Some automated systems support the work of people\, others are carrying out tasks without regular interactions with humans.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/a-short-version-of-the-long-history-of-automation-on-the-railways-by-felix-schmid/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26-01-07_AutomationOfTheRailways_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260204T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260204T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20260203T092926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T162607Z
UID:16770-1770231600-1770238800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Before Valves: The Amazing Ingenuity of the "Electricians" before the Thermionic Valve' by Dr John Moyle
DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: Wellcome Collection (1911 – Copyright free) \n\nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \n\n\n\nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \n\nMan’s ingenuity before the invention of the thermionic valve was amazing!  \nThis lecture will summarize the early methods of wireless transmission and reception & amplification. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr John Moyle is a Chartered Engineer\, retired physician & anaesthetist plus historian with a particular interest in telegraphy and medical technology.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/before-valves-the-amazing-ingenuity-of-the-electricians-before-the-thermionic-valve-by-dr-john-moyle/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/26-02-04_BeforeValves_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260304T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260304T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20260302T154257Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T091016Z
UID:16817-1772650800-1772658000@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Housing the Great Exhibition in 1851' by Dr. Jim Andrew
DESCRIPTION:Image Credit: The Original Crystal Palace in Hyde Park – Painted for H. R. H. Prince Albert by Messrs Nash\, Haghe & Roberts R.A. \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \nThe Great Exhibition planned for the summer of 1851 was languishing in a committee until\, in June 1850\, Joseph Paxton was asked for a design of a building to go in Hyde Park\, London.  \nThe temporary building was possibly the largest single constructed building anywhere in the World\, yet it was designed within a month and opened in ten months. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr Jim Andrew is a former museum manager at Birmingham Science Museum\, and is currently Chairman of Newcomen Midlands.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/housing-the-great-exhibition-in-1851-by-dr-jim-andrew/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26-03-04_HousingTheGreatExhibitionin1851-V3_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260401T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260401T210000
DTSTAMP:20260526T110554
CREATED:20260330T083638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260330T083638Z
UID:16861-1775070000-1775077200@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'150 Years of the Telephone'
DESCRIPTION:Photo Credit: United States patents (in public domain) \nJoining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register \nThis is a joint event with Thinktank\, Birmingham Science Museum \nOn 10 March 1876\, 150 years ago\, Alexander Graham Bell made what is usually considered to be the first telephone call\, when he spoke the words “Mr. Watson—Come here—I want to see you” into his experimental apparatus.\n \nTo mark this anniversary\, Newcomen Midlands\, in a change to the usual format of our meetings\, will be showing two videos produced by the Connections Musem in Seattle\, USA\, that describe how Bell submitted his patent\, and how his first transmitter (microphone) and receiver (earpiece) worked.  \nThe films show the museum’s attempts to make a working replica of his original apparatus.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/150-years-of-the-telephone/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26-04-01_150YearsOfTheTelephone_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
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