Technical expertise and public decisions. British watchmaking, 1842-43: a case study

This case study is about a failed attempt, in early Victorian England, to introduce new technology to the British watchmaking industry. The episode culminated in a public decision by the House of Commons. The issues involved an understanding (or misunderstanding) of the implications of adopting new technology, in this case through an Act of Parliament which, if it had been passed, would have granted limited liability to a company seeking to introduce machine tools and factory production into a highly complex handcraft industry. The implications for that industry were fundamental, and carried profound social consequences. The issues were debated in the press, through pamphlets and in protest meetings. The general public was largely uninvolved, and uninformed about technical matters. Social, economic and ethical issues were raised, reflecting confused and usually partisan perspectives. The consequences of Parliament's decision were profound. The industry continued its terminal decline, and the British economy was, arguably, significantly damaged in the long term. In my presentation, I try to do what historians hate to do, and suggest lessons for today's policy debates.