TonyMBenson

An Unusual Barr & Stroud CF5 Binocular

2026-04-21T03:09:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting pair of Barr & Stroud binoculars. The model is CF5, but it does not correspond to either of the two CF5 models described in William Reid's We're Certainly not afraid of Zeiss¹, and has some of the features associated with each.

Two Documented CF5 Models

The CF5 was the only B&S binocular model designation that was used for more than one distinct binocular model. Reid¹ details two CF5 models:

The first is a CF5 Porro-I 8x0.9inch (23mm) model, which is one of the 'first eight', and is the central focussing version of the CF7.

The 'first eight' porro-prism binoculars made by Barr & Stroud, (CF1-CF8), were produced, beginning in 1919, and continued in production until the end of the 1920s. The B&S logo, shown here on the left, was engraved on the metal prism cover.

The distinguishing features of the 'first eight' models, compared to later models are: metal prism covers; the B&S logo shown above on the left; a knurled knob at the base of the hinge pillar, used to loosen/tighten the hinge for adjustment of the interpupilary distance; the binocular strap is attached to a single metal loop/slot on each of the two binocular barrels. The 'first eight' CF5 looks similar to the CF1 pictured here on the right.

The second CF5 model is a Porro-I 6x24, pictured on the left here, which replaced the CF1, and was the central focussing version of the CF19, with a field of view of 138 yards at 1000 yards. It was introduced in 1929/1930, and continued in production until 1962.

The distinguishing features of this later model are: Bakelite prism covers; the molded B&S logo shown here on the right; no knurled knob to tighten the central hinge pillar; the binocular strap is attached by two loops/slots on each side, one molded into the edge of each of the upper and lower bakelite prism covers.

An Undocumented CF5 Model?

This unusual Barr & Stroud CF5 model binocular, recently acquired at auction, differs from the two documented models described above, in several important respects:

This central focussing model is 6x23, and has no serial number that I have been able to find. The field of view is 8^o (140 yards at 1000 yards). It has Bakelite prism covers (similar to post-1929 models), but the embossed logo is the same graphic design as those of the 'first eight'. Sadly, on this binocular, the top right hand prism cover has broken loop for the binocular strap.

The left Bakelite prism cover has the circular B&S logo, around which is marked Barr & Stroud Ltd. Type CF 5.

The right Bakelite prism cover is marked Glasgow & London around a circle enclosing the words 6 x 23 O.G. 8^o.

The oculars appear similar in design to those of the 'first eight'.The hinge column is similar design to those of the 'first eight', including a knurled knob to tighten the hinge.

The case looks as though it may have been made by B&S, but does not have the usual mark of the company name.

It looks to me as though it is a modified first-eight CF1 design with the metal prism covers replaced by Bakelite ones, and with no strap hoops on the barrels (strap hoops integrated into the prism covers instead). If that's what it is, it could be a prototype for the later CF5, which replaced the CF1. If so, it is likely to be dated c1929, during the redesign from the earlier CF1 6x23 to the later CF5 6x24. In any case, it appears to be a (possibly unique) ex-production model.

If you have any more information about this unusual pair of binoculars, please let me know in the comments below, or contact me by email (see 'Contact' tab).

For more information about Barr & Stroud, and many other optical instrument makers throughout history, please see reference 2.

References

(1) We're Certainly not Afraid of Zeiss. Barr & Stroud Binoculars and the Royal Navy. William Reid. National Museums of Scotland Publishing Ltd., 2001. ISBN 1-901663-66-3.

(2) Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers. Tony Benson. 2024. ISBN 978-0957652774.

All photos and text are © copyright Tony Benson, not to be re-used without permission.

Binoculars of Unusual Design

2025-08-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

Here, I will take a look at some of the binoculars in my collection that don't conform to the norms of traditional binocular design. Classic binoculars of Galilean, Porro-prism, or roof-prism design, have for much of their history conformed to certain aesthetic and functional design traditions that we're all familiar with. From time to time, however, makers have come up with interesting and unusual deviations from this, some of which are a disaster, and some of which work pretty well. Here are just a few of them:

Here are two pairs of triple-optic Galilean binoculars by Lemaire of Paris. These were manufactured for international sale, frequently bearing a brand-name of the retailer. They have a small knob on the side which, when turned, selects one of three pairs of eyepiece lenses. These are Theatre for closer observation, Field for medium distances, and Marine for long distances. The knob has the Lemaire bee symbol on it.

The larger pair shown here has the classic Lemaire bee symbol on the knob, but no maker's or retailer's name. The three lens positions on this are marked Teatro, Campo, and Marina, suggesting they were exported for sale in Italy.

The smaller pair has the retailer's name W. Heath, Plymouth, on the eyepieces, along with the bee symbol. William Heath was an optician and scientific instrument maker trading in Plymouth, England during the late 19^th century.

This next pair is also from Lemaire. It is a pair of clam-shell style folding opera glasses, made during the late 19^th century. It came in a pigskin pouch with a clasp, which was probably original.

Although this is a little awkward to hold to the eyes, it works perfectly, and is a superb little opera glass. The clam-shell is covered in dark brown leather, and the eyepieces are marked Lemaire Fab^t Paris, along with the bee symbol. The bee symbol also appears on the end-plate for the central focusing bar.

This is a pair of miniature Porro prism binoculars, perhaps designed as an opera glss. They are only 85mm wide at the widest point With no maker's name, this pair is a bit of a mystery.

With 3x magnification, 12.5mm objective, and adjustable interocular distance of approximately 58mm to 68mm, this is a surprisingly useable and fun little pair of binoculars.

Back with the folding binocular concept, here we have a pair by Mars, inscribed:

Jumelle "Mars"
Brevetée France Étranger
Modèle Militaire.

Brevetée France Étranger is French for Patented in France and abroad. Whether this was genuinely used as a military binocular, I do not know.

This next folding binocular is by Zenith, marked as Super Zenith.

This is very similar to the Tasco binoculars used by Timothy Dalton in an early scene of the Bond film, The Living Daylights. Fun as these binoculars are, I cannot believe that this kind has ever been used by the Secret Service.

Here we have another concept that works far better than you might imagine. This is the Kershaw Sportsman, designed to be worn like a pair of glasses. Once again we come back to Timothy Dalton as Bond, who wore a pair similar to these in - you guessed - The Living Daylights.

With a relatively low magnification of about 2 or 2½, these Kershaw binoculars give a surprisingly useful view, for example, at a sporting event such as horse-racing, where too much magnification narrows the field-of-view too far. Each barrel focuses individually, and the interocular distance can be adjusted.

This next one is a humdinger. It is Aitchison's Patent Pocket Binocular Field Glasses.

There is a lot to say about this very special pair of binoculars, which is why I've given it a blog post of its own, which you can see here.

For more information about binoculars, the makers mentioned here, and a great deal more, refer to Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers. Please click here, or on the cover image to the right, to find out more.

All photos and text © Tony Benson 2025

Index by Location - Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers

2025-08-20T01:13:00.000-07:00

Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers contains over three thousand alphabetically listed entries, many of which are for companies or people who were makers of optical instruments.

So, how do you find who the instrument makers were from the USA, or Germany, or London, or another country of interest?

In this post, you will find an index of the makers ordered by country and region. Since this is quite large, I have also provided indices for some countries as separate lists. Each is provided here as a link to a PDF file in Dropbox. You don't need to log on to Dropbox - just click on the link to view the file, and use the download feature if you wish to keep a copy of the file.

