BOOK REVIEW

LABORATORY SCIENTIFIC GLASSBLOWING – Advanced Techniques and Glassblowing’s Place in History by Paul Le Pinnet MBE. ISBN 978-981-124-787-3

I found this book quite hard to review. This was for several reasons not least I only received it a day before the deadline of this issue of the Journal. Hence a more comprehensive review will appear in the next issue which will be published in October. The second reason for my reservations is that the author Paul is a friend of mine (and hope he still is after reading this!). It’s always sensitive to offer constructive criticism to people you love. I read the book with my editor’s hat on which was a big mistake as I noticed several spelling mistakes and was disappointed on the low number of colour photographs. I have Pauls first book which appears to share the same design of cover, even quoting word for word the same text on the back. The only difference I can see is the subtitles and the fact that this newest addition to my glassy library is a hard book where the first copy of Pauls book is the paperback version!

Let’s focus on content which I found fascinating for many reasons but the main one being the contributors. Just how Paul managed to persuade so many experienced scientific glassblowers to turn off their burner and put “pen to paper” is beyond me. I know how hard it is to persuade some to write me an article for the BSSG Journal!

My initial reaction to this book is that the content really is first class and so many interesting and intriguing stories told by some of the most experienced scientific glassblowers in the World! So let me give them a name check. Obviously, Paul has made the largest contribution with his take on several subjects which are very relevant to the scientific glass community. First up is Paul’s description of the life of Joseph Priestley. This is followed in quick succession by tributes to the Toepler Pump, an article about calculation, calibration, and acid etching. Paul demonstrates his knowledge of the practicalities of scientific glassware by detailing items such as an ebulliometer and the bursting disc failure detector tube. As if this wasn’t enough Paul concludes with talking about interviewing and training a scientific glassblower. I thought it clever how that person who was trained by Paul who is Phil Murray then writes about the experience from his perspective. Phil left the glass world only to return fifteen years later and, in this book, he shares his thoughts on how best for anyone to return to working glass as a scientific glassblower but maybe not making just scientific glassware!

The list of contributors reflects a moment of vital historical importance that I feel no one will appreciate until it’s too late for most to appreciate the true value of scientific glassblowing. Thanks to Jeremy Bolton and his chapter on lasers and lathes; to Jean-Francois Boutry for telling us about the glass training school in Paris; to Mike Souza for his thought provoking chapter on the future of scientific glassblowing; to William Fludgate for touching upon some health and safety issues; to Gary Coyne, Peter Schweifel, Philip Legge, Graham Reed, and Norbert Zielinski for a wonderful willingness to share some clever techniques which will make every scientific glassblowers lives easier; to Terri Adams and Julia Bickerstaff for a very comprehensive guide to neon and plasma; to Steve Moehr and Phil Jones for some wonderful recollections of unique experiences working with scientific glass and their customers; to Jens Koster for describing the simplest of tasks in such a captivating way; to Alan Gall for his extremely detailed history of Otto Baumbach; to Greg Purdy for reminding readers about the importance of taking notes when accepting work. I have omitted the name of the BSSG Chair so credit to Robert McLeod for his input on the Toepler Pump and also for writing the encouraging Forward. I also missed my name from the list as it seems I shouldn’t really be in the same gang. I was so please when Paul asked me to contribute. What did I write about? Well, you will have to buy the book to find out! All I can say it will be worth it and you will never have to pay for a psychologist again!

I found this book held my attention more than Paul’s first book and that one I judged to be priceless in the desert of scientific glass books. This title felt more entertaining and offers a deeper insight into people’s experiences both with working with glass as a material and also their customers.