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Great Western Warehouse

Explore the beginnings of a revolution. The world's first railway warehouse is home to objects telling the story of Manchester's industrial innovations, scientific discoveries and ideas that changed the world.

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Rolls-Royce 10 hp, two cylinder motor car

Road Transport

1905

Replica of the 'Baby' or SSEM computer

Computing & Data Processing

1998

Crystal radio receiver

Radio Communication

c.1923

Five wooden molecular model balls

Scientific Instruments & Research

c. 1810

Type C crystal radio receiver

Radio Communication

c.1925

S. G. Brown radio headphones

Radio Communication

c.1935

Tape dispenser and Scotch sticky tape

Scientific Instruments & Research

2000-2004

Laboratory coat worn by Geoff Tootill

Computing & Data Processing

1947

70-70F mass spectrometer

Scientific Instruments & Research

1974

'One Per Desk' microcomputer

Computing & Data Processing

1984; 1983

Whitworth Planing Machine

Hand and Machine Tools

c.1842

Stack assembly processor unit from S3L Estriel mainframe computer

Computing & Data Processing

1986; 1986

Replica Arkwright water frame

Textile Industry

1983

Compound Microscope

Scientific Instruments & Research

1860-1865

BBC B Micro Computer

Computing & Data Processing

c.1983

child's china tea plate, 1922-1923

Radio Communication

1922-1923

slotting machine

Hand and Machine Tools

1835

Sample of concrete enhanced with graphene

Scientific Instruments & Research

2021

Ceramic drinks bottle

Textile Industry

1870-1910

EM2/1 electron microscope

Scientific Instruments & Research

c.1947

Logic door from Ferranti Mark I valve computer

Computing & Data Processing

Data systems unit for 70-70F mass spectrometer

Scientific Instruments & Research

1974

Capacitor used in the development of the 'Baby' computer

Computing & Data Processing

1948

Peel, Williams & Peel steam engine

Motive Power

1846

Control unit for VG Micromass 70-70F mass spectrometer

Scientific Instruments & Research

1974

Bed of Jacquard loom made by Butterworth & Dickinson Ltd

Textile Industry

three gold-plated cable dies

Metallurgy

Paddlewheel used by James Joule

Scientific Instruments & Research

Head of Jacquard loom

Textile Industry

Calorimeter used by James Joule for the more accurate determination of the mechanical equivalent of heat

Scientific Instruments & Research

Fabric bolt end

Textile Industry

c1900

Transmitting valve type U75, made by the Edison Swan Electrical Co. Ltd and used in the 2ZY radio station at Metropolitan-Vickers, Trafford Park, c.1922.

Transmitting valve type U75

Radio Communication

1922

Large cast iron cam, 1839-1887. Probably acted as a cam for raising then dropping an arm, possibly as part of a tilt or drop hammer. From 2009 archaeological excavations of the former Peel, Williams & Peel Co. Soho Foundry on Pollard Street, Ancoats, Manchester, which were carried out in advance of an extension of the Manchester Metrolink network.

Large cast iron cam from Pollard Street archaeological excavations of Peel, Williams & Peel Co. Soho foundry

Motive Power

1839-1887

Diffractometer from Beamline 2.3 of the Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Daresbury, Cheshire, in use from 1993 to 2008.

Diffractometer from Beamline 2.3 of the Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory

Scientific Instruments & Research

Glass rods used on winding and doubling machines.

Textile Machinery Rods

Textile Industry

Main bench unit of 70-70F mass spectrometer, made by VG Micromass, Winsford, 1974.

Main bench unit of 70-70F mass spectrometer

Scientific Instruments & Research

1974

Monochromator from Beamline 2.3 of the Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Daresbury, Cheshire, in use from 1993 to 2008.

Monochromator from Beamline 2.3 of the Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory

Scientific Instruments & Research

Part of Bedson-type rod rolling mill, used by Richard Johnson & Brother Ltd, Manchester, c.1872.

Part of Bedson-type rod rolling mill

Hand and Machine Tools

c 1872

Slit vessel assembly from Beamline 2.3 of the Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Daresbury, Cheshire, in use from 1993 to 2008.

Slit vessel assembly from Beamline 2.3 of the Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory

Scientific Instruments & Research

Fujitsu Siemens Scenic eD PIII PC, with accompanying monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Computer

Computing & Data Processing

2000