Firstly the full index:

Makers by Country and Region

Smaller indices for frequently mentioned countries, indexed by region:

Austria

England - London

England - Outside London

France

Germany - Alphabetical

Germany - By Location

Russia, USSR, and GDR

If you don't see the maker you were looking for, please check with the full listing of entries in the book, which you can find here.

These indices were prepared by hand. If you spot any typographical errors, ommissions, or errors, please let me know.

For full details about the book, and a complete contents list, see here.

Newbold & Bulford Binoculars and Telescopes

2025-02-16T01:44:00.000-08:00

N&B Cub 18x

Newbold & Bulford of London, England, were makers of telescopes and binoculars during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

N&B Cub 18x

Most of their telescope models were terrestrial telescopes, sometimes known as spyglasses. These show an erect image, wheras an astronomical telescope usually shows an image inverted either vertically or horizontally (depending on the optical design).

N&B Petrel 30x

They began to use the trade name Enbeeco and, after the second World War, by 1951 or earlier, the name Enbeeco was used extensively on their products.

Enbeeco Merlin 20-40x

In 1960 Newbold & Bulford collaborated with Ross Ltd. to produce the Ross Enbeeco 13x60 binoculars. In 1975 Newbold & Bulford bought the stock and goodwill of the company J.H. Steward.

Enbeeco Merlin 20-40x

In October 1991 the company, then trading in Edenbridge, Kent, became Pyser NB (Trading) Ltd., This became part of Pyser-SGI trading at the same address.

Below is listed the various models of telescope and binocular made and sold by Newbold & Bulford

Telescope Models
Binocular Models

Telescope Models

Comet

The Enbeeco Comet (C & S) is 2 draws, 20x magnification with a 35mm objective. It measures 10” closed and 24” extended. It is of brass construction with a leather cover on the main barrel. It has a sliding sunshade, also covered in leather, and two end-caps with a strap attached to leather tabs on the main barrel.

The Enbeeco Comet No. 2 is 2 draws, 25x magnification with a 30mm objective. It measures 10¼” closed and 24½” extended. It is of blackened metal construction with a leather cover on the main barrel. It has a sliding sunshade, also covered in leather, and two end-caps with a strap attached to leather tabs on the main barrel.

Commadore

The Enbeeco Commadore 18x has a single draw with 18x magnification. It measures 17” closed, and 23½” extended. It is of chromium plated metal construction with leather covering on the main barrel.

The Enbeeco Commadore 20x has a single draw with 20x magnification. It has a 30mm objective, and measures 17” closed, and 23½” extended. It is of chromium plated metal construction with leather covering on the main barrel.

Cub

The Newbold & Bulford Cub is 3 draws, 18x magnification with a 24mm objective. It measures 7” closed and extends to 18¼”. It is made of brass, and has a leather cover on the main barrel. It has a press-fit brass cover on the objective.

Curlew

The Enbeeco Curlew is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with a magnification of 25x-40x. It has a 40mm objective. It is of brass construction with a leather cover on the main barrel. It has a sliding sunshade, also covered in leather, and two end-caps with a strap attached to leather tabs on the main barrel.

Do-it-yourself Kit

The Enbeeco Do-it-yourself Kit was sold as a boxed set of parts for the construction of a small astronomical refractor.

Falcon

The Falcon telescope was sold branded both as Newbold & Bulford and Enbeeco. It has 3 draws, and 22x magnification, with a 30mm objective. It measures 6¾” closed, and 17¾” extended. It is made of brass, with a faux-shagreen cover on the main barrel. It has a press-fit brass cover for the objective.

Heron

The Enbeeco Heron is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with a magnification of 12-20x. It measures 5½” closed, and 14” extended. It is of brass construction with a painted main barrel. It was supplied in a canvas pouch.

Hillary-Everest

The Newbold & Bulford Hilary-Everest is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with magnification 25x-40x. It has a 40mm objective, and measures 10¼” closed and 28½” extended. It is made of brass, with a leather cover on the main barrel. It has an extendable sun-shade which is also leather covered. It was produced to commemorate Edmund Hillary’s expedition to Everest in 1953 during which, accompanied by Tenzing Norgay, he was the first person to reach the summit of Everest.

Kestrel

The Enbeeco Kestrel is 3 draws, magnification 25x. It has a 35mm objective, and measures 8” closed, and 20¾” extended. It is of blackened metal construction with faux-shagreen cover on the main barrel.

Lookout

The Newbold & Bulford Lookout was a 3” brass refractor on a wooden tripod.

Merlin

The Enbeeco Merlin is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with a magnification of 20x-40x. It has a 30mm objective, and extends to 22”. It is made of aluminium, with a leather cover on the main barrel, and was sold in a canvas pouch.

Officer of the Watch

The Enbeeco Officer of the Watch x18 is a marine telescope. It has an objective of 30mm and measures 18” closed and 25½” extended. It is of chromium-plated metal construction with leather covering on the main barrel. It has a chromium-plated sliding sun-shade, and an attached leather end-cap.

The Enbeeco Officer of the Watch Mk5 is a single-draw pancratic marine telescope with magnification 18x-30x. It has an objective of 40mm and measures 18” closed and 30” extended. It is of chromium-plated metal construction with leather covering on the main barrel. It has a chromium-plated sliding sun-shade.

Orbit

The Enbeeco Orbit is a spotting scope with 20x magnification and a 30mm objective. It has a tripod mount threaded screw-hole.

Petrel

The Newbold & Bulford Petrel has 2 draws, 30x magnification, with a 35mm objective. It measures 11½” closed, and 25¾” extended. It is made of black painted aluminium, with a faux shagreen cover on the main barrel.

Ranger

The Enbeeco Ranger 30x has 2 draws, 30x magnification, with a 40mm objective. It measures 10¼” closed, and 24” extended. It is made of brass, and has a leather cover on the main barrel.

The Enbeeco Ranger Major is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with magnification 30x-55x. It is of chromium-plated metal construction with a leather cover on the main barrel, and leather end-caps attached to a strap.

The Enbeeco Ranger Pan 25-40x is a 3-draw pancratic telescope with magnification 25x-40x. It has a 40mm objective, and measures 10¾” closed, and 27¼” extended. It is made of brass, with a leather cover on the main barrel.

The Enbeeco Ranger 55 is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with magnification 30X-50x. It has a 40mm objective, and measures 10½” closed, and 27¼” extended. It is made of brass, with a leather cover on the main barrel, and was sold in a canvas pouch.

Vixen

The Enbeeco Vixen is as 3-draw telescope with 30x magnification.

30x30

The Enbeeco 30x30 has 2 draws, 30x magnification, with a 30mm objective. It measures 6¾” closed and 15” extended. It is of chromium plated metal construction with a black-painted main barrel. It was supplied in a leather carrying case.

12-40x40

The Enbeeco 12-40x40 is a pancratic spotting scope with magnification 12x-40x. It has a 40mm objective, and a tripod mount threaded screw-hole.

Binocular Models

Newbold & Bulford

Viking Minor 8x25; Viking Major 8x30; Imperia 10x35; Britannia 8x43; Britannia 10x50

Enbeeco

7x50; Night Hawk Minor (Galilean, fixed IPD); Ornithologist 8x30; Navigon 8x50; 10x35; Concord 8x40

Ross Enbeeco

13x60

If you have information about Newbold & Bulford binocular or telescope models not shown here, please let me know, and I will add them to this post.

