Newcomen.com

The Evolution of the Parsons Land Steam Turbine
2019-11-14 18:00 (Europe/London) | NEWCASTLE Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 4HZ
EVENT FULL – We regret that no further bookings can be accepted.
A presentation by Geoff Horseman. To be held in the Carpathia Room.
For 135 years the Parsons steam turbine has exemplified successful engineering innovation on an international scale, and provided a livelihood for thousands of Tyneside families.
Geoff Horseman, recently retired as Chief Turbine Engineer of Siemens, will describe the principal changes in land steam turbine design over the entire history of C.A. Parsons & Co., from Sir Charles Parsons’ first design of 1884 until the company became part of Siemens in 1997.
The talk will focus on keynote designs which represent the most advanced technology in each era, and provide an insight into design rationale and operating experience. This includes the pioneering turbines which superseded the reciprocating steam engine in electricity generation, the rapid growth from 50 MW to 660 MW machines, the first turbines for nuclear power and the largest machines Parsons built.
Geoff worked at C.A. Parsons, and later Siemens, from 1980 until June this year.

John ‘Longitude’ Harrison
2019-11-13 17:45 | LONDON Dana Centre, Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen's Gate, Kensington, London, SW7 5HD
WHAT DID HE ACTUALLY ACHIEVE? A presentation by Douglas Bateman –
It is well known that John Harrison’s watch was the first to demonstrate that longitude could be determined at sea with the aid of a time-piece. Much has been written about his clocks and the watch, with the emphasis on the ‘story’. However, many writers ignore the importance of other workers and astronomers, and reluctantly mention that Harrison’s watch was completely uneconomic. Doug Bateman outlines the problem of accurate timekeeping and its potential solutions, through to the appearance of the box chronometer. The lecture mentions the Sheffield clockmaker, Benjamin Huntsman, who turned to developing crucible steel; the huge significance of Ramsden and his sextants; and Nevil Maskelyne, the Astronomer Royal, who helped to assess the watch, and pioneered the publication of the Nautical Almanac.

The Mystery of the “James Watt Organ” & Other Watt Stories More Musical than Steamy
2019-11-06 19:00 | BIRMINGHAM Think Tank, Birmingham Science Museum,, Curzon Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B4 7XG
Dr Nina Baker shares her discoveries about Watt’s musical instrument work

Precision: Bramah & Maudslay to Advanced Manufacture
2019-11-05 10:00 - 16:00 | SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 8RG
Ticket £25 including buffet lunch and coffee.
Tickets must be pre-booked and are available here (Eventbrite)
Booking Closes 14th October 2019
Entry to the Bramah Exhibition is included in the price
Programme

10:00 Registration and Coffee
10:30 Introduction – Keith Crawshaw
10:45 Joseph Bramah – John Bramah
11:45 Henry Maudslay – Richard Maudsley
12:45 Buffet Lunch and Conducted Tour of Bramah Exhibition
13:45 A History of Interchangeable Manufacture and Precision Engineering – David Eaton
14:45 Coffee Break
15:00 Modern High Value Added Manufacture – AESSEAL
16:00 Closing Remarks – Jonathan Aylen

Further Information please email: meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
The Symposium is organised by the South Yorkshire Branch of the Newcomen Society, in association with Kelham Island Industrial Museum and The Ken Hawley Collection Trust.
The Symposium is a not for profit event with all proceeds going to Kelham Island Industrial Museum and The Ken Hawley Collection Trust

Pioneers of Armour Plate
2019-10-28 18:30 - 20:15 | SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 8RG
A presentation by David Boursnell – The manufacture of iron plate in the 1860s

WWII: Why Watch Jewels Were Smuggled from Switzerland
2019-10-22 18:30 | MANCHESTER Alliance Française, 125 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 4QD
CRITICAL COMPONENTS: Presented by Dr Ian Greaves – The precision engineering industry of neutral Switzerland was crucial to both the Germans and the British during the Second World War. The paper looks at the smuggling of critical precision components and equipment out of Switzerland and the process of developing industries to replace imports. The particular focus is on jewelled bearings for watches and instruments.

