Deborah J Warner - Instruments for Quality Control
Petroleum - A Vanity Fair caricature by Spy of Sir Boverton Redwood (1846-1919) a petroleum chemist who devised a viscometer (shown on the table) in 1885. Learn more about this fascinating scientist at November's public lecture
Modern industry is hooked on instruments, using them to monitor manufacturing processes and assess the quality of finished products. This lecture considered four nineteenth century instruments of this sort - the saccharimeter, the colorimeter, the viscosimeter and the refractometer - discussing the sciences from which they emerged, the industries they served and the makers and dealers who brought them to market. The speaker suggested that, in order to appreciate the contexts in which these instruments were made and used, we should look to governmental regulations, national standards setting institutions, professional organisations and publications, and the increasing number of trained chemists seeking employment.
The general public were welcome to join members of the Society at this event.