Historic Electrical Machines

19th-century engravings of early electrical and mechanical devices, including dynamos, teleprinters, and static electric machines, capturing pioneering technology.

D'Asrlincourt's teleprinter. 1878.

Bell & Tainter's Graphophone. A recording was made by speaking into a mouthpiece while turning the wax cylinder by a treadle; as in a sewing machine. With an earpiece attachment on the stylus the cylinders could be played back for audio typing.

Boiler or steam generator in the 19th century, Galloway boiler from Jahr, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century

Breguet's Portable Alphabetical instrument a telegraph consisting of a transmitter and a receiver powered by an electric battery both have a round face on with letters of the alphabet. Like the British Cooke-Wheatstone telegraph this French telegraph communicated with alphabetically instead of Morse Code. Ca. 1850.

Letombe engine, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Engraving depicting an Alliance (Nollet) generator being used to power a carbon arc light with Serrin regulator. This was the apparatus used in each of the lighthouses at La Heve.

Kempelenz speaking machine, Wolfgang von Kempelen, in its final form / Kempelenz Sprechmaschine, Wolfgang von Kempelen, in der letzten Ausgestaltung, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler

Buchbindereimaschinen 1890: Dreiseitige Beschneidemaschine, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, Originald...

Steam engines of the 19th century: Forced valve control, Collmann system, unavoidable valve control, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century

An Experiment in Resonance by D M Geo Hopkins apparatus for studying the vibrations of a diaphragm. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1889

First galvanic telegraph, invented by Soemmering, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century

Medicine, Anatomy, Surgery, Surgical apparatus, a chair used for surgical procedures, c. 1720, Historical, digitally restored reproduction from a 19th century original

Skiopticon image from the Department of Photography at the Royal Institute of Technology. Use by Professor Helmer Bäckström as lecture material. Bäckström was Sweden's first professor in photography at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm 1948-1958.The drawing over camera lenses, Zeiss Tessar.for more info See: Bäckström, Helmer. Photographic manual. Nature and Culture. Stockholm. 1942. p. 136.

N.N., electrical light fire, Helgoland: arrangement of the headlights on the rotating platform: average 1: 5. Lithograph on paper, 88 x 61.6 cm (including scan edges) N.N. : Elektrisches Leuchtfeuer, Helgoland

An engraving depicting a French Brandy still. Dated 19th century

Single-frame steam hammer, condie steam hammer, 19th century, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th-century pattern

Electric Spider

Single valve pump. Industrial device built by Captain Krebs. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886

Three types of paper press: rachet, screw, and hydraulic, with details of components. Engraving by S. Porter, 1806, after J. Farey.

Textiles: tapestry weaving, parts of a loom (top), details of the tensioning mechanism (below). Engraving by R. Benard after Radel.

Calorimetric bomb Mr Mahler, vintage engraving. Calorimetric bomb Mr Mahler, vintage engraved illustration. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10648001

Woodcut engraving depicting a screw turning mechanism, probably used in early waterways and canals, Dated 18th century

A printing press: seen from the side. Engraving by R. Benard after L.-J. Goussier.

Engraving depicting Gustave Froment's electric motor

Reconstruction of André-Marie Ampère's investigation of the behaviour of an electric current in a magnetic field: Ampère's stand, an arrangement whereby a loop of wire is suspended in small cups of mercury so that it can pivot freely while each end is in constant electrical contact with a battery. André-Marie Ampère (1775-1836) a French physicist and mathematician. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting a water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with valve and S-bend. Dated 19th Century

Spectroscope of the type used by Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (1811-1899) and Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824-1887). Discovered Spectrum Analysis (1859) which enabled discovery of elements including caesium and rubidium. Engraving c1895.