For more information about Newbold & Bulford, Ross Ltd., telescopes, and binoculars, and other related topics, refer to Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers by Tony Benson

All photos and text © Tony Benson 2025

Aitchison's Patent Pocket Binocular Field Glasses

2024-09-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

Aitchison's Patent Pocket Binocular Field Glasses, much sought after by collectors, are of a novel folding design, with each tube consisting of an aluminium spiral which folds concertina-style. As the frame folds closed, the barrels close into a puck-shape within the frame. (Note: Please click on the images to enlarge them).

Aitchison & Co. was founded by James Aitchison (1860-1911), who served an apprenticeship with a firm of opticians in High Holborn, London, England.

He established his business at 47 Fleet Street, London, as a practicing optician in 1889. He began to work in partnership with Alexander Thomas Clarkson, trading as Aitchison & Co., but the partnership was terminated in 1891, following which James Aitchison continued the business under the same name.

London addresses that appear on Aitchison's advertisements are: 47 Fleet Street (from 1889); 42 Bishopsgate Street (from 1889); 6 Poultry, Cheapside (from 1893); 428 Strand (from 1895); 167 & 168 Fleet Street; 281 Oxford Street; 12 Cheapside.

In 1908 they merged with Wray Optical Works Ltd., and in 1927 they acquired Dollond & Co., and began to trade under the name Dollond & Aitchison. They continued in business until 2009 when they merged with the high-street chain Boots, and the name Dollond & Aitchison ceased to be used.

On January 20^th 1891, the same year the partnership with Alexander Clarkson was terminated, James Aitchison was awarded UK patent no. 1016 for the folding Field glasses shown here, and on July 4^th 1893 he was awarded US patent 500,835, jointly with Thomas Bradley.

The binoculars were made from aluminium, and came in two different specifications:

No. 1. Achromatic Lenses (a first class Race Glass), with 4x magnification, which sold for £3 3s (about £325 in today's money), and
No. 2. Achromatic, 12 Lenses (Superior Quality, Higher Power), with 6x magnification, which sold for £5 5s (about £540 in today's money).

The Patent Pocket Binocular Field Glasses were supplied with a soft leather purse-case or, for 5s extra, a hard leather sling-case, as shown in the headline photo.

These binoculars were issued to British officers during the second Boer War (1899-1902). They were also exported to, among other countries, the USA.

Captain Craig of the War Depatment in Washington, USA, wrote (according to an Aitchison advertisement): I am directed by Chief Signal Officer of U.S. Army that Aitchison's Patent Pocket Binoculars are found to be extremely convenient and portable, and of good service.

The binoculars pictured in this article are of type No. 2. with 6x magnification. In use, because of the shape of the eyepiece lens-plate, the eyepieces are not particularly convenient to bring close to the eye (although that may simply be because I have a big nose). Also, due to the nature of the construction, the binoculars are prone to collimation errors, giving rise to double image.

They are marked on the inside of the eyepiece lens-plate with serial number 6223, and on both lens end-plates they are marked 5/8.

These Patent Pocket Binoculars were widely advertised. Some scans of original advertisements follow:

Advertisement in The Graphic, September 1^st 1894.

Advertisement in The Graphic, November 17^th 1894.

Advertisement in The Graphic, December 1^st 1894.

For more information about Aitchison & Co., Alexander Thomas Clarkson, Wray Optical Works Ltd., Dollond & Co., Dollond & Aitchison, binoculars, and many more topics, refer to Brass & Glass: Optial Instruments and Their Makers by Tony Benson.

All images © Copyright Tony Benson 2024

Second Edition - Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers

2024-03-17T04:16:00.000-07:00

The second edition of Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers is now available. It is an encyclopaedia of optical instruments, and the individuals and companies, from the earliest to the end of the 20th century, who have made them. Considerably updated, corrected, and expanded on the first edition, it contains over 3000 alphabetical entries, including:

Optical instrument makers and brands
Telescopes
Binoculars
Microscopes
Cameras
Navigation instruments

Scientific instruments
Surveying instruments
Military optical ordnance
Laboratory & educational instruments
Medical instruments
Optical terminology

There are appendices containing information on selected related subjects such as optical glass and eyepiece designs.

The inspiration for the book came from my interests in stargazing, photography, microscopy and bird-watching. I began to take an interest in classic and vintage telescopes, microscopes, binoculars and cameras, as well as other optical instruments. I found the lack of reference material frustrating - I would see an interesting looking vintage telescope at auction, but to find out more about the maker I would have to buy extraordinarily expensive reference books, many of which are out of print. Further, the information I sought was frequently scattered around multiple sources, and time-consuming to collate. I wanted an affordable, simple, encyclopaedic reference in which I could find the name of the maker or optical instrument and a concise, but informative article about them. This book is my attempt to remedy that gap in the literature.

Since the invention of the telescope and the microscope in the early seventeenth cetury there have been countless makers of optical instruments. It would be impossible to include an entry for every one of them. However, it is intended that makers of note should be included, as well as most of the makers the reader might encounter when perusing an auction or boot fair.

A table of contents for the first edition may be found here.

The History of Scientific Instruments: Book Recommendations on the Theme

2023-02-12T03:24:00.001-08:00

If you're interested in old scientific instruments, you can visit museums, you can buy interesting instruments at auction, or you can browse antique shops and fairs. But if you want to know about the history or their development, and the people who made them, you can do no better than reading a good book on the subject.

There are plenty of books to choose from, so which are the best? I've picked five books that I consider to be some of the best on the subject, and I'm pleased to be featured again on the excellent book discovery website, Shepherd.com, where you can find my recommendations, and my reasons for recommending the books, here. You can also browse books by topic or author, and you can explore themed booksheves, where you can find author recommendations on a theme such as science or physics.

If you have a particular interest in optical instruments and the people who made them, take a look at Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers.

This is an encyclopaedia of optical instruments, and the individuals and companies who have made them, from the earliest to the end of the 20^th century. It contains over 2000 alphabetical entries, including:

Optical instrument makers and brands; Telescopes; Binoculars; Microscopes; Cameras; Navigation instruments; Surveying instruments; Military optical ordnance; Laboratory & educational instruments; Scientific Instruments; Optical terminology.

There are appendices containing information on selected related subjects such as optical glass and eyepiece designs.

Whether your interest is as a collector, curator, or historian, or simple curiosity, this book is a valuable resource.

The Dangers of Discovering New Worlds: Science Fiction Book Recommendations on the Theme

2023-01-25T02:58:00.003-08:00

I'm thrilled to be featured again on the excellent book discovery website Shepherd.com - this time I'm sharing my recommendations for science fiction on the theme of the dangers of discovering new worlds.

You'll also find that Shepherd.com has plenty of bookshelves for you to browse and, in each one, multiple authors share their themed recommendations on topics such as The best dystopia books, The best books on extraterrestrial life, and many more.

While we're on this theme, in Galactic Alliance: Betrayal, Daniel discovers that the Galactic Alliance is plotting to take over Earth and subject humanity to brutal, dehumanising slavery. He becomes separated from Ruth by astropirates, and is torn between saving her and warning the sceptical Earth governments of the impending danger. Their adventure leads them both to worlds they never knew existed, and into grave danger, plunging them into the heart of the biggest conflict in Earth's history.

