Top Ten Trail Chosen by Our Staff and Visitors, This Is Our Pick of the Best Things to See and Do in the Museum

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Top Ten Trail Chosen by Our Staff and Visitors, This Is Our Pick of the Best Things to See and Do in the Museum Top Ten Trail Chosen by our staff and visitors, this is our pick of the best things to see and do in the museum. See if you can find them all! Level 2 Found? 1 The Digger Use the controls to scoop us as many balls as you can. The Street Did you know that the correct name for a digger is a backhoe loader? 2 The Triceratops Can you discover how old this fossil is? This fossil was discovered around 100 years ago and came to Birmingham around 50 years ago. 3 The Brain Why do you think we ask people not to take photographs of the brain? Did you know that there are no pain receptors in the brain! 4 Exercise TAM Copy TAM and see if you can keep up. Did you know that the human heart starts beating at 4 weeks into pregnancy and does not stop until death! 5 Water Play Can you get a boat through the lock? The longest series of locks in the UK uses 30 locks to raise the canal by 220 feet! Level 3 Found? 6 Robothespian Can you make him say your name? One of our visitors programmed Robothespian to propose to his girlfriend! Level 1 7 Mini Can you draw the front of the mini? This exact car was one of the first off the production line and is now an iconic symbol of Birmingham. Level 0 8 The Smethwick Engine How long does it take for the water tipper to fill up? The Smethwick is the worlds oldest working steam engine - over 230 years! 9 City of Birmingham Locomotive Hop on board! There are only 3 examples of this class of locomotive in the world! This one is in the most original condition. 10 Principles of Steam Can you move the piston up and down to power the machines? You are doing the job of the steam! Look closely at the model to see the different parts. Congratulations on finding all of the objects! Tell us what your favourite objects are with the Your Choice cards on Level 1..
Recommended publications
  • Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society
    WARWICKSHIRE IndustrialW ArchaeologyI SociASety NUMBER 31 June 2008 PUBLISHED QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER THIS ISSUE it was felt would do nothing to web site, and Internet access further these aims and might becoming more commonplace ¢ Meeting Reports detract from them, as if the amongst the Society membership, current four page layout were what might be the feelings of ¢ From The Editor retained, images would reduce the members be towards stopping the space available for text and practice of posting copies to possibly compromise the meeting those unable to collect them? ¢ Bridges Under Threat reports. Does this represent a conflict This does not mean that with the main stated aim of ¢ Meetings Programme images will never appear in the publishing a Newsletter, namely Newsletter. If all goes to plan, that of making all members feel this edition will be something of a included in the activities of the FROM THE EDITOR milestone since it will be the first Society? y editorial in the to contain an illustration; a Mark Abbott March 2008 edition of diagram appending the report of Mthis Newsletter the May meeting. Hopefully, PROGRAMME concerning possible changes to its similar illustrations will be format brought an unexpected possible in future editions, where Programme. number of offers of practical appropriate and available, as the The programme through to help. These included the offer of technology required to reproduce December 2008 is as follows: a second hand A3 laser printer at them is now quite September 11th a very attractive price; so straightforward. The inclusion of Mr. Lawrence Ince: attractive as to be almost too photographs is not entirely ruled Engine-Building at Boulton and good an opportunity to ignore.
