Making Scientific Instruments in the Industrial Revolution

Winner of the Paul Bunge Prize, 2008, honouring outstanding publications on the history of scientific instruments. 'In all, this is a very useful book and, although it will ultimately go into the TATHS library, I won't let it go just yet. I want to re-read it several times more to make sure that I fully appreciate it.' Journal of the Tools and Trades History Society '... this erudite yet engaging monograph... Morrison-Low's work has important implications for all students of the industrial revolution... Morrison-Low is to be congratulated for elucidating the broader significance of this small but crucial industry.' EH.NET 'A.D. Morrison-Low has provided an outstanding integrative history of instrument making that many of us perhaps secretly aspire to but seldom attain. This is a substantial achievement and raises her work far above the caliber and importance of most other writings on the history of scientific instruments and their manufacture... It would be remiss to conclude this review without mention of the useful appendix and the superb bibliography that grace this outstanding work.' History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences 'Making Scientific Instruments in the Industrial Revolution is a welcome and timely book... If you are looking for an empirical survey of instrument making, delightfully illustrated, roughly spanning the period 1750 to the Great Exhibition in London of 1851, this is a book for you.' Technology and Culture '...Morrison-Low has assembled an impressive array of sources - directories, business records (the few that remain), probate and insurance records, first-hand accounts, among many others - with much of the data usefully illustrated and summarized in the many graphs and charts. The evidence from these sources is brought together very effectively through a self-consciously cross-disciplinary approach that will make this book a model for future studies. ... Commendable for its excellent survey of existing literature - the bibliography alone is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in scientific instrument-making - Morrison-Low's book also adds to that literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the English trade. ... Making Scientific Instruments in the Industrial Revolution can be recommended to anyone studying the history of science during the period. It is a resource to come back to again and again.' British Journal for the History of Science 'This is a sophisticated book, which stands at the intersection of business and economic history on the one hand, and instrument and technological history on the other hand. ... Morrison-Low has succeeded in her objective of drawing together the evidence on the development of scientific instruments in the English provinces, and in relating the physical evidence to the concerns of economic and business historians. Her discussion of the demand for scientific instruments is particularly welcome. This book is warmly recommended to anyone interested in changes in the British economy between 1750 and 1850.' Enterprise and Society 'This is a pioneering book... This is a book to be welcomed without reservation as an important step in the coming of age of instrument studies.' Jim Bennett, ISIS '...the book builds bridges between historical strands: economic and business as well as the histories of science and technology...the book readable, engaging, and thoroughly informed as it is, presents a convincing case for instrument-making to be seen as itself a driver of industrialization.' Economic History Review 'This book is the result of comprehensive research in collections and small archives. The appendix provides an invaluable list of provincial makers, locations, years of production, and specialities. ... This is instrument history at its best - extensive collection and instrument research that takes the reader into several disciplines and themes with a broader historical perspective in mind. It shows the potential for instrument history to push the boundaries of material culture studies, history of science and history in general.' Nuncius 'But having discharged the reviewer's minor duty to show that he has really read the book by noting [...] trivialities, the greater one remains of urging librarians to acquire, and historians of instruments, technology, the Industrial Revolution, retailing and consumerism to read, a work which should stimulate questions, debate and yet more research. Clearly written, correctly produced with notes on the page where they should be, and amply illustrated, the book is a pleasure to handle and consult.' Archives Internationales d'Histoire de Sciences