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Nina Baker

@ninabake2.bsky.social

2.5K followers 700 following 4.8K posts

Independent engineering historian: women in engineering, motoring, aviation, construction. Writing book on women's motoring clubs worldwide. Ex-MN. Ex-Deacon Hammermen of Glasgow. OBE. No profile? I won't follow you https://womenengineerssite.wordpress.com

womenengineerssite.wordpress.com

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · Nov 14

I am writing a book about the history of the clubs that women motorists have set up for themselves worldwide from the 1890s to the present day.
If you or your mum etc were ever in such a group anywhere in the world I would love to hear from you.
Here are some of the badges of UK clubs:

Women's Automobile & Sports Association badge

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 10h

1856.
Memorials of The Lineage Early Life Education and Development of the Genius of James Watt

Reposted by Nina Baker

Baba Yaga's Hut @babayagashut.bsky.social · 12h

Billboard up in Dalston for the next couple of weeks!

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Reposted by Nina Baker

Ceryl @politicdormouse.bsky.social · 17h

Maria Artini 1894-1951 #Italian engineer 1918 1st woman electrical engineering uni graduate in Italy 2nd woman graduate @ Polytec Uni of Milan. Worked 4 Edison energy @ #Milan helped design & construct country's 1st high-voltage (130 kV) power line in Brugherio-Parma en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_A...

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Reposted by Nina Baker

Ceryl @politicdormouse.bsky.social · 11h

Virginia Hogan US chemist, specialist in pyrotechnics, 1949 BSc chemistry @ St Johns Uni, MSc chemistry @ Fordham Uni. 1963 was "the only woman research chemist at Picatinny Arsenal" large US Army installation in New Jersey where she worked 47 yrs. d #OTD 13 Oct 2004 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgini...

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 13h

Two years of worse pain for Gaza.

Reposted by Nina Baker

The Women In Science Archive @wisarchive.bsky.social · 14h

Hey folks - no birthday on our lists for today so instead we're just going to remind y'all that our series of books on the history of #WomenInSTEM are out there and available, and that all proceeds go to keeping the Archive funded and free to access for Everybody!

#BookSky #AstroSky #MedSky 🧪🧮🧠🔭

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 13h

@dreadships.bsky.social
Ships with wheels!
Contender for the ugly medal?

This Day In WWI @thisdayinwwi.bsky.social · 14h

Oct 13 1916 Three papers publish what they think new "Tanks" are. East Oregonian says Tanks are just armoured tractors hauling guns while Hawaiian Gazette published drawing that looks like US G-9 Tank. 3rd paper shows "Monster Death Engine" 185ft long and 55 ft high
bsky.app/profile/this...

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 16h

It is down to appalling plumbing design: the pancreas and gallbladder both have exits at the same part of the gut.

Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 16h

OMG. I am SO sorry to hear this. I had that 2yrs ago & it is the worst pain I have ever had. I hope they are getting loads of pain relief.
Despite what the stats for W of Scotland say (mostly due to substance abuse) actually for most of us it is just bad luck, usually a gallstone.
My v best wishes.

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Reposted by Nina Baker

Adam Sanderson @adamsanderson.bsky.social · 22h

The Milngavie Tesco heron.

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 17h

Almost worth trailing up to Milngavie to say hi (or perhaps 'havie').

Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 17h

Bummer. Poor things.😠

Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 17h

Oooh, very natty! The culture of sporting clubs of all sorts having uniforms was very strong then.

Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 18h

It looks SO interesting - I wish I could hear most of those talks.
Rather concerning that the US people are deleted - perhaps part of the orange-horror's cuts?

Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 19h

We are 2 adults and have a cupboard, a drawer and a mug tree full of tea mugs. I am trying to get MOH to weed some out to a relative who actually needs some, so what does he do? He BUYS MORE.

Reposted by Nina Baker

Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 1d

Today I learned there’s a penguin called Jane Goodall and she’s travelled 5000km since April.

A map of the east coast of South America, with several tracking lines, each representing a penguin. Jane Goodall’s line is highlighted in pale pink. There is also an inset with her facts and figures: body weight 4600g, tagged 25th April 2025, distance travelled 4769.3 km, average speed 2 kmh.

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 20h

#EveryDayASchoolDay
In which I learn that a 'Winterdyke' is a clothes-drying rack/ clothes horse.
I am reading (as you do) the inventory of what was in the Glasgow City Chambers in 1908 and saw this in the list for its small laundry.

Extract from 1908 inventory of Glasgow city chambers' laundry room. Winterdyke underlined.