The Letters of James Watt & Joseph Fry
2019-10-17 19:30 | BRISTOL BAWA, 589 Southmead Rd, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7RG
SEVEN ENGINES AND AN ALKALI WORKS: A presentation by Rod Dowling – Bristol Industrial Archaeology Meeting (BIAS)
Rod will concentrate on Jonathon Hornblower’s engine at Radstock, and the others in passing. All this, and the Battersea Alkali works too, should make for an enjoyable evening.
Please note that, due to refurbishment work at the BAWA, we will meet in the Concorde Room.
After the meeting, the committee and speaker usually retire to the Bristol Concorde for supper and/or a drink (alcoholic or otherwise), and you are most welcome to join us.

Cold War to Coal Trains: TOPS
2019-10-15 18:00 - 20:30 | PORTSMOUTH Hood Room, The Royal Maritime Club, 78-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, PO1 3HS
CHAIR – JOHN SUTER: A Presidential address by Dr Jonathan Aylen on British Railways’ first computer-based train operating system.

Managing Naples’ Water Supply 1500-1750
2019-10-09 17:45 | LONDON Dana Centre, Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen's Gate, Kensington, London, SW7 5HD
COOL AND TASTY WATERS? – A presentation by Professor David Gentilcore
The water supply of early modern Naples was consistently praised by contemporaries for its quantity, quality and accessibility. This praise may come as some surprise to those who know Naples and its more recent history, when the safety of its water supply was frequently called into question. Studies on the management of the water supply in early modern Naples are sorely lacking, despite growing interest in the subject at both an Italian and European level.
This paper attempts to fills this gap. It outlines and evaluates the Neapolitan water supply as it existed in the period when the city, capital of the Kingdom of Naples, was governed by Spanish viceroys, based on archival records and published sources. It focuses on water availability and accessibility, by examining the hydraulic structure and its management, as well as the technicians and trades involved in its execution, maintenance and delivery, before turning to questions of water quality, by analysing contemporary attitudes and perceptions.

The Mechanisation of Paper-Making
2019-10-02 19:00 | BIRMINGHAM Think Tank, Birmingham Science Museum,, Curzon Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B4 7XG
Nigel Jopson considers the development of the paper-making machine, its associated processes and the wider lesson in process innovation

The Work of an Admiralty Ironfounder
2019-10-01 18:00 | NEWCASTLE Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 4HZ
CHARLES W. TAYLOR & SONS LTD., SOUTH SHIELDS – A presentation by Harry Fitzsimmons. To be held in the Carpathia Room.

Nuclear Industry in N.W. England 1947-57
2019-09-24 18:30 | MANCHESTER Alliance Française, 125 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 4QD
ATOMIC SPACES (WHY BUILDING THE BOMB BUILT COMMUNITIES): Presented by Julian Garratt – The remarkable story of the housing built at locations such as Warrington and Drigg for workers on Britain’s post-war nuclear programme.

Electrifying Women
2019-09-23 18:30 - 20:15 | SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 8RG
A presentation by Professor Graeme Gooday and Dr Emily Rees – Little-known stories from over a century of female participation in engineering

Sir Humphry Davy
2019-09-17 18:00 - 20:30 | PORTSMOUTH Hood Room, The Royal Maritime Club, 78-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth, PO1 3HS
CHAIR – DAN HAYTON: A presentation by Professor Frank James

Ken Barraclough Memorial Lecture
2019-09-06 14:24 | SHEFFIELD Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria, Victoria Station Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S4 7YE
This is a joint meeting with the Sheffield Metallurgical and Engineering Association and the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society. This talk is open to all and there is on site car parking providing you register your car at reception.

The Newcomen Western Summer Visit
2019-07-20 14:00 - 19:00 | BRISTOL (Rangeworthy), Beech Grove, Manor Road, Rangeworthy, Bristol, BS37 7LR
A chance to see the Hardwick Collection of Stationary Engines by courtesy of Mr Derrick Hardwick. This extensive collection includes several open-crank, hot bulb and gas engines, together with closed crank engines (Lister, Petter etc), which were common on farms and dairies up to quite recent times. It is planned to have them running during the visit. If it’s anything like last year, it’ll be a great afternoon out!
All are welcome and the price is £5 per head with accompanied children under 12 going free (please ensure they are supervised at all times).
Booking is essential before 15th July and can be done by emailing John Anning: anningj354@gmail.com
All proceeds will be given to Mr Hardwick for running costs etc.
Directions: Take the B4059 turning to Yate off the A38 at Rudgeway, or Junction 14 off the M5, then map read otherwise sat/nav.

