Forthcoming conference: The piston revolution 1850-1950

Conference on the Piston Engine Revolution: 1850-1950

 14-17^th April 2011: MOSI, Manchester

 The International Society for the History of Engineering and Technology (formerly The Newcomen Society), and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Manchester, are organising an International Conference entitled “The Piston Engine Revolution: 1850-1950”. The conference will review how the internal combustion engine came into being, how it was first commercialised for stationary power production, and how it gave rise to the automotive and aircraft industries. The focus will be on the engineering developments associated with the IC engine, and on the engineers, technicians and scientists, who contributed to its success. Original papers are now sought, which will be published in a Conference Volume.     

 The Conference will be held in Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and a half day visit will be made to the Anson Engine Museum, which has one of the best collections of stationary engines in Europe.  The Conference will begin on Thursday evening, 14^th April 2011, with a public lecture. On subsequent days, sessions will be given over to selected topics, which could include: 

•  The scientific and technical thinking underlying early designs
• Early pioneers
• Contributions of Lenoir, Otto, Diesel and Benz
• Hot bulb engines in the UK and elsewhere
• IC engine competitors (steam and hot air engines)
• Formal R&D by research organisations and engine companies   
• Development of engines for road and air transport
• Key stationary, automotive and aircraft engines
• Building, running, and testing near scale and full scale engine replicas
• Engine museums in the UK, on the Continent, and elsewhere    
• Gaseous fuels from coal, coke and wood
• Liquid fuel development and specifications
• Carburettors, spark plugs, igniters and valves
• Metallurgy and materials issues

 Papers should be 6000 to 8000 words in length. Please send a short synopsis of 250 words of your proposed paper to Conference Secretary by 31^st July 2010.  The final date for submission of full papers is 31^st January 2011

 E-mail address is: pistonnewcomen@yahoo.co.uk