    [Show full text]
  • A Steam Issue-48Pp HWM
    FROM WATER POWER TO WATT THE ENERGY REVOLUTION OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY Jim Andrew In the seventeenth century, there were no steam engines, no electricity or vehicle fuel from petrol pumps. Power came from human and animal energy, enhanced by wind and water. Changes in water and steam technology in the late-seventeenth and eighteenth centuries contributed to the Industrial Revolution. © Birmingham Museums Trust Sarehole Mill. One of the two remaining water mills in the Birmingham area. 4 www.historywm.com FROM WATER POWER TO WATT ind power, as now, was limited by variations in the strength of the wind, making water the preferred reliable Wsource of significant power for regular activity. The Romans developed water wheels and used them for a variety of activities but the first definitive survey of water power in England was in the Doomsday Book c.1086. At that time, well over five-thousand mills were identified – most were the Norse design with a vertical shaft and horizontal disc of blades. Water-Wheel Technology Traditional water mills, with vertical wheels on horizontal shafts, were well established by the eighteenth century. Many were underpass designs where the water flowed under a wheel with paddles being pushed round by the flow. Over time, many mills adopted designs which had buckets, filled with water at various levels from quite low to the very top of the wheel. The power was extracted by the falling of the water from its entry point to where it was discharged. There was little systematic study of the efficiency of mill-wheel design in extracting energy from the water before the eighteenth century.
    [Show full text]
  • Bicentenary Programme Celebrating the Life and Legacy of James Watt
    Bicentenary programme celebrating the life and legacy of James Watt 2019 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of the steam engineer James Watt (1736-1819), one of the most important historic figures connected with Birmingham and the Midlands. Born in Greenock in Scotland in 1736, Watt moved to Birmingham in 1774 to enter into a partnership with the metalware manufacturer Matthew Boulton. The Boulton & Watt steam engine was to become, quite literally, one of the drivers of the Industrial Revolution in Britain and around the world. Although best known for his steam engine work, Watt was a man of many other talents. At the start of his career he worked as both a mathematical instrument maker and a civil engineer. In 1780 he invented the first reliable document copier. He was also a talented chemist who was jointly responsible for proving that water is a compound rather than an element. He was a member of the famous Lunar Portrait of James Watt by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1812 Society of Birmingham, along with other Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust leading thinkers such as Matthew Boulton, Erasmus Darwin, Joseph Priestley and The 2019 James Watt Bicentenary Josiah Wedgwood. commemorative programme is The Boulton & Watt steam engine business coordinated by the Lunar Society. was highly successful and Watt became a We are delighted to be able to offer wealthy man. In 1790 he built a new house, a wide-ranging programme of events Heathfield Hall in Handsworth (demolished and activities in partnership with a in 1927). host of other Birmingham organisations. Following his retirement in 1800 he continued to develop new inventions For more information about the in his workshop at Heathfield.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr Malcolm Dick School/Dept: History and Cultures/ Department of History Project Title: James Watt 2019 Project Summary
    SHAC12 CAL Undergraduate Research Scholarships Scheme 2017 Project Proposal Form Project Proposer/s: Dr Malcolm Dick School/Dept: History and Cultures/ Department of History Project Title: James Watt 2019 Project Summary The School of History and Cultures is running a project on the life, times and significance of the inventor, industrialist and Enlightenment thinker, James Watt (1736-1819), who worked in the Birmingham area with his business partner Matthew Boulton for most of his adult life. The project is linked to the 200th anniversary of Watt’s death in 2019. Though Watt provides the focus, the project moves beyond the celebration of a ‘great man’ to look broadly at his context, impact and legacy. Led by Malcolm Dick, it is intended that the project will form part of History’s contribution to the next Research Evaluation Framework in 2020. The website: www.jameswatt2019.org provides an introduction to activity so far. Much of the work involves activity with heritage organisations including Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT) and the Library of Birmingham (LoB). The research conducted by the successful applicant will also connect to a new Arts Council funded BMT project, ‘Birmingham Manufactures’ http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/blog/posts/birmingham-museums-trust-shines-a-spotlight- on-birmingham-manufacturers?category=press-release which is exploring and cataloguing objects to illuminate Birmingham’s industrial history. Hence the research not only contributes to important university research, but also links to widening public knowledge of Watt and his times through the Museum. Two of the important areas on which we lack knowledge are the nature of the workforce which constructed the Boulton and Watt steam engines and the type of work they pursued.
