Craig O' Donnell (SafeGuard Valuer) and Penny Parkes (The Birmingham Assay Office Marketing Manager) were able to take a behind the scenes look at Thinktank's new exhibition 'We made it - nuts, bolts, gadgets and gizmos' before it's launch in February. They were able to find out 'What a cow has got to do with a car?' Unfortunately they are sworn to secrecy though ahead of the launch!  Other delights on view were a replica of Bernard Cuzner's workshop and the latest updates to the hallmarking and gemmology sections. Craig and Penny said that they were impressed with the progress and can't wait to see the complete exhibition when it opens in February. Craig was also asked to visit the thinktank to inspect the silver items that are on loan from The Birmingham Assay Office's private Silver Collection. Craig inspected the pieces alond with Alex Woodwood (Thinktank) amd was satisfied that all was in order.  We made it is an exciting new showpiece gallery about science, materials and manufacturing opening at Thinktank, February 2013.  The new hands-on science gallery will show visitors just how and why Birmingham became known as ‘the workshop of the world’, and how innovation continues to be part of the cultural identity of the region.  The exhibition will take visitors on a journey from raw materials to finished products – demonstrating how everyday goods are produced.  This journey will be illustrated by around 1,200 intriguing and significant objects from the City of Birmingham’s world renowned manufacturing and natural science collections, and by contemporary products made or designed in Birmingham.  Throughout the exhibition, the science that lies behind materials and manufacturing processes will be revealed.  Interactive multi media exhibits, positioned alongside historical objects, will provide visitors with lots of opportunities to explore the science for themselves.  The gallery will contain four distinct areas, each focussing on an area of manufacturing for which Birmingham is renowned –

1. Nuts and Bolts - Birmingham’s role in making iron and steel goods for the world 
2. Treasure - Precious possessions made from precious metals and gemstones from Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter
3. Tins and Things - Packaging for food and drink using glass and aluminium developed and made in the West Midlands
4. Gadgets - Inventions that changed everyday life, focussing on the use of plastic and wood

Why not go and take a look yourself? The Gallery will be open in time for February half term. The Assay Office will also be taking part in a series of Meet The Expert events at Thinktank in February and October. We will bring you regular updates on the launch of We Made It as they happen. To read more about our first trip behind the scences make sure to visit http://www.assaynews.co.uk/heritage/what-links-the-assay-office-a-cow-and-a-car/ You can also follow Thintank’s blog about the new gallery at http://blog.thinktank.ac/

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