Foundation letter

Foundation letter

This letter was sent round to prospective Members, stating that they were wishing to form an Institution made up of mechanics and engineers engaged in "Manufactories, Railways and other establishments".

Their aim was to discuss and exchange ideas to improve knowledge and the various "branches of Mechanical Science"; and to give an "impulse to inventions likely to be useful to the world".

Image Details

Description Circular letter for the creation of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Signed, Edward Humphrys of Messrs. Rennies, Archibald Slate of Tube Works Smethwick, James McConnell of Bristol & Birmingham Railway and Charles Beyer of Sharp, Brothers & Company. Paper watermarked 1845.
Date of Creation 1846
Creator Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Archive Reference IME/10/1/1
Transcript Institution of Mechanical Engineers

To enable Mechanics and Engineers engaged in the different Manufactories, Railways, and other Establishments in the Kingdom, to meet and correspond, and by a mutual interchange of ideas respecting improvements in the various branches of Mechanical Science, to increase their knowledge and give an impulse to inventions likely to be useful to the world.

We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you at a Meeting of the promoters of the above on Wednesday 7th October, at 2pm at the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham.

Edw[ard] Humphrys
Messrs. Rennies, London

Archibald Slate
Tube Works, Smethwick

J.E. McConnell
Bristol & Birmingham Railway

Charles Beyer
Sharp, Bros. & Co., Manchester
Transcript (continued)