Visit To Rhydymwyn Valley Works
2019-05-21 | MOLD Rhydymwyn Valley Works, 17 Nant Alyn Road, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 5HQ
In WW II and the years after, few places in Britain were as secret as the Valley Works at Rhydymwyn near Mold. Set up in 1939 as a Shadow Factory to produce poison gas, the site had extensive underground storage facilities to keep mustard gas and related materials safe from bombing. There will be an opportunity during the visit to learn about the site’s even more secret role in the development of the atom bomb.
Visits to these tunnels are strictly limited by the site’s landlord DEFRA and The Newcomen Society has been able to book a party visit on the morning of Tuesday 21st May.
If you are interested in joining the party, please e-mail: meetings.north.western@newcomen.com
There will be a small charge to include a buffet lunch on site.
For further information about the Valley Works including how to find the site, please visit rhydymwynvalleyhistory.co.uk

SS Xantho and the Penn Engine
2019-05-16 19:30 - 21:30 | BRISTOL BAWA, 589 Southmead Rd, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7RG
A lecture by John Anning: SS Xantho and the Penn Engine.

The Changing Role of Consultants in Industry 1850–2000
2019-05-10 10:00 - 2019-05-11 17:00 | OXFORD Maison Française d’Oxford, 2-10 Norham Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 6SE
Call for Papers & Workshop in Oxford on 10-11 May 2019
Organisation of the Workshop
The workshop will be based on pre-circulated papers of approximately 5,000 words and a selection of workshop contributions will be published in an edited volume.
The organisers are: Peter Reed (Independent Researcher), Jonathan Aylen (University of Manchester and the Newcomen Society) and Viviane Quirke (Oxford Brookes University).
Please contact Jonathan Aylen on Jonathan.Aylen@manchester.ac.uk for further information.

Consultants – A Neglected Group
Consultants have been neglected by historians of engineering and technology. They are one professional group that is overlooked when discussing innovations. With few exceptions, only passing reference is made to their background and training, the circumstances of their engagement, the nature of the work and its success.
Yet it is clear that consultants were often a key resource in knowledge management for firms, especially in emerging sectors making the transition from craft-based traditions to use of scientific knowledge.
As the modern corporation arose during the late 19th century, firms faced a growing problem of managing knowledge. They set up in-house laboratories and began to develop R&D programmes. But, at the same time, consultants played a key role in spreading new technologies across firms, improving operating practices within factories, establishing standards and helping develop key supply industries.
A Widely Supported Conference
To help explore these issues, the Newcomen Society has agreed to support a Conference in 2019 on the “Changing Role of Consultants in Industry, 1850 to 2000. Other supporters include: the British Society for the History of Science, Oxford Brookes University and the Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry. The Workshop is to held in Oxford on 10th & 11th May 2019. The Society would welcome papers on a range of issues.
This workshop will address the role of consultants in various industrial sectors across Europe and in the United States, and attempt to establish evidence on who the consultants were, the market for consultants and their impact. Questions that arise include:
Who are the consultants? Studies of individuals or consultancy firms which illustrate the role of consultants.
Shifting definitions of consultants over time: how has this changed and how has the profession evolved?
What of the emergence of professional service firms and process plant contractors who bundle consultancy with the supply of design, plant or buildings, commissioning, training and start-up?
How Did Someone Become A Consultant?
What gave consultants the expertise (and standing) to undertake such work? What networks did consultants operate in to sustain their work? What levels of remuneration were available?
The Market For Consultants
Who employed consultants? What are the challenges for a business in defining a consultant’s project? How readily is the consultant’s report utilised by the business? What kind of consultancy work was undertaken? Did it vary over time? At what point was the consultant’s work taken inside the business? Did any conflicts arise? If so, how were they resolved? To what extent were patents involved? What about the use of industrial consultants by banks, stockholders, financiers and/or government departments or agencies to evaluate capital schemes and projects?
The Impact Of Consultants
How did consultants contribute to innovation and diffusion of technology? What types of knowledge were transferred? What was their relationship to formal in-house R&D – complement or substitute? Has their influence shifted over time? How has their technical advice influenced government industrial policies?
The workshop is supported by grants from the British Society for the History of Science, The Newcomen Society, Oxford Brookes University and the Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry.

