Inspired by Dunbar’s, Robert Wilson (1803-1882), invention of the first practical screw propeller, as commemorated in 2003 by the 4 ton propeller sculpture at the Victoria Harbour, the photo-montage postcard images comprise of two lensless photographic techniques. Photograms of his screw propeller proposal text to the Royal Society of Arts, dated 1860, and collected mussel and oyster shells from the Dunbar shore – positioned to reflect the shape of the screw propeller – are combined with recent pinhole negatives of the current propellers found in craft by the harbour.

Download a set of propeller postcards to print at home.