    [Show full text]
  • July 2017 - July May
    Artefacts JULY 2017 JULY - MAY The Bullring at Sunrise © Verity E. Milligan Photography MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION MAy - JULY 2017 ARTEFACTS 1 OF FRIENDS OF MUSEUMS Friends of Birmingham Museums Magazine 2 ARTEFACTS MAY - JULY 2017 CONTENTs Associate Feature: A bReath of fresh: air CONTACTS David Foster Chair Email: [email protected] Lynda Perrin Membership Email: [email protected] Tel: 0121 348 8330 PAGE 26 Melissa hughes Administrator and Artefacts Editor Email: [email protected] CHAIR´S REPORT 04 Tel: 0121 348 8330 Barbara Preece FRIENDS´ EVENTS 06 Events Coordinator Email: [email protected] [email protected] news from the volunteers 13 Tel: 0121 348 8332 Mary Whetnall NEWS FROM THE office 14 Finance and Events Administration Email: [email protected] Tel: 0121 348 8333 director´s report 15 Margaret Boniface feature: Archivist 16 Document copying and a famous engineer Email: [email protected] exhibition preview: 18 Friends´ Office thresholds ˜ an exhibition by mat collishaw Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. B3 3DH friends´ crossword 19 Tel: 0121 348 8330 Events: 0121 348 8332 Website: www.fbmt.org.uk birmingham museums ˜ what´s on 20 Reg. Charity No. 528895 FEATURE: 25 the smethwick engine Designed and Produced by Associate Feature: PW Media & Publishing Ltd 26 fresh: Contemporary Art Fair Graphic Design Paul Blyth in the area 28 Printed By exhibition focus: Stephens & George 34 the verity milligan photography exhibition Advertising Sales focus on local cultural organisations: Diane Stinton 36 Email: [email protected] erasmus darwin museum Tel: 01905 727903 friends´ diary 38 MAy - JULY 2017 ARTEFACTS 3 CHAIR’S REPORT history, art & science BY david Foster By the time you are reading this, the second of the shows which partners Birmingham Museums Trust with the Arts Council Collection will have opened.
    [Show full text]
  • AIA News 140 Spring 2007
    INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY 189 SUMMER NEWS 2019 THE BULLETIN OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY FREE TO MEMBERS OF AIA First use of IA ● Dulgan Furnace ● Lady Elizabeth Winch Restoration ● James Watt 200 ‘Industrial Archaeology’ ‘Industrial Archaeology’ 1881 – Forest and Stream [U.S.A.] Searching for ‘First use of the term Industrial An illustrated review of popular and industrial Archaeology’ leads one to two sources. The first is archaeology and art [Pompeii] appears on our INDUSTRIAL an item in an early version of the AIA website – table for the first time. Its purpose is a happy one, ‘The first use of term ‘industrial archaeology’ is and deserves all encouragement. Its salutatory ARCHAEOLOGY generally attributed to Michael Rix in 1955 and announces the desire that archaeology, that NEWS 189 the term gained national recognition in 1958 science which to-day is the monopoly of a small when the Council for British Archaeology number of scientific men, should for an hour or Summer 2019 organised a conference on industrial archaeology two each month doff its severely precise cloak and subsequently formed a Research Committee and, attractively clothed in the modern style, tell Honorary President on Industrial Archaeology to campaign for the us the story of its deeds more simply than it has Prof Marilyn Palmer MBE subject. The critical point was the deliberate yet done. (2) Honorary Vice Presidents destruction in 1962 of the Doric Arch that formed Prof Angus Buchanan, Sir Neil Cossons OBE, the entrance to Euston Station, the first
    [Show full text]
  • The Newcomen Society
