Glasgow inventor George Bennie is famous for his futuristic Railplane which only ran on a test track, but he also invented this ashtray. Opinions differ on whether it was made to promote the Railplane, or was for use aboard ships.
A little Art Deco medal celebrating industry and commerce from the 1924 Empire Exhibition.
A twist drill, about 5 feet long, used to drill holes for explosives in mining.
This little tin case was made for the Motherwell Bridge & Engineering Co. Ltd., to celebrate the rebuilding of the Boyne viaduct in Drogheda in 1932. It may have been for calling cards or business cards, the wear pattern on the inside is possibly caused by a coin.
A maker’s plate from British Polar Engines Ltd., dating from 1973.
An enamel sign by Spiers Ltd., Glasgow – Spiers made prefabricated buildings before WWII.
In 1956, the Motherwell Bridge & Engineering Company built the containment sphere for the experimental Dounreay fast reactor, and to celebrate they had a few model spheres made, with a lighter inside!
A battered and faded safety sign from the Nobel’s Explosives factory at Ardeer, Ayrshire.
A pay token from Merklands Wharf, Glasgow – the wharf and lairage on the Clyde handled fruit and cattle among other goods.
A beautiful Georgian Bristol Green wine glass, a generous donation to the museum. Bristol Green was a unique colour of glass, derived from the iron oxide in local sand and a little cobalt, to give an amazing sea green.
