A new initiative by Positively Birmingham walking tours sees a ‘PopUp’ Museum and shop opening in Great Western Arcade, right in the heart of Birmingham. The museum features Victorian Birmingham’s invention of electroplating and the move to huge production by the firm of Elkington in the Jewellery Quarter. This is an exciting story of Birmingham’s inventors who quickly take their inventions on to dominate world markets and produce huge wealth.
The museum is the idea of Jonathan Berg, author of the book Positively Birmingham and a new book about the firm of Elkington’s invention. The museum includes examples of items produced in the Newhall Street factory, the site of which is just down the road from the museum.
As well as the museum, the new edition of the city guide: Discovering Birmingham is also on sale. There is also a brand new range of very special ACME No. 58 sporting whistles, especially produced in the world famous Jewellery Quarter factory.
Museum tours can be booked now at www.positivelybirmingham.co.uk where the ‘Pop-Up’ opening hours are posted. The tours include a short walk and then interpretation of the museum display. They also run during Birmingham Heritage Week, which runs 9th to 18th September.
Speaking of this initiative Jonathan Berg says: “The ‘PopUp’ Museum is great fun – we need to shout out a lot more about the amazing things Birmingham has and still is contributing to the world. Without electroplating nobody would even have a mobile phone!” Jonathan goes on to say: “It is been hard to get Birmingham shops to consider stocking our city guide. At just £5 it includes an up to date city map and list of things to do. It is ideal for the huge numbers of visitors coming to the city. So, we have opened our own shop to get it out there!
