Curious Histories - Ageing Well Festival Special: Treacherous Technology

About

A quirky double-bill of talks, featuring:

Medicines and Cures for Gullible Victorians

The Victorian era was one of scientific breakthroughs and great inventions. However, some of the ideas during this period were rather questionable, especially when it came to medicines and cures. An incredible range of pills, ointments and contraptions appeared on the market, claiming to improve the life of the everyday Victorian. The late nineteenth century also saw a boom in newspaper advertisements, and many of these medicines and cures appeared in both national and local newspapers, designed to draw in the unwary lady or gentleman. Mat Homewood takes us through many of these advertisements, including those for Dr William’s Pink Pills, the electric corset, the eye battery, and Foot's portable shower. We shall also have a live demonstration of one of the Victorian contraptions!

Freaks of the Wireless: The Fin de Siècle Radio Feud

In 1901, a grand rivalry formed between the famous magician, Nevil Maskelyne, and Guglielmo Marconi, the father of radio. In the following years, the conflict intensified, cruel words were exchanged, egos were bruised, and reputations crushed. The experiments they conducted during the early development of wireless telegraphy and the mutual disdain between the two men led to the first ever wireless ‘hack’ and the first cyberattack… probably. Den Knowles’ talk examines the background of the two opponents, the key events in the Maskelyne-Marconi feud, and why the latter eventually triumphed commercially over his competitors. This is a sneak preview of one of the juicy stories from Den's forthcoming book!

We're asking for a small donation to come along. Ample refreshment will be provided at our bar, serving both alcoholic and soft drinks, which takes cash and cards.