Societal control of the human body: Science fiction book recommendations on the theme

2023-01-16T09:40:00.003-08:00

If you’re looking for reading recommendations, the book discovery site Shepherd.com is a great place to find them. Shepherd is a rich platform offering book suggestions around a topic, theme or mood, as recommended by numerous authors.

I’m pleased to have been featured on their site with my recommendations for science fiction books on the theme of societal control of the human body.

My book on this theme, An Accident of Birth is a dystopian novel that explores how society might respond if human fertility were to decline to the point where only few people are born fertile. I discussed my inspiration for writing this book in a previous post When Evolution Fails Us - A Tale of Declining Fertility.

If you wish to find more dystopian fiction, why not try the Shepherd.com bookshelf The best dystopia books, where you will find enough recommendations to keep you going for a very long time.

When Evolution Fails Us - A Tale of Declining Fertility

2023-01-07T06:45:00.006-08:00

What if, in a future generation, human fertility has dwindled to the point that fertility is a rare gift – so unusual that it is considered to be a lucky accident of birth?

Every species has a natural drive to survive and reproduce. It is one of our most basic instincts and, let's face it, without that instinct, humankind wouldn't exist today. We fight for survival, and we love to reproduce.

Indeed, in many sectors of human society, couples who choose to remain childless are thought to be failing in their responsibility. This attitude, however dubious, is driven by primal instinct, not reason.

In recent years, studies have revealed some sobering facts. It seems that every generation of men is, on average, less fertile than its predecessor. We may be growing taller and bigger, but we're not as good at making babies.

The news reports which highlight this issue focus on the generation to generation decline in fertility, but do little to speculate on where it will lead. The reports generally measure fertility in terms of how many children are produced per couple. If the average is less than two then the population is declining. This is frequently couched in terms of how many children are produced per woman, which is a curiously flawed way to view it.

We have to look a little harder to find reports which talk about the biological ability of a couple to reproduce, rather than the choices they make. Many articles about female fertility focus on how many children a woman has, rather than her biological ability to bear children. On the subject of men, however, the literature is more forthcoming.

It seems that every generation of men is less biologically capable of reproduction than the last. According to a 1992 study¹, “... data on semen quality collected systematically from reports published world-wide indicate clearly that sperm density has declined appreciably during 1938-90, although we cannot conclude whether or not this decline is continuing.”

That uncertainty was put to rest by a research paper in 2017², which concluded that “… sperm counts whether measured by SC or TSC declined significantly among men from North America, Europe and Australia during 1973–2011, with a 50–60% decline among men unselected by fertility, with no evidence of a ‘leveling off’ in recent years.” (SC is sperm concentration, and TSC is total sperm count).

That's pretty scary. If we were to take this to its logical conclusion, the end result could be catastrophic for humanity.

So, why is this happening? According to the Infertility Centre of St Louis³, “The human male is known to have the worst sperm count of any mammalian species, with the exception of the gorilla, possibly because the fragile location of these sperm production genes lies on the Y chromosome. The process of recombination "repairs" chromosomes. Since genes on the Y do not recombine, the chromosome degenerates. Thus, the Y chromosome — which makes the male a male — deteriorates with each succeeding generation. It is not a very safe place for sperm production genes.”

There's plenty of evidence, also, that lifestyle choices of parents, such as obesity and smoking, can have a serious adverse effect the offspring's fertility.

If men’s biological fertility is declining, what about women? Information on this is hard to find. There is evidence that the number of children born through IVF is increasing significantly. This, however, could represent trends in lifestyle choices, or other factors. Whether it has anything to do with trends in the biological fertility of women is unclear.

In today's society, the majority of people are fertile, and the infertile are usually thought of as the unlucky ones, but will that change? Fifty generations from now, will we be frantically trying to find ways to secure the future of the human race?

What will society look like if fertility becomes a rarity? Will fertile people still be considered lucky when the rest of society depends on them to propagate the species? In such a scenario, would a fertile person be allowed to choose not to have children? How would genetic diversity be maintained to avoid the birth defects which result from inbreeding? How would the population be maintained?

In today's society most of us think we’re free, but are we really? We are subject to a profusion of laws, most of which we don't know about and wouldn't understand if we did. Further, we are subject to social pressures and taboos which greatly influence every aspect of our lives. Still, most of us are born “free”, and spend most of our lives believing ourselves to be so.

But what if some of us were born with a biological attribute that made us a rarity? Something with a special value to society that would result in people treating as a resource; a commodity. Something to trade in. If fertility were rare, would those lucky few be the victims or the benefactors of this accident of birth?

Would they be treated as childbearing royalty or breeding slaves? Would they be able to choose a partner because they loved them, or would they be forced into breeding with carefully selected, genetically compatible partners? Would their lives be dominated by social pressures or statutory rules? Would surrogacy be a choice, a lucrative contract between fertile people and their clients, or would it be state controlled?

Would there be a black market; a criminal underworld, trading in the fertility of the few? Would supporting industries spring up? How about services for fertile people who wish to escape the bonds of their condition?

These questions are not easy to answer. At present, how society might respond to such changes is no more than speculation. Nonetheless, if and when it comes, we will have to respond, one way or another.

However we set about tackling the problems posed by increasing infertility, conflict is bound to arise. People with differing beliefs and value systems will also have differing ideas on how to deal with the problem. Whatever solution is chosen, there will inevitably be those who don't accept it.

Would that lead to social unrest? Quite possibly. Large scale differences of public opinion on emotive subjects often do. Will it change the face of politics? The world of politics is there to serve the greater social interest (or so it should be), and what greater interest than the survival of the species?

We don't really know how long it will take for dwindling fertility to become a threat to the future of humankind, or indeed, whether it ever will, but one thing is clear. The trend towards diminished fertility raises some difficult social questions.

For now, we have to rely on works of speculative fiction, such as An Accident of Birth, for answers to these questions.

NOTE: This is an update to an article first published on this blog in 2012.

References

[1] Carlsen E, Giwercman A, Keiding N, Skakkebaek NE. Evidence for decreasing quality of semen during past 50 years. BMJ. 1992 Sep 12;305(6854):609-13. doi: 10.1136/bmj.305.6854.609. PMID: 1393072; PMCID: PMC1883354.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1883354/

[2] Levine H, Jørgensen N, Martino-Andrade A, Mendiola J, Weksler-Derri D, Mindlis I, Pinotti R, Swan SH. Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2017 Nov 1;23(6):646-659. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmx022. PMID: 28981654; PMCID: PMC6455044.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6455044/

[3] http://www.infertile.com/infertility-treatments/millennium.htm

Book Review: At The Sign of The Orrery.

2022-02-08T07:04:00.000-08:00

At the Sign of the Orrery: The Origins of the Firm Cooke, Troughton & Simms, Ltd.

by E. Wilfred Taylor and J. Simms Wilson

The publication date is not given in the book. However, the latest events referred to in the text were in 1959, predating the renaming of the firm to Vickers in 1962. The book is believed to have been published either shortly after the events of 1959, or during the 1960s.