Permanent published pressure gauge, placed on gas jets, in Paris, to facilitate the search for leaks and the control of water distribution operations. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886

Illustration depicting S. Crosley's model pneumatic telegraph. The level on the gauge was used to indicate a number of pre-arranged signals. Dated 19th Century

Letombe engine, vintage engraving. Letombe engine, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10657371

Bumper

The Wimshurst influence machine is an electrostatic generator, a machine for generating high voltages developed between 1880 and 1883 by British inventor James Wimshurst (1832-1903). It has a distinctive appearance with two large contra-rotating discs mounted in a vertical plane, two crossed bars with metallic brushes, and a spark gap formed by two metal spheres. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1893

Acoustics: a carbon microphone invented by D.E. Hughes. Wood engraving by Baud after Broux.

ENGRAVING OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA - ALGEBRA AND ARITHMETIC - ARITHMETIC MACHINE OF PASCAL INVENTED IN THE 17TH CENTURY. Author: DENIS DIDEROT-JEAN LE ROND D ALEMBERT (S XVIII). Location: PRIVATE COLLECTION.

Reynaud's device with central lamp, drum holding the images, and a handle for turning it, giving the illusion of movement. Date: 1879

Illustration showing Electric CHRONOGRAPH. The record was traced on a drum of blackened paper. 1876

Salt water battery of M. Duchemin

An engraving depicting a caisson used to construct the foundations for the Eiffel Tower. Dated 19th century

Stocking frame, knitting machine, 18th century. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after an Illustration by J. Farey from Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary," London, 1817.

Carding Engine end election top and plan at bottom drawn by J.W. Lowry in 1830s

Planographic printing rotary machine by A. Hamm in Heidelberg and Frankenthal, illustration from Meyers Konversations-Lexikon encyclopaedia, 1897

Matthew Boulton and James Watt's steam engine, elevation and plan of the beam floor, 1776. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after an Illustration by J. Farey from Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary," London, 1813.

Regnault's apparatus for forming large objects by casting, Henri Victor Regnault, digitally enhanced reproduction of a 19th-century model, historical, exact date unknown.

Portable steam engine, or Hermann-Lachapelle's industrial traction engine

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler

Bendel A., American locomotives. (From: Atlas to the magazine for Building, ed. V. G. Erbkam, Jg. 12, 1862.) (1862-1862): Longitudinal section, cross-section, details fire box. Stitch on paper, 29.5 x 45.3 cm (including scan edges) Bendel A. : Amerikanische Lokomotiven. (Aus: Atlas zur Zeitschrift für Bauwesen, hrsg. v. G. Erbkam, Jg. 12, 1862)

Plate showing galloon making loom. Engraving from Denis Diderot, Jean Baptiste Le Rond d'Alembert, L'Encyclopedie, 1751-1757. Entitled Passementerie (Trimmings).

Electric generators in the 19th century, Helios, model for electricity works, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century model

Rotating electric motor Dolivo-Dobrowolsky, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1892.

Schematic diagram of James Watt's steam engine from 1769, This engine was the first historically significant heat engine that converted heat energy into mechanical energy, illustration, reproduction from a 19th-century model. Authentic, file restored for optimal use, exact date of submission unknown, historical

An engraving depicting a method of producing nitric acid and sulphuric acid with a furnace. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting an anemometer, an instrument used for measuring the speed of the wind, or any current of gas. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting the clock in the tower of St Ann's Church, Limehouse, London. Dated 19th century

A transverse and longitudinal sections of a Benz 4.375 single cylinder petrol engine. Dated 20th century

An engraving depicting Edison's 'Jumbo' Engine-driver Dynamo on show at the Paris Electrical Exhibition of 1881. Thomas Edison (1847-1931) an American inventor and businessman. Dated 19th century

Illustration depicting a steam turbine, a device that extracts thermal energy from pressurised steam and uses it to do mechanical work on a rotating output shaft. Invented by Charles Algernon Parsons (1854-1931) an Anglo-Irish engineer and inventor of the compound steam turbine. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting a burglar activating a basic home security locking system. Dated 19th Century

Lathe with electric motor, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1892.

