Science Museum London

[sbwhart]

Hi Chaps

Spent a short break in London.

As well as viewing our loot in the British Museum :- Elgin marbles, Roseta Stone, etc etc etc.

We also visited the science museum in Kensington. Full of Kids pulling handles and pressing buttons on the interactive displays, getting in the way of the bigger kids like myself, who wanted to pull the handle and press the button and work out what it was all about:- they should have adult only days for miserable old sods like myself.

Any way they had some great engines there her's a few pics.

Newcomen atmospheric engine yes that's the date it was made 1791









Steeple engine (I think)



Twin Compound horizontal mill engine, this one was coupled up to steam and they ran it for about an hour, absolutly fantastic it was amazing just how smooth running it was almost silent and hipnotic I loved it :- The kids wern't interested to busy pulling handles and pressing buttons.





And Babages difference engine an early attempt at a computer.







Wonderful workmanship

Also went to Greenwich to see Harrison's marine chronometers:- H1, H2, H3 and H4 I was spell bounded by them it re kindled my ambition to make a clock 

If any one wants a good read I would recommend John Harrisons auto byography:- The story of Longitude,
Harrison would have made a great madmodder he's one of my big heroes.

[28ten]

it is many years since i went to the science museum, but it is a great place to visit. Did you go to the imperial war museum? The london transport museum is interesting from an engineering point as well

[sbwhart]

Did you go to the imperial war museum? The london transport museum is interesting from an engineering point as well

No thats down for another day, I'll put the London transport museum on the list as well sounds good, went to London Zoo its the pits Chester Zoo is far better.

Went to the Globe theater to see Shakspear's "Much ado about nothing" really enjoyed it, the Globe is very interesting building built on the site of the origonal Tudor theater and to the same lay out: it allows for far more interaction with the audience, if your ever in London and like Shakspear I'd recommend it, for London tickets not too expensive but book in advance on line.

Have fun

Stew

[Brass_Machine]

What a great museum! Would like to visit someday. I have visited the Smithsonian and the boston musuem of science... both were very cool. However, I have talk the wife into going HERE Launched in 1882 and still afloat. You can get a tour to see the engine room!



Eric

[raynerd]

I was spell bounded by them it re kindled my ambition to make a clock 

Stew, I`m right with you there. I purchased my first lathe, a unimat 3, a good few years ago when I was at univeristy. My ambition was and still is to make a clock.

I don`t want to go too far off topic but I suggest taking a look at Woodwards Gearless Clock - built and plans by J. Wilding. I`m sure you are more than capable of gear cutting but the design really limits this..... The plans were in Model Engineer magazine some years ago but the entire plans can be purchased, including all materials (if required) or specialised parts from http://www.ritetimepublishing.com/howtowoodward.htm and http://www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk/gearless%20clock.html The pictures don`t do it justice as I have seen this clock finished and mounted in a lovely picture frame and it looks quite amazing.

I`ve always thought a simple weight driven or pendulum escapement would make an interesting and more realistic first project - check this out, there are loads of lego escapements!! I`m sure a machined version is do'able:

&NR=1

.....

Anyway, glad you enjoyed the meusum !

[Baldrocker]

Oh the memories! Used to play truant to go to the Science Museum, never got punished for it
because our science teacher considered it a valid excuse for playing hooky. Mid week was best
as the museum was almost empty, mind you this was over 50 yrs ago. It sort of gladdens my
heart to know that kids still love the place or at least the buttons and levers.
BR

[sbwhart]

Thanks for your interest Chaps:-

Love those Lego escarpments and clocks there is nothing you can't make from Lego.

Thanks for showing

Stew

[bogstandard]

We spent a whole day of our honeymoon in the Science Museum. The wife loved it as well.
Like little kids in a sweet shop, buttons everywhere.

Places like that are better than sex any day.


Bogs

[Baldrocker]

Places like that are better than sex any day

Oh Bogs
It really hurts when I have to bite my tongue! 
BR