The Finsbury Technical College Conversazione

Abstract

THE annual conversazione given by the students of the above College as the closing event of the session came off on Friday evening, July 2, and proved in every way a success. The large number of interesting objects brought together for exhibition certainly speaks well for the activity of the various committees which were intrusted with the work of organisation, and at the same time indicates how widely spread is the interest shown in the welfare of the College by the different firms of manufacturers who contributed to the exhibition. The electrical department exhibited in action most of the apparatus used for educational purposes in the College. In this department also were exhibits of apparatus and models by Messrs. Woodhouse and Rawson, the Electric Apparatus Company, Messrs. Mayfield's vacuum-tubes, and other electrical and physical apparatus made by this firm. The exhibits in the chemical department were especially numerous and representative of chemical technology in most of its branches. In the way of apparatus Messrs. Cetti, of Brooke Street, exhibited barometers, thermometers, vacuum-tubes, &c.; Messrs. Townson and Mercer showed a new carbonic acid generator, Schutzenbefger's gas apparatus, filter pumps, nickel crucibles and basins, Pasteur flasks, inland revenue stills, Abel's petroleum testing apparatus, &c.; and Mr. B. Redwood lent a set of viscometers. Fine chemicals were exhibited by Messrs. Hopkin and Williams, and a splendid set of alkaloids and other products by Messrs. Howard of Stratford. Messrs. Pontifex and Wood exhibited sets of pigments and the materials used in their manufacture, Mr. C. Richardson a set of specimens illustrating the manufacture of cements, Mr. Ashley samples of English and foreign lubricating oils, and Messrs. J. and L. Cripps the materials and finished products representing the, manufacture of size, glue, and gelatine. Glass manufacture was represented by a set of tools and specimens from the Whitefriars glass-works (Messrs. Powell) Messrs. Field showed a fine series of waxes and other materials used in candle-making, and a good exhibition was made also by Price's Patent Candle Company. The manufacture of soap was illustrated by a very complet set of specimens contributed from Messrs. E. Rider Cook's works at Bow and by Messrs. Knight, &c. Cotton seec and its products were shown by Messrs. W. and W. H Stead of Blackwall and Liverpool. The specimens and diagrams sent by Gaskell, Deacon, and Co., of Widnes gave an excellent idea of the alkali manufacture in thi country.