    The Newcomen Society for the history of engineering and technology Welcome! This Index to volumes 1 to 32 of Transactions of the Newcomen Society is freely available as a PDF file for you to print out, if you wish. If you have found this page through the search engines, and are looking for more information on a topic, please visit our online archive (http://www.newcomen.com/archive.htm). You can perform the same search there, browse through our research papers, and then download full copies if you wish. By scrolling down this document, you will get an idea of the subjects covered in Transactions (volumes dating from 1920 to 1960 only), and on which pages specific information is to be found. The most recent volumes can be ordered (in paperback form) from the Newcomen Society Office. If you would like to find out more about the Newcomen Society, please visit our main website: http://www.newcomen.com. The Index to Transactions (Please scroll down) GENERAL INDEX Advertising puffs of early patentees, VI, 78 TRANSACTIONS, VOLS. I-XXXII Aeolipyle. Notes on the aeolipyle and the Marquis of Worcester's engine, by C.F.D. Marshall, XXIII, 133-4; of Philo of 1920-1960 Byzantium, 2*; of Hero of Alexandria, 11; 45-58* XVI, 4-5*; XXX, 15, 20 An asterisk denotes an illustrated article Aerodynamical laboratory, founding of, XXVII, 3 Aborn and Jackson, wood screw factory of, XXII, 84 Aeronautics. Notes on Sir George Cayley as a pioneer of aeronautics, paper J.E. Acceleration, Leonardo's experiments with Hodgson, 111, 69-89*; early navigable falling bodies, XXVIII, 117; trials of the balloons, 73: Cayley's work on airships, 75- G.E.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Matthew Boulton and the Soho Mint Numismatic Circular April 1983 Volume XCI Number 3 P 78
    MATTHEW BOULTON AND THE SOHO MINT: COPPER TO CUSTOMER by SUE TUNGATE A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Modern History College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham October 2010 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) is well known as an eighteenth-century industrialist, the founder of Soho Manufactory and the steam-engine business of Boulton and Watt. Less well known are his scientific and technical abilities in the field of metallurgy and coining, and his role in setting up the Soho Mint. The intention of this thesis is to focus on the coining activities of Matthew Boulton from 1787 until 1809, and to examine the key role he played in the modernisation of money. It is the result of an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded collaboration with Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where, after examination of their extensive collection of coins, medals, tokens and dies produced at the Soho Mint, .research was used to produce a catalogue.
    [Show full text]
  • AIA Bulletin 11-4 1984
    AssocrArcN FoR TNDUS'*AL ARCTAEC'.G' Bu I lgt I n Volume 11 Number4 Autumn 1984 Penetrating Inspector of Ancient Monuments for England. will now be able to attend public Enquiries to the Fortress Mr. Swift began by explaining the present organisa- give evidence. Lord Montagu, Chairman of the tion of ancient monuments administration in new Commission was reported to be keen to see England. Much of their work had formerly been the involvement of amateur groups and preserva- carried out by the Department of the Environ- tion societies within the work of the new ment, but under the terms of the recent Ancient Commission. Monuments Act the present Historic Buildings The delegation expressed regret that the AIA Inside Fortrqss House, On Tuesday 1 May a and Monuments Commission for England was is not yet one of the organisations informed delegation of AIA Council members visited established. A small number of staff concerned automatically of threats to listed buildings, having Fortress House in London, headquarters of the with Ancient Monuments are still directly to rely on the CBA for information. The dele Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission employed by the DoE and all the money is gation also asked about the instructions issued to for England, being invited as a result of requests channelled through the DoE. Also all f inal the Commission's Inspectors, but wm told that by the Association to know more about how and decisions are made by ttre Secretary of State but these were confidential. As a general rule, why monuments are scheduled, and buildings the orofessional advisors now work for the new however, most unaltered buildings erected listed.
