A Brilliant Mind lights up Discovery Museum

Sir Joseph Swan’s life celebrated in an exhibition to commemorate the 100^th year anniversary of his death Tuesday 27 May 2014 marks 100 years since one of the North East’s great inventors, Sir Joseph Wilson Swan, passed away. To mark this momentous occasion, Discovery Museum in Newcastle will open a special exhibition to celebrate Swan’s life, achievements and inventions which have become an integral part of everyday life. The exhibition features a number of loan items from the Science Museum, London as well as The National Media Museum, Bradford. These include one of the first incandescent filament lamps, or light bulbs, ever seen in public. The historic bulb was presented to the Science Museum by Swan in 1908 having been first demonstrated at the Lit & Phil Library in Newcastle on 3 February 1879 and the Gateshead Town Hall on 12 March 1879. Throughout Swan’s life he made a success of combining his extraordinary scientific talent with business flair to bring new science into practical everyday use. Some of his greatest achievements include: -       Inventing the incandescent filament electric lamp, the first light bulb – the best known of his inventions. -       Taking photography out of the laboratory and making it popular and affordable. -       Creating the first man-made fibre, this led to Rayon, Nylon and Terylene being used in modern hardwearing and waterproof garments. -       Improving the rechargeable battery to make it practical for a wide range of purposes including car starter batteries. Also loaned by the Science Museum, London are a legal document issued by the High Court regarding infringers of Edison and Swan Company patents, a Mawson & Swan Trade Card and a specimen of artificial silk made by Swan in 1883.  The National Media Museum, Bradford have loaned a ‘Swantype’ engraving of Joseph Swan which was made at the studio of the Swan Electric Engraving Company around 1905. These will be displayed alongside a number of items from Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums collections including the Carbon Filament Lamp and Lamp Holder. It was this type of lamp that was used at Lord Armstrong’s Cragside House, in Rothbury Northumberland, the first home to have electric lighting. Carolyn Ball, Discovery Museum Manager said, “I’m thrilled to see one of the North East’s greatest inventions return to its Tyneside roots and be showcased at Discovery Museum to celebrate the amazing achievements Sir Joseph Swan made throughout his life. The exhibition showcases his remarkable inventions, all of which we now use in our everyday lives and take for granted.” A Brilliant Mind: Sir Joseph Wilson Swan, 1828 – 1914, will be on display from Wednesday 28 May until October.