A SET of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s technical drawing instruments has been acquired at auction by the STEAM Museum. The instruments are on display in the ‘Building the Railway’ exhibition area inside an oak case inlaid with a brass plate inscribed ‘I K BRUNEL.’

Lined with purple velvet, the case contains individual compartments for each instrument.

STEAM’s curator, Frances Yeo, said: “We are very excited to have purchased this set of drawing instruments at auction. This has been made possible by a generous contribution from the Friends of Swindon Railway Museum together with visitor donations to STEAM’s Acquisition Fund.

“Owned by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the size of the set suggests these may have been instruments he took with him when he travelled across the GWR railway network.

“These instruments have an excellent provenance, having been given to the seller’s grandfather by Brunel’s son Henry Marc Brunel in 1902.

“As possibly the greatest engineer of all time, these drawing instruments were the tools of Brunel’s trade. He was instrumental in the development of the GWR and the building of ‘New Swindon’. We have a number of signed Brunel engineering drawings within the STEAM collections, which may have been drawn using these very same instruments.

“We are very grateful for the support of the Friends of Swindon Railway Museum and to the visitors who kindly made donations. This is an especially important acquisition for STEAM.”

The Brunel acquisition coincides with the opening of two new exhibitions at the museum: ‘The Art of Publicity’ and ‘The GWR Publicity Machine’

Celebrating the world-famous advertising campaigns and publicity materials created by the GWR, these displays are open every day and are included with STEAM admission and season tickets.

To find out more, visit www.steam-museum.org.uk

STEAM is open every day from Monday to Saturday between 10am and 5pm, and on Sundays between 11am and 4pm.