    [Show full text]
  • Requirements, 53, 42; Simulated High Altitude Tests, 55, 237
    The Newcomen Society for the history of engineering and technology Welcome! This Index to volumes 51 to 65 of Transactions of the Newcomen Society is freely available as a PDF file for you to print out, if you wish. If you have found this page through the search engines, and are looking for more information on a topic, please visit our online archive (http://www.newcomen.com/archive.htm). You can perform the same search there, browse through our research papers, and then download full copies if you wish. By scrolling down this document, you will get an idea of the subjects covered in Transactions (volumes dating from 1979 to 1994 only), and on which pages specific information is to be found. The most recent volumes can be ordered (in paperback form) from the Newcomen Society Office. If you would like to find out more about the Newcomen Society, please visit our main website: http://www.newcomen.com. The Index to Transactions (Please scroll down) General Index Transactions, Volumes 51-65 1979-1994 Abbreviations agric. agricultural archt. architect bldr. builder c. circa cent. century civ. engr. civil engineer contr. contractor elec. engr . electrical engineer engr. engineer ff. following i.c.. internal combustion loco. locomotive mech. engr. mechanical engineer merchts. merchants mfrs. manufacturers pm. passim rly. railway Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, 60, 104, 163. Abbot, J. G. & Co., engrs., 52, 72, 196, 198, 54, 47. Abbott, O. C., 59, 23. Abbott, Nancy M., obituary, 61, 112. Abbott, R. A. S., obituary, 52, 219. Abdul Aziz, Sultan ofTurkey, 59, 67, 71. Abernethey, James, 62, 120, 124.
    [Show full text]
  • Rethinking James Watt (1736-1819): Innovation, Culture and Legacy
    Rethinking James Watt (1736-1819): Innovation, Culture and Legacy Friday evening 30 August to Sunday 1 September 2019, University of Birmingham Call for Papers James Watt (1736-1819), the Scottish-born inventor, engineer, businessman and employer died on the 25 August 1819. The 200th anniversary of his death in 2019 provides an opportunity to revisit his personal and public life, relationships, context and legacy. By looking beyond his role in improving steam-engine technologies, this conference seeks to consider the diverse influences that shaped Watt’s experiences in Scotland and Birmingham. One underlying theme is to look at Watt the innovator in new ways and explore the idea of innovation at different times and in different localities – an issue that will be explored by a panel of historians and scientists. Other areas that papers might explore include: Watt’s inventions; Watt as an Enlightenment figure; Watt’s relationship with his workers; Watt the politician; Watt’s family; The steam engine and plantation slavery; Watt and the environment; Watt’s legacy. We also encourage presentations which consider relevant archival, visual, printed or artefactual primary material. Watt is frequently conceived as a heroic genius, but the conference encourages papers that look critically at his work and impact and consider how others helped to shape his inventions. This conference will bring together academics in different disciplines, including scientists and engineers – the Newcomen Society and Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education are involved – as well as historians; heritage professionals working in archives, libraries and museums and researchers at all stages of their careers inside and outside universities.
    [Show full text]
  • The Engineer. 379
    Nov. 25, 1881. THE ENGINEER. 379 THE PARIS ELECTRICAL EXHIBITION. electro-motor, or machine for converting electric energy of the other two instruments when only the horse-power into mechanical work, we have to measure the current in expended in an electric circuit is required. This instru ­ No. XV. Amperes* passing through it, and the electro-motive force ment —which, like the two previous ones, differs from all The great and increasing interest taken in all that con ­ in Volts maintained between its two terminals. The pro ­ other instruments previously designed, in that the calibra ­ cerns the electric light, and the facilities offered by the ducts of these two multiplied by 0-00134 gives the horse ­ tion can be effected with much smaller powers than it is Paris Exhibition, induced us to supplement our ordinary power expended in the machine. Part of this will be required to measure—will be found shortly described in a lecture delivered on the 24th March of this year, at the descriptive report of the exhibits by a special report wasted in heating the wires in the motor, part in over ­ coming mechanical friction, and the remainder, which may Society of Arts, as well as a dispersion photometer, arranged on the electric light. Professors Ayrton and Perry be measured by a force dynamometer, can be employed in by us to measure even strong electric lights in a small having designed special instruments for making measure­ doing useful work. space, and which has been employed by us, conjointly with ments with these intense lights, and having given great Such experiments —which, it must be remembered, are other photometers, in the experiments contained in this attention to the subject, were requested to prepare this wholly independent of the goodness or badness of the mode report.
    [Show full text]