Science Visit – Steam and Music, Wednesday 18^th April

A party of 32 members ventured to the Steam and Music Museums at Kew. To those who may be unfamiliar with these attractions the Steam Museum is housed in a former London Metropolitan Water Board pumping station at  Kew Bridge and still retains its original 1820 Boulton and Watt “Cornish” beam engine plus some others. Although these were not in steam for our visit they are demonstrated on a regular basis as tourist attractions. In addition to the Cornish pumping engines the museum has collected a number of other interesting exhibits and illustrated is an example, of a horizontal twin cylinder, cross-compound engine that pumps from a vertical bore via a bell crank lever arm.

Following this, the group then ventured some 400yds along Kew Bridge Road to the Museum of Mechanical Music. This is a relatively new museum housed in a purpose built building and contains a wide range of musical instruments from the past 150 years. Examples of Swiss music boxes, a “Violinola Virtuoso” music machine that plays violin, piano and organ (illustrated) to the mighty Wurlitzer were demonstrated. The “Wurlitzer” shown in the illustration having been rescued from a cinema in Richmond. This being the last of its kind as the new talking movies meant they became obsolete. Overall an enjoyable day that everyone enjoyed.

 Horizontal Twin cylinder pumping engine. Made by James Simpson, Pimlico in 1910 and used at the Waddon Water Works in Croydon until 1983

 The Wurlitzer Cinema Theatre Organ - 1929 vintage

The “Violano-Virtuoso” made in Chicago can play all 4 strings on violin, with 48 Key piano plus organ. It is controlled by paper roll which is just visible below the violin.