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Bulletin 169 June 2026
BULLETIN 169 – June 2026 Members of the SIS receive print copies of all Bulletins, as well as access to the complete Bulletin archive. In order to give website visitors a taste of the Bulletin, and to tempt you to join the SIS, the table of contents for the latest issue below contains selected articles…
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Bulletin 168 March 2026
Bulletin 168 – March 2026 Members of the SIS receive print copies of all Bulletins, as well as access to the complete Bulletin archive. In order to give website visitors a taste of the Bulletin, and to tempt you to join the SIS, the table of contents for the latest issue below contains selected articles…
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Bulletin 167 December 2025
Bulletin 167 – December 2025 Members of the SIS receive print copies of all Bulletins, as well as access to the complete Bulletin archive. In order to give website visitors a taste of the Bulletin, and to tempt you to join the SIS, the table of contents for the latest issue below contains selected articles…
About the SIS
The Scientific Instrument Society (SIS) was formed in April 1983 to bring together people with a specialist interest in scientific instruments, ranging from precious antiques to electronic devices only recently out of production.
Collectors, the antiques trade, museum staff, professional historians and amateur enthusiasts will all find the varied activities of the Society suited to their tastes. We have a truly international membership offering those who join the chance to link up with instrument devotees across the world.
You can join the Society and receive the Bulletin from as little as £20 per year: see our membership page for more details.
We are seeking a new Treasurer
Our current Treasurer, David Howarth, is stepping down from the role at the next AGM, to be held in July 2026. We are looking for an existing or new member of the Society to replace him. The role is not onerous and there is a helpful description of the duties on page 2 of Bulletin 168 (March 2026). You will work with the SIS Executive Officer, who is responsible for the everyday accounting, and will liaise with the Society’s auditors.
As a volunteer Committee member, you will act as a Trustee of the Society (which is Registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales) and provide assistance to the Executive Officer and other Committee members.
Committee meetings are held quarterly on a hybrid basis, in central London and online, meaning that the Committee includes people based in a variety of locations and time zones. Specialised knowledge of scientific instruments is not required – the SIS is for people with a wide range of interests. A specialist knowledge of accounting is not required for this role but could, of course, be an advantage. Accuracy, attention to detail and an ability to adhere to fixed deadlines is more important.
In recognition of their contribution to the Society’s activities, Committee members will be given the option of free annual membership during their tenure. Any interested non-member suited to the role may therefore consider this as an opportunity to join the Society.
For further information please contact the Chairman, Dr Neil Handley: chairman@scientificinstrumentsociety.org
Article: Remembering Paolo Brenni
(20 March 1954 – 4 December 2021)
A message from the president
Dear Members and Friends,
My name is Gloria Clifton and I was recently accorded the great honour of being asked to take on the role of President of the Scientific Instrument Society after the sudden and very sad death of the previous President, Paulo Brenni. I feel very unworthy to follow in his footsteps, as I have neither the breadth of knowledge nor the facility in several European languages which he had. However, I have been a member of the SIS since 1988 and will do my best to represent the Society effectively. I believe it plays a very important role in bringing together people from all backgrounds with an interest in historic scientific instruments, whether they be collectors, historians, museum curators, dealers, or just have a general interest.
If you are a visitor to the website but not a member, I hope you will consider joining. The Society’s quarterly Bulletin has much of interest and there are opportunities to join in visits to interesting collections or attend the Society’s lectures.