About the authors: James Simms Wilson was Managing Director, and later Joint Managing Director of Cooke, Troughton and Simms from 1924 until his retirement in 1956. Edward Wilfred Taylor joined the firm when he left school, and retired as Joint Managing Director also in 1956. For more information about the Simms family, and Edward Wilfred Taylor, see Reference 1.

Note: Since the current copyright status of this book and its images is not known, I have only used low resolution reproductions of the images.

At the Sign of the Orrery gives details of the careers of a number of mathematical instrument makers. These are: John Worgan, John Rowley, Thomas Wright, Benjamin Cole – father and son, and the three founding families of Cooke, Troughton and Simms.

The connection between the earlier makers, according to the authors, was that they had the sign of The Orrery in their trading address – hence the title. There is the suggestion that the addresses, although varying in name, are the same shop. The authors do, however, state: ‘Our story opens in a little shop “Under the Dial of St. Dunstan’s Church in Fleet Street, London’ in the year 1688, and two of the connecting links being of a circumstantial character can hardly be regarded as proved. Thereafter to the present day every link in the chain can be supported by evidence’.

Thee mathematical instrument makers are:

John Worgan^2,3,5#451: Mathematical instrument maker, trading Under the Dial of St. Dunstan’s Church, Fleet Street, London, and specialising in surveying instruments and dials. He was freed of the Grocers’ Company in 1682, and records place him working in Fleet Street between 1685 and at least 1700, as well as Fetter Lane in 1693. A Gunther’s quadrant made by John Worgan is in the Science Museum, London. Other examples of his work include compass dials and circumferentors. According to the authors, his premises were taken over by John Rowley. However, while this is confirmed in Reference 3, some doubt is cast by References 2 and 5 since, according to a print dated 1737, there were six or seven shops Under St. Dunstan’s Church, of which the westernmost shop was immediately under the Dial.

John Rowley^1,2,5#507: Mathematical instrument maker of London. He was freed of the Broderers’ Company in 1690, and worked in Threadneedle Street, London until 1702 when he is recorded as trading at The Globe, Under St. Dunstan’s Church, Fleet Street. This, according to the authors, is likely to be the same address as Under the Dial of St. Dunstan’s Church, previously vacated by John Worgan. Instruments bearing John Rowley’s name include drawing instruments, pocket dials, artillery scales, dialling spheres, Gunther’s quadrants, globes, planetaria, levels, sextants, and a standard length. He also played a major role in the development of planetary system models, known as orreries. Many instruments bearing John Rowley’s name were to be found in the collection of Charles Boyle, fourth Earl of Orrery (1676-1731), which he bequeathed to Christ Church, Oxford. John Rowley was succeeded in business by his ex-apprentice and employee Thomas Wright.

Thomas Wright^1,2,6#143: Mathematical instrument maker of London. He served his apprenticeship with John Rowley, and was freed of the Broderers’ Company in 1715. He started his career working for Rowley, and by 1720 he was trading at the Orrery and Globe, Fleet Street, having succeeded John Rowley in business. According to the authors ‘In the midsummer quarter of 1718 Wright moved to what later became No. 136 Fleet Street, opposite Water Lane, where he continued to work under the sign of the Orrery and Globe until his retirement in favour of Benjamin Cole in 1748…’ According to Reference 2, his address in 1747 was Orrery & Globe next the Globe & Marlborough Head Tavern in Fleet Street. It is entirely possible, and indeed likely, that The Globe, the address occupied by John Rowley’s business, was renamed Orrery & Globe following Rowley’s involvement in the development of orreries, and the existence of many of his instruments in the Earl of Orrery’s collection. Thomas Wright was succeeded in business by his employee, Benjamin Cole.

Benjamin Cole^{1,2,5#492,6#26,7}: This section of the book talks about the father and son, referred to as Benjamin Cole (I) and Benjamin Cole (II) in Reference 1. Benjamin Cole (I) was a mathematical, philosophical and optical instrument maker. He served his apprenticeship with William Cade, and was freed of the Merchant Taylors’ Company in 1719. He worked for Thomas Wright, whom he succeeded in business. He traded at several addresses in London, including The Grand Orrery, Poppings Court, Fleet Street, and The Orrery, next to the Globe Tavern, Fleet Street. His son, Benjamin Cole (II) served his apprenticeship with Benjamin (I), after which they worked together as Cole and Son. Benjamin (II) continued the business under his own name following the death of his father, trading at The Orrery, next to the Globe Tavern, 136 Fleet Street. Note the introduction of a street number. Benjamin Cole (II) was succeeded in business by John Troughton.

John Troughton^1,2,3,4 (c1739-1807) served his apprenticeship with his uncle, also named John Troughton, and was freed of the Grocers’ Company in 1764. Among his own apprentices was his brother, Edward Troughton. They traded together as J&E Troughton, and in 1782 John purchased the business of Benjamin Cole (II), and began to trade from the same address At the Sign of the Orrery, 136 Fleet Street.

The book continues with the stories and businesses of the families of the three founders of the firms that eventually merged to become Cooke, Troughton and Simms – Edward Troughton^1,2,3,4,7 (1753-1835), William Simms^1,2,4,6#1430 (1793-1860), and Thomas Cooke^1,4,6#1515,7 (1807-1868).

As mentioned earlier, not all of the claims or implications made in At the Sign of the Orrery are verifiable. By way of correction, or errata, Anita McConnell⁴ points out there is not a proven connection between either John Worgan or John Rowley and the Troughtons. Also that the claim on p27 that the King of Denmark awarded a ‘Special Gold Medal’ to Edward Troughton has not been verified. And finally she points out that William Simms was not apprenticed to Bennett, as stated on p31.

For an account of the lives and careers of the instrument makers mentioned in this article, and many more, please see Reference 1.

References:

1: Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers. Tony Benson. 2021.

2: Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851. Gloria Clifton. Zwemmer, London 1995.

3: Mathematical Instrument Makers in the Grocers’ Company 1688-1800. Joyce Brown. Science Museum, London 1979.

4: Instrument Makers to the World: A History of Cooke, Troughton & Simms. Anita McConnell. William Sessions Ltd., York, England for University of York 1992.

5: The Mathematical Practitioners of Tudor and Stuart England 1485-1714. E.G.R. Taylor. Cambridge 1954.

6: The Mathematical Practitioners of Hanoverian England 1714-1840. E.G.R. Taylor. Cambridge 1966.

7: Making Scientific Instruments in the Industrial Revolution. A.D. Morrison-Low. Routledge 2016.

Francesca’s Bookshelf: The Common Muse: An Anthology of Popular British Ballad Poetry XVth – XXth Centuries

2021-12-09T08:14:00.001-08:00

You may remember from my earlier blog posts that Francesca loves to collect old books of ballads and songs. In fact, with all the necessities of life taken care of, and book collecting as her only real hobby, it’s all she has to spend her allowance on. It’s unsurprising that her collection contains numerous old and very interesting books.

Today, Francesca is browsing The Common Muse: An Anthology of Popular British Ballad Poetry XVth – XXth Centuries. Edited by V. de Sola Pinto & A.E. Rodway. This first edition was published by Chatto & Windus, London in 1957. The objective of the editors was given on the front flyleaf of the dustjacket. The dustjacket is missing from many copies of this book, so I have reproduced the editors’ objectives below for you (click to enlarge it). From this, you would expect the book to contain a wealth of old popular poetry, songs and ballads, and you would not be disappointed.

