Umbrella frame made by P.D. Radford, Manchester and used by John Dalton, c.1830. The umbrella has a bamboo stem and the spokes are of wood, possibly ash.

This is the frame for an umbrella thought to have been owned and used by John Dalton. John Dalton was one of Manchester's most famous scientists and is best known for his atomic theory of 1805. He was a famous and respected scientist in Manchester during his lifetime and had a strong assocition with the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. He joined the society in 1793 and remained a member (inluding a long period as President) for the rest of his life. On his death, personal possessions including this umbrella were preserved by the society and were later donated to the museum.