July io, 1919] 



NATURE 



375 



afterwards transferred to Manchester, and it proved 

 eminently successful in carrying into the provinces a 

 knowledge of the recent achievements of British 

 science and industry. 



This year's exhibition was declared opened bv the 

 Marquess of Crewe in the presence of a representative 

 company of scientific and technical workers. In his 

 opening address Lord Sydenham, who occupied the 

 chair, referred at some length to the important part 

 played by British science and industry in the victory 

 which has so recently crowned the Allied efforts. We 

 proved ourselves superior to the enemy in everv 

 technical art, and but for the splendid co-operation of 

 the leaders of science and induslrx our Armv would 

 have fought in vain. 



In declaring the exhibition opened the Marquess of 

 Crewe emphasised the difference between the present 

 exhibition and the one held at King's College last 

 year. The latter took place at a time when the result 

 of the war was still doubtful, although the tide of 

 battle was flowing strongly in our favour. Neces- 

 sarily, therefore, it gave precedence to industries 

 engaged primarily in the service of war. The present 

 exhibition, on the other hand, is meant to show the 

 triumphs of British industry in the arts of peace, and 

 to bring home to the general public the importance of 

 the relationship between science and industry, and 

 also between education and research. 



In this connection Lord Crewe dwelt on the desir- 

 ability of introducing definite industrial courses for 

 university students in technology, such courses to be 

 taken in vacations at suitable works connected with 

 the particular study the student is undertaking. Such 

 an arrangement has worked with great success in the 

 L'nited States. The institution of industrial fellow- 

 ships for post-graduate students attached to one or 

 other of the universities would also have an important 

 influence in keeping industries in touch with modern 

 scientific developments, and, in addition, provide the 

 country with highly trained technologists. The 

 Deoartment of .Scientific and Industrial Research is 

 endeavouring to do something on these lines by 

 urging the establishment of industrial manufacturing 

 associations which will carry on research in some par- 

 ticular technical branch. 



The exhibits themselves are almost bewildering in 

 their comprehensiveness. Practically every phase of 

 British industr\ is represented, the various exhibits 

 being divided into the following eleven sections : — 

 Mechanical Science, Physics, Textiles, Electrical 

 .Appliances, Medicine and .Surgery, Paper and Illus- 

 tration, -Agriculture, Chemistry. .Aircraft, Fuels, and 

 Metallurgy. Naturally, it is impossible to do more 

 th.-m touch superficially on the different groups. 



In the Mechanical Science section G. Cussons, Ltd., 

 of Manchester, are exhibiting various types of pro- 

 jection apparatus for testing form, profile, and screw- 

 thread gauges. These instruments were devised at 

 the National Physical Laboratory, and they have 

 played an important part in the accurate and rapid 

 testing of gauges which is so essential in the quantity 

 production of machined parts. The Foster Instrument 

 Co., of Letchworth, shows some interesting testing 

 machines, including a modification of Dr. Stanton's 

 impact testing apparatus, and also a notched-bar 

 machine which yields a graphic record giving the 

 history of the breaking of the specimen. .A model of 

 the first vessel to be fitted with Parsons marine tur- 

 bines is shown b\- the Parsons Marine Turbine Co., 

 and also a model exhibiting the interior of an engine- 

 room of a two-shaft arrangement of Parsons geared 

 turbine machinery. 



In the Phvsics section Me<5srs. Hilger show some 

 beautifully designed apparatus, including spectro- 

 NO. 2593, VOL." 103] 



scopes, polarimeters, and interferometers. The 

 Meteorological Office has an exhibit of some excellent 

 photographs and diagrams, and, in addition, some 

 recently designed instruments for the determination 

 of meteorological data. There are- also some note- 

 worthy exhibits of optical glass, and the items in the 

 photographic section deserve more than cursory 

 examination. 



The latest thing in range-finders is shown by 

 Messrs. Barr and Stroud, of Glasgow. The 30-ft. 

 instrument is a triumph of both mechanical and 

 optical skill. In something less than three seconds 

 a range of ten thousand yards, with an error of less 

 than twenty-one yards, can be signalled to the gun. 

 For the direct reading of the range in these instruments 

 some very fine gears have been designed. The anti- 

 aircraft range-finder, where height, distance, and 

 angle have to be determined rapidly, is a marvel of 

 ingenuity and workmanship. The submarine peri- 

 scopes, the watertight-door electric indicators, and the 

 optical glass exhibit of this firm also call for special 

 attention. 



The Electrical section embraces the whole range 

 from electric cooking to wireless telephony. Messrs. 

 Marconi show a portable direction-finder and a small 

 wireless telephony set; Messrs. V^ickers show their 

 magnetos, which have played such an important part 

 in our aerial supremacy ; and Everett, Edgcumbe, 

 and Co. display a very fine selection of electrical 

 measuring and controlling apparatus. 



The Chemistry section bears eloquent testimony to 

 the fact that in this branch of industry we have little 

 now to learn from Germany either on the scientific or 

 industrial side. We can produce our own laboratory 

 glassware, our own filter-papers, our own analytical 

 reagents, our own indicators, and our own drugs. 

 Levinstein's, Ltd., again show the remarkable pro- 

 gress we have made in the dye industry, and quite a 

 number of firms prove what can be donet in the pro- 

 duction of organic and inorganic compounds. The 

 exhibit of the South Metropolitan Gas Co. emphasises 

 the importance of coal-tar in the chemical industry. 



The .\.I.D. exhibits a representative collection of 

 metallic and non-metallic materials employed in air- 

 craft construction, together with a range of aero- 

 nautical instruments and equipment, models, and 

 testing apparatus. The most interesting feature, 

 perhaps, is that showing the most recent developments 

 of the all-metal aeroplane. The instrument section 

 is also of great importance, and, perhaps more than 

 any other branch, shows the necessity for the trained 

 physicist in industry. 



Examples of recent developments in both ferrous 

 and non-ferrous products are to be found in the sec- 

 tion devoted to Metallurgy. Some interesting furnaces 

 for heat-treatment purposes are also shown. In the 

 refractory material section the Morgan Crucible Co. 

 shows what can be done in the manufacture of the 

 latest types of crucibles. Messrs. Hadfield exhibit a 

 model of the largest armour-piercing shell in the 

 world. This is of 18-in. calibre, and weighs about 

 i^ tons. The same firm shows a 17-in. hardened steel 

 roll for the cold rolling of metals. This imoortant 

 key industry has now been entirely captured from 

 Germrmy. 



Displays of kinematograph films of scientific and 

 technical interest are being shown at the exhibition 

 from 3.30 to 5.30 p.m. on the following dates : — 

 July i.^, 17, 22, 24. 26, 2q, and 31. The films 

 illustrate (i) aircraft construction and utilisation, 

 (2) the m.'dving of a big gun, (-x) the water powers 

 of Canada and their industrial utilisation, (4) wireless 

 telegraphy and telephony, and (5) magneto construe- 



