Gallery, Projects and General > Neat Stuff
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 :proj:
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:
--- Quote from: 28ten on August 12, 2009, 02:55:23 PM ---
Did you go to the imperial war museum? The london transport museum is interesting from an engineering point as well
--- End quote ---
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:
--- Quote from: sbwhart on August 12, 2009, 02:50:06 PM ---I was spell bounded by them it re kindled my ambition to make a clock :proj:
--- End quote ---
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 !
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