An autonomous department of the Centre for Electrical Philosophy
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Retrospection
This is as good a time as any to record some of the Museum's earlier exhibits. Starting with Hooke's Toaster. Other archival items will follow in due course and according to the whim of our Documentation Manager.
Thanks for the comment. I'm surprised anyone reads this.
The title is a nod to the 17th century British physicist Robert Hooke who studied springs and other forms of elasticity and gave us Hooke's Law. Ask Wiki if you want to know more.
But as for what happened to him - I don't know but I'm sure he didn't die from sticking things into toasters.
Oh, THAT Hooke. Very much into microscopes, hairsprings, and cork. Also insects, feathers, and fish scales. He was said to be a notably quarrelsome fellow who delighted in controversy and at one point drove Isaac Newton to a nervous breakdown. He died in 1703, aged 67. Hooke, not Newton. Newton, who was seven years Hooke's junior, lived on for 24 more years, giving him time to arrange for Hooke's portrait to be whipped off the wall at the Royal Society. That's what you get for making enemies and dying young.
Established under the aegis of the Centre for Electrical Philosophy, the Museum's primary role is to collect, develop and occasionally display works that illustrate or are otherwise relevant to the concepts, principles and interests of the Centre, or the personal research projects of the Director.
The museum for several years offered a program of temporary or seasonal exhibits within the limited public display facilities of the Centre at the Nicholas Building. However, as noted in earlier postings, programs were suspended in 2010. It is hoped to restore all facilities once new premises can be secured.
For further information you are invited to email the director.
Finding the Museum
It is regretted that the extended collection, archives and workshop are not currently accessible to the public. It is hoped to restore all facilities once new premises can be secured.
Historical note: the Museum's original site was on the 6th floor of the Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston St, Melbourne, Australia. One could enter via Cathedral Arcade at the corner of Swanston St and Flinders Lane, and be elevated to the 6th floor by Dimitri, Joan or Tim, or even take one's chances in the automatic lift. Except when Mr Otis regretted, then one had to use the stairs.
5 comments:
I like your toaster.
What happened to Hooke?
Thanks for the comment. I'm surprised anyone reads this.
The title is a nod to the 17th
century British physicist Robert Hooke who studied springs and other forms of elasticity and gave us Hooke's Law. Ask Wiki if you want to know more.
But as for what happened to him - I don't know but I'm sure he didn't die from sticking things into toasters.
- Jim
Oh, THAT Hooke. Very much into microscopes, hairsprings, and cork. Also insects, feathers, and fish scales. He was said to be a notably quarrelsome fellow who delighted in controversy and at one point drove Isaac Newton to a nervous breakdown. He died in 1703, aged 67. Hooke, not Newton. Newton, who was seven years Hooke's junior, lived on for 24 more years, giving him time to arrange for Hooke's portrait to be whipped off the wall at the Royal Society. That's what you get for making enemies and dying young.
Anyway: The toaster connection is--?
... is that those things sticking out are springs. OK so web pictures aren't very high-res.
That last entry, about the alleged springs being toasted, wasn't mine. Somebody's swiped my identity!
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