Winterdyke

meaning clothes dryer

This word is a peculiar Scot's word common in Ayreshire, but not really anywhere else. It is used to describe the sort of indoor clothes drying contraptions that most grandmothers seem to own. The reasoning behind the formation of this word is simple. A dyke is a low stone wall where you might hang your washing out to dry in the summer months. In inclement weather (which is common in Scotland not only during the winter months) you would hang the clothes indoors, hence 'Winterdyke'.
https://waf.eps.hw.ac.uk/fun/words/SWOTW_archive1.html#winterdyke

Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 20h

The events at EAW branches might indeed include companies' reps promoting electrical appliances, usually cookers, fridges, irons etc. but also the new convenience foods coming onto the market, such as new types of flour, custard powder, macaroni etc. DM me if you want more details!

Reposted by Nina Baker

Ceryl @politicdormouse.bsky.social · 22h

Katharine Burr Blodgett US physicist chemist. 1926 1st woman #physics PhD @ Cambridge. Invented nonreflective "invisible" glass for lenses used filming Gone with the Wind 1939. Later used for submarine periscopes & plane spy cameras in #WWII. d. #OTD 12 Oct 1979 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathari...

Katharine Burr Blodgett using a machine to make lenses. B&W photo #WomenInSTEM

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 21h

@gavia.bsky.social

Phoef Sutton @phoefsutton.bsky.social · 1d

SUPPORTING ACTOR SUNDAY
#supportingactorsunday
MARIE WINDSOR (1919-2000)
Often called “the Queen of the Bs,” Windsor was a striking and sharp-witted actress. Known for roles in THE NARROW MARGIN and THE KILLING, she excelled at playing tough, complex women who could outsmart any man in the room.🎥

Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 21h

That is very kind, many thanks. I use Ancestry for most of my sleuthing of women engineers of the past, plus BNA. If really stuck I have been known to contact local history groups, who are usually keen to help if they can!

Reposted by Nina Baker

Ceryl @politicdormouse.bsky.social · 1d

Stella “Jaye” "Pete" Edwards, last of UK women #WWII Air Transport Auxiliary pilots. Early 1943 saw advert for women pilots to join #ATA, flew 20 types of aircraft, with very little training & always solo, most enjoyed flying Hawker Hurricanes. b. #OTD 12 Oct 1918 bit.ly/3e1pKM7

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 1d

More info in chat.

Reposted by Nina Baker

Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 1d

Community Whistle flyer from Rogers Park area in Chicago.

@prisonculture.bsky.social says, "This is something EVERYONE can do. Everyone."

Why It Works
✪ Instant Alert System

✪ Faster Than Social Media

✪ Turns Silence Into Community Action

Analog device that's "Faster Than Social Media"? Lolol.

Informational flyer about Rogers Park Whistle Protocols, explaining how to use whistles to alert neighbors of emergencies, with color-coded alerts, steps for use, and encouragement to form a crowd and stay loud for safety.

Graphic:
FORM A CROWD
STAY LOUD
PROTECT EACH OTHER

[I will share some pieces of this in a separate post]

ROGERS PARK
WHISTLE PROTOCOLS

WHY A WHISTLE? ON THE STREETS

• A SIMPLE TOOL
FOR FAST ALERTS.
• LOUD. •
RECOGNIZABLE.
IMPOSSIBLE TO
IGNORE. •
• OUR VOICES ARE
STRONGER TOGETHER.

WHISTLES GUIDE
PEOPLE TO:
• FOLLOW ICE CARAVANS
• CATCH UP WITH THE
CROWD
• ALERT NEIGHBORS
TO JOIN IN
NOISE = VISIBILITY.

WHY IT WORKS
• INSTANT ALERT
SYSTEM

• FASTER THAN
SOCIAL MEDIA

• TURNS SILENCE
INTO COMMUNITY
ACTION

WHAT YOU CAN DO
• WEAR YOUR WHISTLE
AROUND YOUR NECK
• TEACH FAMILY &
NEIGHBORS THE
CODES
• USE IT WHEN ICE IS
SPOTTED
• PROTECT EACH
OTHER, ALWAYS

TOGETHER, WE
KEEP OUR
COMMUNITY
SAFE.
FORM A CROWD,
STAY LOUD.
THIS FLYER DISTRIBUTED BY:
PROTECT RP
@PROTECTRP_

ORIGINAL FLYER CREATED BY:
@ @PILSENARTSCOMMUNITYHOUSE
INFO@PILSENARTSCOMMUNITYHOUSE.ORG

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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks for the 📢
I have, as is my habit, made a tree for her on Ancestry and reached out to the owners of trees in which she appears. Very occasionally this has results but mostly it turns out I know more than they do.

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