Thursday 2 April 2015

Benjamin Braithwaite Browning . . . . The A to Z of Slightly Strange Unknown Victorian Inventors and Explorers



Benjamin Braithwaite Browning

Had it not been for his rather colourful life style Benjamin Braithwaite Browning would probably remain completely unknown . . . . his only invention being the Barometric Bellows, a brilliant device that had no obvious practical use at the time, well not until the court case.

Having been brought up in a circus he was an expert juggler and fire eater, spent time as a tattooed Lady in a freak show, worked as a spy for the British in Russia, is said to have shot the very last living Dodo for a family feast and had always claimed that he was the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest. A claim that now has some substance from a very early photograph that was said to have been taken at the summit.        

His Barometric Bellows were designed to give a predictable and consistent linear parallel   air flow; unheard of before or since in a hand operated bellows. But its uses were incredibly limited.


However Benjamin Braithwaite Browning was found in a very compromising position with three naked dancers from the Folie Bergere and a leading politician all doing unspeakable things with two pairs of the Barometric Bellows. The scandal made all the main newspapers of the time and for a very short time led to a sudden increase in sales of the Barometric Bellows. But they were quickly banned from sale and destroyed by the authorities, even today they are very difficult to find and highly prized by a certain knowing group with certain interests. 

12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. He fairs better than some I will be writing about. Many dont make it to old age. OK the first man to reach the moon does but some say it was the Welsh blood in the family that helped.

      Delete
  2. Oh Mr Z, what an unseemly end for poor Benjamin Braithwaite Browning. Er...you don't happen to know where I can purchase one of those rare Barometric Bellows by any chance?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry I cant help with the Barometric Bellows, but I might be able to find a Dodo that limps a bit.

      Delete
  3. how bodacious and bawdy! I'm not the least belligerent about your baffling bumbler however! Being bountiful is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a barrage of Beguiling and bewildering B words. . . I am bamboozled and that's for sure.. . . . but only a bit.

      Delete
  4. What a fun read. You said on my B blog (#1511 now) that your mistyping causes you to butcher words, but I think what you do with words on your blog is Beautiful. JEN Garrett

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very kind indeed although I suspect most would say . . . a bit odd . . rather than Beautiful. But I will remember this for my publicity material and I suspect you have not read any of my poetry yet.

      Many thanks for calling by.

      Delete
  5. Bacon buttys bought by beggars,bulging beneath bridges, become better by buttering bread behind bakery buildings.
    :O)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blimey Mr H I missed your comment that's Bad.

      Delete
  6. Boor Benjamin Braithwaite Browning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Living life to the full I think he would say. . . .

      Delete