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The answer seems obvious – any good reference library, if you arrange by author they are alphabetically next to each other!
However, if I were to say “Where can you find a first edition copy of Darwin’s Origin of the Species next to one of the early first edition copies of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity that has been dedicated by Einstein to a friend”, then it narrows it down a little, possibly only to the Science Museum Library and Archives at Wroughton.
But we didn’t just limit ourselves to the library, 30 members of the IET on visit to the Science Museum large objects and reserve collection at Wroughton, organised by the IET Transport Networks, also had the opportunity to look in three of the hangers on site and see such an eclectic mix of a early hydrogen fuel cell car (a DAF, described by the curator as so heavy it could barely pull itself along), to a Boeing 247 (the first aluminium skinned airline), a Comet 4.
Other hangers had at one end a hydrogen fuelled bus (only recently retired from London’s roads to a pair of steam ploughing traction engines.
It was a fascinating day and an insight into old and some very recent technological history (if that’s not a contradiction in terms!). What it did bring home to me, is that certainly in recent years technology changes so fast, it will be important to keep examples of many things to see how rapidly they have developed (after all I’ve still got my ZX81 complete with wobbly RAM pack!) In our modern, hi-tech disposable society, we must not lose our history. It will be very important for future generations.
Categories: Editorial comment , Latest TPN highlights ,
15 December 2011
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