Not so far mate, but WOW, that was fascinating reading of the Lunatics, loved itIs the Lunar Soc. mentioned in Unstoppable Us, I wonder?



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Not so far mate, but WOW, that was fascinating reading of the Lunatics, loved itIs the Lunar Soc. mentioned in Unstoppable Us, I wonder?
Good information. thanksSecret society? No, absolutely the opposite. The Lunar Society were more like us. They were a gang of intelligent mates with an interest that linked them together - the practical applications of science.
It was thirty years ago when I knew all about them but I’ll try to remember some of the big names. Remember this was the mid eighteenth century when industrialisation, urbanisation, capitalism were really taking off. Some historians claim that there was no individual great man who started it all, others said that without James Watt’s steam engine, the Industrial Revolution wouldn’t have happened. My thesis was that it took COMMUNICATION to light the fuse. Groups of like minded people getting together and bouncing ideas off each other. The Royal Society was one such. The Lunaticks were a more informal but immensely influential gang of mates.
Erasmus Darwin was one of the founder members and probably the best physician in the country. He was a doctor to the king. He developed medical science through the scientific application of observation of his patients. But he was interested in the science of everything. He made a lot of observations of nature he was among the 1st to speak of evolution which turned out to be very important because he was the grandfather of Charles Darwin. Erasmus said realised that evolution happened but it took Charles to work out the mechanism of it. Without Erasmus, I wonder what would’ve happened…
Josiah Wedgwood the potter. Josiah applied science to the industry of making pottery. He would make experiments with different glazes different clays different temperatures. Thousands and thousands of them. He is very famous in this connection, but his major achievement was in inventing double entry bookkeeping and running his ‘manufactory’ on sound financial lines. Something we now take for granted but until then no one knew if they were making a profit or loss!
It happened that his friend Erasmus was interested in windmills. And Josiah used one of Erasmus designs for a compact windmill with no external sales to power his pigment grinding mill. Josiah also had many breakages moving his pottery along the poor roads. Erasmus and others of the society had an interest in canals so they financed one to take Josiah’s pottery safely to market. This brought Joseph Brinkley, canal engineer Into their orbit and led to many technological advances.
Another man with a manufacturing business was Matthew Bolton of Birmingham. He worked in light engineering making all kinds of trinkets. His contribution to the century was to realise how effective machines could be for making many thousands of identical items. His work eventually lead on to interchangeable parts and the production line. Matthew is mostly remembered for his partnership with James Watt the Scottish engineer associated with the development of the steam engine. Also a member of the Society. James would have produced nothing very much without his friend Matthews manufacturing genius, and financial backing.
And so on…
There were about 20 members altogether and if you make a chart connecting each one to the other members whom he helped you end up with the network of influence which I believe was hugely important in the genesis of the industrial revolution.
Oh dear, I’m getting interested in it all over again…
Good information. thanks
you it is books, me it is tools and ship models. I have about 6 ships to build and lots of tools. I like trying to figure out how to use a tool and apply it to shipbuilding.You are welcome Jack. I could write 350 more pages for you if only I had the time.
Now my interest in those men has been resuscitated, I want to read Jenny Uglow’s book … at last.
Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to buy it. Talking with my son yesterday we discovered that I spent more on books last month than his mortgage payment. He has challenged me to get through this pension month (24 Oct to 23 Nov) without buying, renting, borrowing or stealing any books, without obtaining even one in any way.
I haven’t passed a month like that since I learned to read! He and I are both stubborn competitive people so I mean to succeed.
I’ve secured an agreement with my wonderful local bookshop not to sell me any books though I’ll still visit there and read them on the shelves. (I’ll make a list for next month) I have to go in, they give my dog biscuits and he’d miss them awfully.
me it is tools and ship models
Not so far mate, but WOW, that was fascinating reading of the Lunatics, loved it![]()
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Me too !I want to read Jenny Uglow’s book
Smithy, you are doing a far better job at reorganizing the shelves in my head into an orderly fashion than my psychologist, you're work and words never fail to inspire my imagination.Rudder Hanging and Rail Finials
Buy the damned book or I'll buy it for you
Loved it, you're as crazy as this man.How did you like Marilyn the Finial?
saw what you did there...Finial update for today.
How do Deadeyes reach escape velocity all on their own?53 pre-read copies of Jenny Uglow;s Lunarians on the Abe Books website. Starting at £2.16 plus post.
9780571196470 - The Lunar Men:the Friends Who Made the Future by Uglow, Jenny, Used - AbeBooks
The Lunar Men : Five Friends Whose Curiosity Changed the World by Uglow, Jenny and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.co.uk.www.abebooks.co.uk
How do Deadeyes reach escape velocity all on their own?
Constant acceleration to reach excess of 9.81 Metres per second squared ?![]()
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