Nina Baker
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ninabake2.bsky.social
Nina Baker
@ninabake2.bsky.social
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
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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:
I have never seen a single episode of Stranger Things.
I cannot care about its final season which seems to be occupying vast swathes of print and online rn.
November 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
My review of Mary Mills' biography of gas pioneer, George Livesey is now online. You should be able to read/download freely but if any problems, DM me.
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/YQFWU...
George Livesey: A Biography
Published in The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology (Ahead of Print, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:21 AM
@grace-knight.co.uk Ada might be amused by this early stopmotion clay people film (long before the plasticene Morph).
youtu.be/BoMWF1TabZQ?...
November 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Elizabeth Laverick OBE #engineer Technical Director of Elliott Automation #Radar Systems. 1st female deputy secretary of Institution of Engineering & Technology. 1st woman to earn PhD in scientific curriculum @durham.ac.uk President of @wes1919.bsky.social 1967-9. b. #OTD 25 Nov 1925 bit.ly/2u2duRw
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu #Romanian engineer, 1912 1 of 1st women to earn degree in #engineering, @ Technische Universität #Berlin. Led #geology labs, studied Romanian mineral resources. #WWI #RedCross managed hospital. Street in Bucharest named for her d. 25 Nov 1973 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisa_L...
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Laura Irasuegi Otal #Basque 'Niños de Rusia' child refugee, 1937 evacuated in #Spanish Civil War from Spain to Soviet Russia. Survived #WWII Siege of Leningrad, trained as civil engineer in Moscow, 1956 returned & settled in #Spain as adult. b. #OTD 26 Nov 1923 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_I...
November 26, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Adrienne Bolland French aviator. Became pilot to pay her gambling debts. 1st woman to fly over #Andes Chile to Argentina. Women's record for loops in hour. Legion of Honor. Involved in left politics & #WWII French Resistance. On stamp in Argentina b. #OTD 25 Nov 1895 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrienn...
November 25, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Firefighters onboard MV ONE Henry Hudson have taken the term surround and drown to a new level with 80% flooding of cargo hold #3 in which the burning containers were contained.

Crews are piercing any containers with hot spots to cool. The scene has been turned over to the salvage company.
November 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Kate Gleason engineer & businesswoman "Madame Curie of machine tools". 1893 toured Europe to expand company, 1 of 1st times US manufacturer tried to globalize their business. 1st woman elected to full membership American Soc of Mechanical Engineers b #OTD 25 Nov 1865 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Gl...
November 25, 2025 at 9:09 AM
A new werewolf film is currently being recorded and there are some set photos... are we taking bets on this film having the blue filter, it's never sunny and pretty much everything and everyone is constantly being covered in muck?
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
In 1914 Beatrice Blore Browne became 1st woman to drive a car (a 10 horse power Singer Ten) up #GreatOrme #Llandudno #NorthWales (with gradient of 1 in 3) She was 6 months pregnant at the time. Her gravestone commemorates the feat. d. #OTD 23 Nov 1921 age only 34. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatric...
November 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Concepción Mendizábal Mendoza, 1st woman in #Mexico to earn #CivilEngineering degree. Studied @ Palacio de Minería engineering school graduated 1927 passed professional engineers exam 1930. Thesis was unusual as illustrated with photos d #OTD 23 Nov 1985 #WomenInSTEM en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concepc...
November 23, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Marjorie Spiller actress who gave up the stage in 1935 to learn to fly. Flew aircraft to Spain for £150 a trip to help rebels in Spanish Civil War in fight against General Franco. In #WWII joined Air Transport Auxiliary #ATA as a pilot b #OTD 23 Nov 1897 solentaviatrix.wordpress.com/marjorie-spi...
November 23, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Anne Burns aeronautical #engineer & glider pilot worked @ RAE Farnborough, world expert in Clear Air Turbulence & its effects on aircraft safety. 2nd woman to read #Engineering Sciences @ Uni of Oxford. Oldest member of Caterpillar Club age 62. b. #OTD 23 Nov 1915 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bu...
November 23, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Janet Bonnema US civil engineer. 1970 hired as engineering technician on #EisenhowerTunnel construction but barred from tunnel due to superstition that women brought bad luck. 1972 filed lawsuit for sex discrimination, went into tunnel Nov 1972. b. #OTD 24 Nov 1938 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_B...
November 24, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Hanja Bošković - one of the first female bikers in Croatia. In 1932 the newspaper "Vreme" published an article about Hanja: "Where the fastest woman in Yugoslavia lives", and in the 1990 the national TV interviewed Hanja - this part of the interview includes photos: www.youtube.com/watch?v=W45L...
November 23, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Marcelle Lafont, French chemical engineer. Graduated l'école de chimie de Lyon 1930. Got HGV licence & learned to fly, 1935 stood for election b4 women had vote in France. Awarded medal for work in #WWII French Resistance. 1960s Mayor of Songieu. b. #OTD 23 Nov 1905 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcell...
November 23, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Stefania Cecylia Wojtulanis-Karpińska Polish aviator. Sports pilot in inter war period, then Captain in Polish Air Force. Flew in UK Air Transport Auxiliary in #WWII, when known as Barbara Wojtulanis. 1 of 3 Polish woman pilots in #ATA. b. #OTD 22 Nov 1912 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefani...
November 22, 2025 at 9:09 AM
For #JamesBond fans - this is Tracy's car from OHMSS, currently on display in the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall. I believe it is for sale, if you like pretty shiny things.
November 22, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Agnes Pockels German chemist. Research fundamental in establishing surface science through observations of soaps & soapy water in her home while washing dishes. Defined "Pockels Point" minimum area single molecule can occupy in monomolecular films d. #OTD 21 Nov 1935 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_P...
November 21, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I knew Guillermo del Toro filmed some of his Frankenstein in Glasgow Cathedral, but think his poster designer must have visited Kelvingrove Museum to see Salvador Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross.
November 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Mathematician Louise Duffield Cummings was born 155 years ago today. A researcher on vector spaces with trilinear maps and hexagonal systems, she was also a staple presence at Vassar college for three and a half decades in the early twentieth century.

#WomenInSTEM #MathSky 🧮
November 21, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Nina Baker
Phoebe Omlie US aviator. 1st woman to: earn air mechanic's license, be licensed transport pilot, be appointed to federal aviation position, cross Rockies in light ✈️. 1920/30s set 🌎 world records including highest altitude parachute jump by woman. b. #OTD Nov 21 1902 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_...
November 21, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Just to cap it all, having arrived in Glasgow 4 1/2hrs late the #Avanti website doesnt have an automatic repay system, even via the ticket I bought direct from there. No. You have to fill in forms, send images, blahblah. To which the response is - oh we will get round to you but we are awfully busy.
Here is what the emptying out of several #Avanti #WCML Scotland-bound trains was like this afternoon at Preston. They were all waiting to get into 3 carriages of the York train. NOT. With a view to going there to get to Edinburgh.
Fortunately for me, Glasgow-bound people were all put into taxis.
November 21, 2025 at 11:19 AM
This is a really good idea. Can you think of any other films to at didn’t get a fair shake because of Covid? I think Malick’s A Hidden Life would’ve had a better theatrical run.
November 21, 2025 at 8:58 AM