Post by ianvisits on Dec 28, 2008 20:47:29 GMT
A lecture on the development of the telegraph for railway signalling which may interest some of you.
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When E F Clark lodged the Bidder papers in the Science Museum Library, he provided material that opens up the possibility of a re-examination of the introduction of the electric telegraph.
Similarly the recent biography of Robert Stephenson, by many Newcomen Society notables, with new research on his business relationships and political views facilitates a re-appraisal of his attitude toward signalling. Although Clark viewed Stephenson as a passive investor, this paper will argue that Stephenson played a secret but critical role in the commercialisation of the telegraph. In 1837 Stephenson trialled the electric telegraph between Euston and Camden. The historiography states that this was rejected in favour of a ‘pneumatic telegraph’. It is also accepted that the world’s first commercial electric telegraph was from Paddington to West Drayton, the first section of which opened in April 1839.
This lecture will show, however, that there is archival evidence that an operational electric telegraph was actually installed from Euston to Camden immediately before the official opening of the railway in September 1838.
In the railway mania of 1845, more than 1,400 prospective railways were registered as candidates for incorporation, creating a wonderful business opportunity for the electric telegraph. A secret consortium was formed to purchase the Cooke and Wheatstone patent for the equivalent of £9 million. In order to conceal their identities for this illegal purchase, and in order to be able to sell electric telegraph systems to the widest number of railways, Stephenson was not disclosed as a shareholder but his shares were held in George Bidder’s name. Bidder also held the shares of some of the other partners such as Peto, and probably Brassey and Locke. The paper will also show that, after the Electric Telegraph Company was incorporated in 1846, its business was seeded by orders from most of the Stephenson railways, particularly those where George Hudson was the Chairman.
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Being held in the Fellows Room at the Science Museum on 11th March 2009 at 5:45pm.
Entry is free.
www.newcomen.com/meetings.htm
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When E F Clark lodged the Bidder papers in the Science Museum Library, he provided material that opens up the possibility of a re-examination of the introduction of the electric telegraph.
Similarly the recent biography of Robert Stephenson, by many Newcomen Society notables, with new research on his business relationships and political views facilitates a re-appraisal of his attitude toward signalling. Although Clark viewed Stephenson as a passive investor, this paper will argue that Stephenson played a secret but critical role in the commercialisation of the telegraph. In 1837 Stephenson trialled the electric telegraph between Euston and Camden. The historiography states that this was rejected in favour of a ‘pneumatic telegraph’. It is also accepted that the world’s first commercial electric telegraph was from Paddington to West Drayton, the first section of which opened in April 1839.
This lecture will show, however, that there is archival evidence that an operational electric telegraph was actually installed from Euston to Camden immediately before the official opening of the railway in September 1838.
In the railway mania of 1845, more than 1,400 prospective railways were registered as candidates for incorporation, creating a wonderful business opportunity for the electric telegraph. A secret consortium was formed to purchase the Cooke and Wheatstone patent for the equivalent of £9 million. In order to conceal their identities for this illegal purchase, and in order to be able to sell electric telegraph systems to the widest number of railways, Stephenson was not disclosed as a shareholder but his shares were held in George Bidder’s name. Bidder also held the shares of some of the other partners such as Peto, and probably Brassey and Locke. The paper will also show that, after the Electric Telegraph Company was incorporated in 1846, its business was seeded by orders from most of the Stephenson railways, particularly those where George Hudson was the Chairman.
------
Being held in the Fellows Room at the Science Museum on 11th March 2009 at 5:45pm.
Entry is free.
www.newcomen.com/meetings.htm