There is a 29-page introduction, which begins with the words: ‘Though many of our greatest poets knew, used and imitated street songs and ballads, in modern times it is mainly the political and social historians and antiquaries who have so far paid serious attention to them. Literary critics and historians dismiss them as “doggerel” or “journalism in verse”. What was good enough for Shakespeare, apparently, is no longer good enough for us.’

The introduction goes on to give a critical analysis of the genre of songs and ballads in poetry from mediaeval times to the 20th century. The authors discuss varying perceptions of the literary and moral value of these works, at the same time highlighting the wide range of subject and style, from bawdy to romantic, from historical to social commentary. They acknowledge that while the preservation of mediaeval verse can be attributed to broadsheet¹ publications, they also owe a debt to ‘folk memory’, since the earliest songs and ballads were composed and sung by minstrels, many of them itinerant, and passed on by word of mouth rather than printing. The critical analysis is an engaging read for anyone with an interest in this kind of poetry.

Following the introduction, the book is structured in two parts. Part I: General has subsections Historical; Social Criticism; Manners and Fashions; Soldiers, Sailors, Highwaymen and Poachers; Portents and Prodigies; Crime and Punishment; Religion. Part II: Amatory has subsections Rural; Urban; Vocational; Clerical; Marital; Wise and Foolish Virgins. As is apparent, this collection contains a rich variety of interesting songs and ballads. Each subsection is prefaced by a delightful woodblock print, and contains a number of songs or ballads.

After browsing for a while, Francesca finds herself reading a song called Don’t Be Foolish Pray.

Young Hodge met Mog the miller’s maid
Who long his suite denied,
And half inclined and half afraid,
Scratched his rough head and cried:-
‘Now Molly while I love you so,
Why still our joys delay,
Come dang it, to the parson go,
And don’t be foolish pray.’

Sweet Moggy with an artful blush
That sham’d the rose’s hue,
Looked round, and cried to Hodge ‘hush hush
Speak softly, softly do:
We shall be overheard I know,
The mill don’t work to day
Be quiet, Hodge my hand let go,
Now don’t be foolish pray.’

Poor Hodge, thus chid, at a stand,
And cried,-‘Well then, good bye,
I’se go to give to Sue my hand,
Since thee do cast off I.’
‘Me cast you off’, cries Moggy ‘no,
The mill don’t work to day;
And so dear Hodge, to church let’s go,
And don’t be foolish pray.’

Francesca rather likes the idea of a blush that shames the rose’s hue, but she’s not quite sure of the wisdom behind Molly’s initial refusal of Hodge’s hand. Perhaps Molly is toying with him. Would Francesca do such a thing herself? She doesn’t really want to have to answer that question.

The song was recorded by the brilliant folk-singer/guitarist Nic Jones on his album Ballads and Songs in 1970. If you’re not familiar with his work I highly recommend you get the album for this, and the other wonderful songs and ballads on it. As a tune for this song he used a part of the tune The Merry Merry Milkmaids from The Dancing Master by John Playford (published in a number of editions from 1651 to about 1728). He also altered the words a little to scan with the tune.

In the sleeve notes for Ballads and Songs, Nic Jones wrote, ‘The printed broadsides are often accused of stunting the growth of folksongs and of solidifying the words by submitting them to print. True as this is in many cases, they also created and diffused a great many songs which possess a deal of charm in themselves. Don’t you be foolish pray is a good example of this, probably created by a townsman with his idealised view of rural life. In many instances, songs such as this appealed very strongly to the country singers and were allotted high positions in their repertories.’

1: According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the words broadsheet and broadside both refer to a large sheet of paper printed on one side only. These were used to publish ballads and songs, as well as news items and advertisements, and sold by street vendors, particularly in the Elizabethan age, but continuing until the nineteenth century.

Now Available - Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers

2021-04-27T05:52:00.002-07:00

Brass and Glass

Optical Instruments and their Makers

*** Now available in paperback ***

Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and their Makers is an encyclopaedia of optical instruments, and the individuals and companies, both historical and contemporary, who have made them. It contains over 2000 alphabetical entries, including:

Optical instrument makers and brands
Telescopes
Binoculars
Microscopes
Cameras

Navigation instruments
Surveying instruments
Military optical ordnance
Laboratory & educational instruments
Optical terminology

There are appendices containing information on selected related subjects such as optical glass and eyepiece designs.

The inspiration for the book came from my interests in stargazing, photography, microscopy and bird-watching. These involve using telescopes, microscopes, binoculars and cameras, and soon I began to take an interest in classic and vintage optical instruments. I found the lack of reference material frustrating - I would see an interesting looking vintage telescope at auction, but to find out more about the maker I would have to buy extraordinarily expensive reference books, many of which are out of print. Further, the information I sought was frequently scattered around multiple sources, and time-consuming to collate. I wanted an affordable, simple, encyclopaedic reference in which I could find the name of the maker or optical instrument and a concise, but informative article about them. This book is my attempt to remedy that gap in the literature.

Since the invention of the telescope and the microscope in the early seventeenth cetury there have been countless makers of optical instruments. It would be impossible to include an entry for every one of them. However, most makers the general reader will encounter are currently included, and new entries will be added in future editions.

A draft table of contents for the first edition may be found here (opens in a new tab).

Much of the content of Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and their Makers relates to instrument makers or organisations of the past. However, many are still in business, or have been absorbed into other businesses which are still trading. A list of current websites of, or relating to some of the companies and organisations which appear in the book may be found here (opens in a new tab).

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

Coming Soon - Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and their Makers

2020-11-22T09:12:00.004-08:00

Brass and Glass

Optical Instruments and their Makers

***COMING SOON ***

Optical instrument makers and brands
Telescopes
Binoculars
Microscopes
Cameras

Navigation instruments
Surveying instruments
Military optical ordnance
Laboratory & educational instruments
Optical terminology

A draft table of contents for the first edition may be found here (opens in a new tab).

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

Optical Instruments and Their Makers

2020-02-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

It’s been a while since I’ve updated you on my work in progress, so here goes: It’s non-fiction, and the title is Brass & Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers.

The inspiration for the book came from my interests in stargazing, photography, microscopy and bird-watching. These involve using telescopes, microscopes, binoculars and cameras, and soon I began to take an interest in classic and vintage optical instruments. I found the lack of reference material frustrating - I would see an interesting looking vintage telescope at auction, but to find out more about the maker I would have to buy extraordinarily expensive reference books, many of which are out of print. Further, the information I sought was frequently scattered around multiple sources, and time-consuming to collate. I wanted an affordable, simple, encyclopaedic reference in which I could find the name of the maker or optical instrument and a concise, but informative article about them. This book is my attempt to remedy that gap in the literature.

It’s up to over 1700 entries now, and I’m working with several subject-matter experts to get critique feedback on the content. That will lead to a new raft of updates and additions then, when that’s complete, hopefully it’ll be close to being ready for publication.

Watch this space...

Using Crossed Polarising Filters on a Conventional Microscope

2020-02-13T02:10:00.000-08:00

A short while ago I posted an article about sugar crystals imaged in a microscope with crossed polarising filters. I promised to show the setup I used to achieve this, so here we are.

What you see here is a Charles Baker microscope with a Cooke microscope lamp providing Köhler Illumination. (The link is to my previous article explaining Köhler Illumination). I've implemented the crossed polarisation very simply.

I have a small polarising sheet that I have cut into two two-inch squares.

