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Ref NoDM1306/11/1/1/folio 326-333
TitleLetter from Professor C. Piazzi Smyth to Isambard Kingdom Brunel
DescriptionWritten from 1 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh. The letter mentions Piazzi Smyth's wish to see one of the toys that Brunel discusses in his previous letter and explains some of the physical principles underlying the toy's motion and describes similar scientific experiments that he has witnessed. The letter also describes how these physical principles affect the design of the instrument stand Smyth has designed. There are illustrative sketches on Folios 327, 329 and 330. The letter is accompanied by an extract from a letter from Professor Smyth to C. May from 25th November 1854 which discusses Smyth's progress on his instrument stand and what still needs to be done so that the stand can potentially be included in the instruments for the Eastern Steam Navigation Company's 'big ship' and his plans to go ahead with having a sample made. There is also an extract from another letter from Professor Smyth dated 30th November 1854. The letter expresses how strongly Smyth feels Brunel's decision to authorise a sea trial of Smyth's instrument stand, especially following the loss of the ship Tayleur and explains that he has taken the instrument to Mr Cooke, a workman near York, to make a copy and includes a copy of the verbal instructions that he gave Mr Cooke although he wonders if Brunel himself can get the instrument made by his own contacts far more cheaply and quickly than Mr Cooke and encloses a copy of the specifications of the instrument.
Date8 December 1854
FormatManuscript volume
Extent8 pages
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Access ConditionsThis material is held at the Brunel Institute - please contact the Brunel Institute to arrange access.
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