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Birmingham & Midland Institute Events

farmerdave

master brummie
In my distant memory I remember being taken to the Birmingham and Midland Institute in the 1950s to a Conversazione. I believe that this was held annually, around January, and was a demonstration of arts and science to visitors. A school report, from Alcester Grammar School, gives a flavour of what was involved. Dave.
CONYERSAZIONE
On arrival at the Midland Institute, despite repeated enquiries about
the refreshment room, we were ushered into the" Large Theatre," where
a " Cavalcade of Fashion" was shown. Ladies' dresses of the past century
"were shown, and a rather unexpected piece of entertainment was the
noisy disintegration of the spotlight bulb, leaving the later models to
grope about in semi-darkness.
As the refreshment room was not immediately visible, our group
congregated round a caramel wrapping machine, only to encounter severe
competition from other groups intent on the same purpose. The machine
worked well, however, and somehow all were eventually satisfied.
Replete with caramels, our group broke up and began to inspect
the less profitable but none-the-less interesting exhibits. A" noughts and
crosses machine" proved completely invincible, but wc "had our own
back" on Slinky, a spring whieh walks: down steps.
If carefully placed
the unfortunate spring completely missed the next step, and, completely
baffled, shot down the next steps at lightning speed and finally came
to rest, beaten, on the floor. About this time the lure of the refreshment
room overcame interest in the exhibits.
Some time later, when we were again wandering round in the region
of the caramel machine, the natural history exhibits were discovered.
These proved most interesting, and two very helpful gentlemen explained
numerous points about the stuffed birds and insects on show.
Other notable exhibits were a demonstration of fly-tying and a
reaction-testing car, in which the person to be tested sat facing a screen,
showing a busy road junction. At intervals-something, or somebody,
appeared on the screen, and the time from the appearance until the
driver reacted was measured automatically.
There seemed to be many more things to see when it was discovered
that it was time to leave. Miraculously, everyone turned up on time,
and we departed for the 'bus-stop, where several slot machines were
discovered. Here at least sevenpence was lost owing to the difficulty of
extracting anything. At last, when more losses seemed imminent, the
'bus arrived, and we immediately shrank as much as possible in order
to pay half-fare.
It seemed that the ride would be uneventful when three bibulous
and bellicose gentlemen arrived, and an exhilarating encounter ensued.
This was terminated by the departure of the trio, who were breathing
hostile mutterings into their moustaches.
I am sure that many of us, that night. dreamt of a jumbled mixture
of 'buses, birds, cars, stairs, and, of course, caramels.
D.SALE










 
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