I use one of the squares in a filter slot in the microscope light.

And I place the other over the microscope slide, but under the objective lens. This sheet of polarising filter I rotate, while viewing through the microscope, until I see the best contrast.

And the result... I get to see these wonderfully colourful renditions of the crystalline structure of the sugar (see my earlier post).

A microscope used with crossed polarising filters is sometimes referred to as a polariscope.

Polariscope

In general, a polariscope is an optical inspection device used to detect internal stresses in glass and other transparent materials such as plastics, synthetic resins, crystalline materials, etc. A polariscope is composed chiefly of a light source and two crossed polarised lenses. Material to be examined is placed between the two polariscope lenses and viewed through the lens opposite the light source lens. It is commonly used in detecting the optical properties of gemstones.

Köhler Illumination

2020-02-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

Köhler Illumination is a form of microscope sample illumination, invented by August Köhler, (see below), that provides even light across the field of view, and a light cone that matches the numerical aperture of the objective lens. It is suitable for either viewing or photography. It normally consists of a collector lens near the light source, together with a field iris, and a sub-stage condenser with a condenser iris. The focus of both the collector and condenser lenses is adjustable, as is the aperture of each of the irises.

The Cooke microscope light you see here has both an adjustable collector lens (the big lever pointing straight up), and an adjustable field iris (the small lever you see further to the right). You can click on the image to see it enlarged.

It also has a knob to adjust how bright the light is, and slots where filters can be inserted. This particular model of light is designed by Cooke to be used with a Cooke microscope, but it can easily be used with any conventional microscope.

The microscope I've shown in the picture above is by Charles Baker. It has a sub-stage condenser and iris, and a sub-stage mirror. The mirror has a plane face and a curved face. The plane face of the mirror is used in conjunction with Köhler Illumination, since the focusing of the illuminating light is achieved by the collector lens and the sub-stage condenser.

Using Köhler Illumination

The collector lens is focused to form an image of the light source in the plane of the sub-stage condenser iris. The condenser lens is focused to form an image of the field iris in the sample plane. The two irises are adjusted to provide the required light cone. Thus, when the sample is in focus the image of the light source is completely de-focused, resulting in even illumination.

Some microscopes have built-in Köhler illumination. In this case, the principle is the same, but the practicalities of the adjustments may be different.

August Köhler

August Köhler, (1866-1948), was a German scientist who made several innovations in microscopy. He is best known for his invention of Köhler Illumination in 1893. In 1900 he began to work for Carl Zeiss, where he continued to work until 1945, three years before his death.

Sugar Crystals Viewed in Polarised Light

2019-12-05T07:10:00.002-08:00

Nature produces some amazing and beautiful sights. We only have to watch the well-produced nature programmes to see this. Sometimes, however, we need optical instruments to help us see these wonders.

In this case I've used a microscope to look at simple sugar crystals. The field of view is about 1.05mm by 1.59mm, and the sugar is viewed through crossed polarising filters.

I prepared the microscope slide for this rather simply. It is certainly not elegant, nor is it in any way a professional looking slide - but it works. I dissolved sugar in water until no more would dissolve. I then dripped a small amount onto the slide and waited for it to dry. I built up a rectangular trough around it using some of my wife's nail varnish, and the last coat I used to build up the trough also cemented the cover-slip into place. Simple.

I will do a another post to show the equipment setup I used for this but, in brief, it was a vintage Charles Baker microscope, with Köhler Illumination using a Cooke microscope light and two polarising filters.

For now I just wanted to share the pictures with you in the hope you will enjoy viewing them.

A Walk Around Maidstone – Rootes and the Mill Pond

2019-11-27T09:22:00.001-08:00

I recently took a stroll around Maidstone, looking for some of the old bits that had not been bulldozed in the name of progress. I found myself looking at the old Rootes showroom, now earmarked for redevelopment into yet more housing. I first knew Maidstone when my family moved to a nearby village at the beginning of the 1960s, and I well remember Rootes Group and their showroom here by the River Len.

The Rootes motor business dates back to 1897 in Maidstone, and in 1913 the founder’s son, William, formed his own independent motor sales company in Hawkhurst, also repairing and making parts for aircraft engines. William bought his father’s Maidstone business in 1917, later expanding nationally to encompass the motor manufacturers Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam, Talbot, Commer and Karrier, as well as the Maidstone motor manufacturer Tillings-Stevens. It was here in Maidstone that the showroom, photographed above, was built for Rootes by the architectural firm Howard and Souster in 1937/8.

The building overlooks the mill pond on the river Len, once serving the Corn Mill at its downstream end where the modern road bridge is built over the top of a mediaeval mulit-span bridge on Mill Street. Here you see the bridge pictured from the west where the mediaeval stone arches can still be seen under the modern cantilevered road bridge. When I took this photograph there was a pied wagtail flying in and out of the dark tunnels under the arches.

Turning my back on the Mill Street bridge I get this view of the river Len flowing towards the Medway.

Crossing into the gardens of the Archbishop’s Palace, I see the river Len again, further downstream, now only metres away from where it joins the Medway.

Available Now - Galactic Alliance: Betrayal

2018-05-04T03:22:00.000-07:00

Today is the big day! Galactic Alliance: Betrayal is now available on Kindle and ePub from your favourite online bookstore.

The Galactic Alliance has brought advanced technology and trade to Earth. The governments of Earth see them as a friend – why invest in global defences when we have the Galactic Alliance as an ally?

Daniel thinks they're wrong. Nobody, not even Ruth, believes him when he stumbles upon a Galactic Alliance plot to take over Earth and subject humanity to brutal, dehumanising slavery.

Separated from Ruth by Vorth astro-pirates, Daniel is torn between trying to warn sceptical Earth governments and finding Ruth. The astro-pirates, meanwhile, discover that Ruth is not the pushover they expect her to be.

Pursued across the galaxy by hostile aliens, Daniel confronts the Galactic Alliance, plunging himself and Ruth into the heart of the biggest conflict in Earth’s history.

In our galaxy of alien worlds and species it is not always easy to tell right from wrong, or good from bad. Taking on the seemingly invincible might of the Galactic Alliance is more than any sane person would consider, yet it is necessary. If they have their way, human life on Earth will be reduced to a subclass of slaves to a brutal alien species.

This is a story of astro-pirates, love, treachery and fear. You will visit worlds you have never seen before, and meet aliens, good and bad, who all have a part to play in the battle for freedom.

Cover Reveal - Galactic Alliance: Betrayal

2018-04-16T01:57:00.000-07:00

Here it is - the cover for my forthcoming book, Galactic Alliance: Betrayal. In my last post I promised I'd show you the cover, so without further ado:

Daniel thinks they're wrong. Nobody, not even Ruth, believes him when he stumbles upon a Galactic Alliance plot to take over Earth and subject humanity to brutal, dehumanising slavery.

Separated from Ruth by Vorth astro-pirates, Daniel is torn between trying to warn sceptical Earth governments and finding Ruth. The astro-pirates, meanwhile, discover that Ruth is not the pushover they expect her to be.

Pursued across the galaxy by hostile aliens, Daniel confronts the Galactic Alliance, plunging himself and Ruth into the heart of the biggest conflict in Earth’s history.

The release date will be Friday 4th May, and it will be available on Kindle and ePub. You will be able to get the ePub from all the usual sellers, including Nook, Kobo and others.

