IBM Greenock Plan
A plan of one of the big production buildings at IBM Greenock, Spango Valley.
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Paton’s Mill Printing Plate
A copper printing plate from William Paton’s spinning mill in Johnstone, showing an aerial view of the mill buildings. Shown below as it is, and how it would have looked when printed.
1864 Sulman Glasgow Panorama
A hand-coloured copy of Thomas Sulman’s 1864 panorama of Glasgow, mapped in incredible detail from a hot air balloon. Originally published in The Illustrated London News.
Brass Rolls Royce Jet Engine
A brass model Rolls Royce turbofan jet engine, with moving fan blade. Perhaps a promotional model.
Explosive Testing Slide Rules
A pair of slide rules – one in wood, one in plastic – used to compare the power of various explosives, tested on a device called a ballistic pendulum. From Nobel’s Explosives, Ayrshire.
Wooden Rudder Model
A wooden model of a ship’s rudder and stern frame, maker unknown.
Curta Type II Mechanical Calculator
A Type II Curta mechanical calculator, made in Lichtenstein by Contina AG. A larger version with more registers than the Type I., but with the same ingenious handheld design.
Cordite Press Chalk Board
A chalk board from one of the cordite pressing houses at the ICI Nobel factory at Ardeer, in Ayrshire.
Robert Elder & Co Pay Token
A 3d pay token from the Fairfield shipyard of Robert Elder & Co.
Model Hele-Shaw Pump
A beautiful little working model of a Hele-Shaw pump, made by Bar Knight in Clydebank. Bar Knight made models for the famous Clyde Model Dockyard in the Argyle Arcade, the company still exists. This model was probably used to teach ship’s engineers – Hele-Shaw pumps are often used in ship steering gear, they’re very clever […]
Gunpowder Box
A wooden box for carrying gunpowder from Nobel’s Explosives, Ardeer.