Abstract
SIR HENRY LYONS, formerly director of the Science Museum, delivered his presidential address to the Institute of Physics on May 15, taking as his subject “Physics and Science Museums”. Sir Henry referred in particular to the work which the Board of the Institute has done through a special committee in locating pieces of physical apparatus of special historical importance, and ensuring so far as possible that they should be preserved from deterioration or possible loss. This committee was appointed in 1925, and since then it has brought to light many objects which were little known to physicists generally and of which the historical importance was not always appreciated at its full value. It was not until the middle of the eighteenth century that the first institution was established for the preservation of scientific instruments and technical apparatus; this was the museum of the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers in Paris, which was founded in 1794 to include all kinds of machinery, models, tools, instruments, etc. Little can now remain of the instruments and apparatus in use in earlier times, not only because in those times there was no institution where they could be deposited, but also because for the most part their historical importance was seldom realised. Then probably more than now, an instrument once acquired was treasured for there were few of them, but it passed in time to a later generation which neither appreciated it nor understood its importance. The same influence operates to-day and there is much difficulty in securing for posterity the more important examples of apparatus which has played a part in the advance of science. The address will be published in due course and copies will be obtainable from the Institute of Physics, 1, Lowther Gardens, Exhibition Road, London, S.W.7 (1s. 1d. including postage).
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Historical Physical Apparatus. Nature 133, 754–755 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/133754d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/133754d0