There’s life in the old boy yet

2018-02-28T09:19:00.000-08:00

Hello again, all! I just looked at the date of my last post, and it’s been three years. I may have been absent from the world of blogging, but I haven’t been idle. I’m currently putting the finishing touches to my latest novel, Galactic Alliance: Betrayal. It’s five years since An Accident of Birth was published, and in that time I’ve written a science fiction space opera story that I hope you will enjoy.

What’s it about? I hear you ask. Here’s the blurb from the back cover:

Daniel thinks they're wrong. Nobody, not even Ruth, believes him when he stumbles upon a Galactic Alliance plot to take over Earth and subject humanity to brutal, dehumanising slavery.

Pursued across the galaxy by hostile aliens, Daniel confronts the Galactic Alliance, plunging himself and Ruth into the heart of the biggest conflict in Earth’s history.

I hope that whets your appetite. If you like the sound of it, just wait ’till you see the cover. I’m planning to do a cover reveal very soon, and publication will follow shortly after that.

So, here I am, back from my blogging hiatus, and raring to go. Watch this space for a peek at the cover.

Book Review: The Day Without Yesterday by Stuart Clark

2015-12-27T07:38:00.001-08:00

Once we recognise our limits, we can leap beyond them.

This is the third in Stuart Clark's trilogy, including The Sky'sDark Labyrinth, and The Sensorium of God. Each takes a pivotal moment in the evolution of science and dramatises it in fiction.

From The Back Cover

Berlin, 1914. Europe is marching blindly into war and the city is a storm of nationalist fervour and army recruitment.

Albert Einstein anticipates the carnage to come when his university colleagues begin to work on poison gas to 'shorten the war'.

Increasingly isolated, he finds that few people entertain his outlandish new way of understanding the universe, and he can't quite pull the mathematics together.

He needs hard evidence to prove his vision, but the man he was relying on to help him is caught by the outbreak of hostilities and is now facing execution.

Meanwhile, in the mud-soaked trenches of the Western Front, unbeknownst to Einstein, a devoutly religious Belgian called Georges Lemaître has the mathematical ability to help bring his new theory to a triumphant conclusion. But as the German war machine advances, Lemaître's survival looks increasingly unlikely…

The Day Without Yesterday by Stuart Clark

This is an excellent book, and a fitting conclusion to the Sky's Dark Labyrinth trilogy.

With this book, Dr. Stuart Clark has taken on a huge challenge. We all know something of Albert Einstein, and while many readers may not know much about his personal life, we all have a pretty good idea that he was one of, if not the, most influential scientist in modern times. The advances he brought about in science have made him universally admired and respected. But what was he like as a person? What sort of a life did he lead?

These are the questions Dr. Clark sets about answering in this book. The Day Without Yesterday is the story of Einstein's life around the time of the First World War, and tells of his family life, his relationship with other members of the scientific community, and the impact on himself and others of his ground-breaking theories.

The Day Without Yesterday is clearly well researched, and sensitively written by an author who is himself a scientist. He brings Einstein and those around him to life, and furnishes us with a taste of Einstein, both at his best and at his worst.

So, going back to my questions: What was he like as a person? What sort of a life did he lead? If you read this immensely enjoyable book, you'll find out.

About Dr. Stuart Clark, from his website:

Image courtesy: Simon Wallace,
www.meltingpotpictures.co.uk

Stuart Clark is a widely read astronomy journalist. His career is devoted to presenting the complex world of astronomy to the general public. Stuart holds a first class honours degree and a PhD in astrophysics. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a former Vice Chair of the Association of British Science Writers. On 9 August 2000, UK daily newspaper The Independent placed him alongside Stephen Hawking and the Astronomer Royal, Professor Sir Martin Rees, as one of the ‘stars’ of British astrophysics teaching.

Currently he divides his time between writing books and, in his capacity of cosmology consultant, writing articles for New Scientist. He is a consultant and writes for the European Space Agency where he was Senior Editor for Space Science for some time. Over the years Stuart has written for amongst others: BBC Sky at Night, BBC Focus, The Times, The Guardian, The Economist, The Times Higher Education Supplement, Daily Express, Astronomy Now, Sky and Telescope and Astronomy. He has written text for an issue of stamps for the Royal Mail. He writes an online blog for the Guardian called Across the Universe, read all around the world.

Stuart Clark's website is www.stuartclark.com, where you will find more information about his writing, fiction and non-fiction, his journalism and much more.

Book Review - 2016 An Astronomical Year (UK Edition)

2015-07-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

2016 An Astronomical Year (UK Edition) – A Reference Guide to 365 Nights of Astronomy

Who doesn't love to gaze at the sky on a clear night? Whether you have a telescope, binoculars, or are just using your naked eye, there is always plenty to see when the clouds clear. The sky not only changes from hour to hour as the Earth rotates, but from day to day and month to month as the Earth works its way around the Sun. What's not so easy is knowing what to expect to see on any particular day.

That's where 2016 An Astronomical Year comes in. It is essentially a day-by-day calender of astronomical events, what to see and whether to look for it in the evening sky or the pre-dawn sky. Here, I'm reviewing the UK Kindle edition. There is also a US edition for those of you who live across the pond from here. There's some useful introductory information about how to use the guide, and an excellent glossary.

The main body of the book is a monthly guide, giving an in-depth account of what to see during the month. This includes a sky diagram; naked eye highlights; lunar phases; pre-dawn planets and asteroids; what's not visible; evening planets & asteroids; meteor showers; constellations; bright stars; deep sky objects.

Within each month's guide there's also a day-by-day account of events to see. Naked eye objects are highlighted for easy reference, and there are plenty of excellent graphics and images to help with identification of objects.

All in all, my conclusion is that this is an excellent book, and it's 'the book I've wanted all along'. A go-to reference guide for beginner or experienced sky-gazer.

It may seem a little early to be thinking of the night sky in 2016, but get it now, because when the time comes, this will be the guide to own. Meanwhile, how about getting 2015 An Astronomical Guide – A Reference Guide to 365 Nights of Astronomy, also by Richard J Bartlett. You know you want to…

The DARPA Robotics Challenge Final, 2015

2015-06-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.theroboticschallenge.org/

The Final of the DARPA Robotics Challenge took place on June 5th and 6th - the final challenges of the competition were completed yesterday, and spectators were treated to a mixture of exciting robotic action and a lot of waiting around.

It's certainly true to say that robots have come a long way in the last few years, and the challenge, which took place in LA, California, gave people a chance to see some of the latest, most sophisticated robot machines to date.

25 teams from all over the world qualified for the finals, and at the end of two days of gruelling challenges, the South Korean team, Team Kaist, took victory.

In the Team Kaist feature video, Jung Woo Heo tells us a little about the team's entry to this year's competition.

One thing that particularly interested me was that many of the entrants were humaniod bipeds. This is a supremely challenging configuration. We humans make it look easy, but the control needed is ridiculously complex. The robots have to keep their balance while they walk, navigate uneven terrain, climb in and out of a vehicle, and perform the other challenges, If you watch some of the videos on the DARPA Robotics Challenge website, it'll soon become clear just how challenging that is.

Congratulations to all the teams who brought their innovative work to the competition, and particularly, congratulations to Team Kaist for their well-deserved win.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the next decades will bring in advancing this technology.