Percy shaw net worth

Catseyes: Biography of Percy Shaw (Spotlight) - Hardcover

Spotlight - Cats Eyes

Edwards, Florence

Published by Basil Blackwell, London, 1972

ISBN 10: 0631127100 / ISBN 13: 9780631127109

Used / Hardcover First Edition

Seller:Barter Books Ltd, Alnwick, NORTH, United Kingdom

(5-star seller)Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars

Black hardback cloth cover. Condition: VG : in very good condition. First Edition. 220mm x 180mm (9" x 7"). 64pp. With photographic illustrations and diagrams throughout. With dust jacket. The story of Percy Shaw, the man who invented the use of the catseye as an aid to in night-time driving. The book describes the development of this idea and its role in the modern manufatcuring process. Seller Inventory # j0811

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Teachers' Notes

Resource created by Calderdale Museums: Bankfield Museum

This resource tells the story of one man's invention that has saved countless lives around the world. All inspired by a cat! 

 

Curriculum Links:

  • KS1 History: Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality.
  • KS1 Science: Materials.
  • KS2 Science: Light – notice that light is reflected from surfaces.
  • KS2 English: Writing diaries and autobiographies.

 

Activity Ideas

  • Write an autobiography or biography of Percy Shaw. For example you could turn his life story into a comic strip or poem
  • Design an experiment to investigate what materials reflect.
    • What materials will you need?
    • How will you ensure it is a fair test?
    • What will your variables be?
  • Our roads are a lot busier than they were in Percy’s time. Create an invention of your own to make our roads safer for people. This could be something to help:
    • Pedestrians
    • Cyclists
    • Skateboarders or Scooter riders
    • The elderly
    • Wheelchair users
    • Blind or deaf people

Next se

Percy Shaw, Born 1890
inventor of catseye road reflecting studs

Percy Shaw grew up in a family of thirteen children in Boothtown, near Halifax in Yorkshire. His father was a dyer’s labourer in a local wollen mill. Percy Shaw left school aged 13, and worked first as a labourer. He soon realised there was no future in the heavy repetitive work, so he learned shorthand and bookkeeping and got a job in a factory office. He then worked in several industries and learned welding and machine-tool making; one job was in a carpet factory and he invented a way to provide rubber backings, foreshadowing the foam-backed carpet. He developed a business with his father repairing mangles, servicing cars, and laying tarmac. Driving home after dark, he noticed that the reflection of his headlights from the tramlines gave a good indication of the line of the road. One night, on a familiar but dangerous stretch of road, the tramlines had been taken up for repair, and his best idea came to him - why not put reflectors along the road?

Click below to view his life story:

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