William Fairbairn – The Experimental Engineer
2019-05-08 17:45 - 19:45 | LONDON Dana Centre, Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen's Gate, Kensington, London, SW7 5HD
A lecture by Richard Byrom: William Fairbairn – the Experimental Engineer

The Presidential Address, Portsmouth: From the First to the Third Industrial Revolution
2019-04-30 18:30 - 20:30 | PORTSMOUTH University of Portsmouth, Room PO 1.11, Portland Building, Portland St, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3AH, United Kingdom
Robert Taylor’s Presidential Address
Thomas Newcomen was in the vanguard of the first industrial revolution, which has been well recorded in museums and archives. Indeed, our Society was founded in 1919 to help prevent the loss of significant records and information.
We are now in an era where, although people are more dependent on technology, they understand it less and many people have no link with engineering or industry. With the increasing pace of change and technological sophistication, how can we ensure significant items and evidence can be collected and preserved?

Lady Charlotte Guest at Dowlais
2019-04-30 18:30 - 20:30 | MANCHESTER Museum of Science & Industry, Liverpool Rd, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 4JN
A lecture by Dr Victoria Owens: Lady Charlotte Guest at Dowlais, 1833-55: how a pioneering Victorian businesswoman came to head the world’s largest ironworks.

Steam below sea- The Royal Navy K Class steam turbine submarines of WW1
2019-04-29 18:30 - 20:15 | SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 8RG
A lecture by Chris Hodrien

Severn Bridge
2019-04-18 19:30 - 21:30 | BRISTOL BAWA, 589 Southmead Rd, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7RG
A lecture by Don Hillman.

From Peenemunde to Dortmund via Korea: A history of the Corporal Missile
2019-04-10 17:45 - 19:45 | LONDON Dana Centre, Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen's Gate, Kensington, London, SW7 5HD
A lecture by Simon Jump: From Peenemunde to Dortmund via Korea: A history of the Corporal Missile.

Cold War to Coal Trains: TOPS - British Railways’ first computer based train operating system
2019-04-09 18:00 - 20:00 | NEWCASTLE Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 4HZ
TOPS was a computer system implemented by British Railways from 1973 to control its freight traffic. TOPS allowed BR to keep tabs on its rolling stock across the whole rail network using IBM 370 mainframe computers in London. It was a major step towards modern management of railways in the UK and strongly influenced by Geordie managers. TOPS was developed in the USA through collaboration between IBM and Southern Pacific. The software had its origins in the US Strategic Air Command’s SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system which gave early warning of Soviet bomber attacks on the US. TOPS was not so much “swords into ploughshares” as “Cold War to Coal Trains”.
The research is a collaboration between Bob Gwynne of the National Railway Museum, York and Jonathan Aylen to understand the history of computerisation on British Railways and shows how railways shaped society and their contribution to modern management. Jonathan Aylen is President of the Newcomen Society and a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Manchester.
Contact jonathan.aylen@manchester.ac.uk

The Early History of the Newcomen Engine
2019-04-03 19:00 - 21:00 | BIRMINGHAM Think Tank, Birmingham Science Museum,, Curzon Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B4 7XG
A lecture by Mike Potts.

Bulldozers
2019-03-26 18:30 - 20:30 | MANCHESTER Renold Building, University of Manchester, Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JA
A joint lecture with the Institution of Structural Engineers & Dr Ralph Harrington: Bulldozers.
* * * Please note new venue: Renold Building, University of Manchester * * *
The Renold Building has modern lecture theatres and is very close to Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station and the local tram network. The meeting is in Renold D7 and will be signposted from the main entrance on Altrincham Street which is the main pedestrian promenade alongside the railway viaduct. There is access by both lift and stairs. The capacity of the lecture theatre is 157 – so bring your friends. There is a multi-storey car park on Charles Street at the side of the building. We will ask for a small contribution of £5 a head to defray room hire expenses

Rise and Fall - Steam and the Suspension Bridge
2019-03-21 19:30 - 21:30 | BRISTOL BAWA, 589 Southmead Rd, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7RG
A lecture by Stephen Jones.

Twyford Water Works 'Return to Steam' Project
2019-03-19 18:30 - 20:30 | PORTSMOUTH University of Portsmouth, Room PO 1.11, Portland Building, Portland St, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3AH, United Kingdom
A lecture by Martin Gregory: Twyford Water Works ‘Return to Steam’ Project.
It is planned to be held at the University of Portsmouth commencing at 6.30pm.
