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Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851
Gloria Clifton
Zwemmer, London, 1995, 331 pp., ISBN 0-302-00634-6, L65
Gerald Turner, currently visiting professor in the History of Scientific Instruments at Imperial College, came to the view that the importance of scientific and precision instrument making was often overlooked in the history of science. The development of precision instruments and the taking of precise measurements were an integral part of the development of industry, navigation, and the exact sciences. So, in 1984, a project was started to collect together a comprehensive databank of information on British Scientific Instrument makers, which would provide a firm base for further studies. The first research assistant was Michael Crawford, who set up SIMON (Scientific Instrument Makers, Observations and Notes). Unfortunately, Michael died before the project could be completed and the task was taken over by Gloria Clifton, the author of this book.
The Directory includes anyone recorded as making or selling scientific, astronomical, drawing, measuring, or navigational instruments. Opticians are included as most, if not all, made...