An engraving depicting Isaac Newton's reflecting telescope. Isaac Newton Sr. (1643-1727) an English mathematician, astronomer, theologian, author, and physicist. Dated 20th century

Transportable electric drilling machine, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1892.

Charon engine with two cylinders, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

A two-body extractor from the engineering factory and iron foundry in Zittau, Germany, industrial product from the year 1880 / Zweikörperabzieher aus der Maschinenfabrik und Eisengießerei in Zittau, Industrieprodukt aus dem Jahr 1880, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, Originaldatum nicht bekannt, Kolorierung, koloriert, handkoloriert, Hand-colouring, hand coloured, colored.

Machinery: plan and elevation of the Smeaton oil mill. Engraving by W. Lowry, 1814, after J. Farey.

HIGH-PRESSURE ENGINE. BY FAIRBURN. 1851

The double cylinders of Wolf's machine

Automatic drain cup, vintage engraving. Automatic drain cup, vintage engraved illustration. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10648137

Illustration showing pendulum clock and balance 19th century

Illustration showing a mechanical pump for pumping water in industrial processes. German; 1896

Denis Papin's (1647-1712) digester, the forerunner of the domestic pressure cooker.

Machine for cold bending of iron and rail lines, produced by Fowler, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1895.

Skiopticon image from the Department of Photography at the Royal Institute of Technology. Use by Professor Helmer Bäckström as lecture material.

Engraving depicting air pumps in Magazine of Science, and School of Arts. Dated 19th Century

Telegraph, Zeigertelegraf produced by Siemens & Halske, 1880, historical woodcut, Germany, Europe

An engraving depicting the elevation and vertical section of Frost's piston water meter. Dated 19th century

Archimedean screw, a device to lift water, operated by reciprocating rope

An engraving depicting a geyser for a bath. Dated 19th century

Spinneret, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Tanning. Figs 4,5,6: block, box and hammer used to bruise tan. Fig 7: Horse powered powder mill for grinding tan. From the Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, London, 1764, edited by TH Croker, Thomas Williams and Samuel Clarke.

Engineering: a steam engine. Lithograph 1852.

Sectional view of Newcomen steam engine. From Bernard Forest de Belidor 'Architecture Hydraulique' Paris 1737. Engraving

Actuator Suffren, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Illustration showing Stamp dispensing machine, London 1892

Kosmopolit typewriter, historical illustration, Meyers Konversations-Lexikon encyclopedia, 1897

An engraving depicting a Watt steam governor: A, B, a grooved wheel attached to spindle C, D, and driven by an endless cord attached to a fly-wheel on the engine (not shown). E is the collar on the spindle connected to levers E, F, with a hinged attachment to levers F, G, which cross each other and pivoted at H. As the spindle rotates the balls which swing outwards within the grooves G, G, so pulling down the collar E, and so closing damper T via L, M & N. Dated 19th century

Water purifier, Atkins system, capable of filtering 9000 cubic metres per day, installed in the Southampton aqueduct, United Kingdom, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 34, 21 August 1887.

Locomobile. Traction engine for the distillation of wines, built by M. Savalle. It worked by steam. This model could produce 160 hectoliters of wine. It consisted of a rectangular column of a new system, a wine-heating condenser and a steam regulator. It also had a wine tank equipped with another power regulator. Drawing by L. Guiguet. Engraving. La Ilustracion Espaola y Americana, October 15, 1876.

19th century illustration showing two electrically powered gyroscopes, 1880. A gyroscope is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. It is a spinning wheel or disc in which the axis of rotation is free to assume any orientation by itself. When rotating, the orientation of this axis is unaffected by tilting or rotation of the mounting, according to the conservation of angular momentum.

Dumontant seven piston pump body. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886

Apparatus for the decomposition of hydrofluoric acid and the production of fluorine. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886

Electrical distributor of Mr Baudot, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque (1882).

Power-driven metallic crushing devices used in the processing of gunpowder. Etching by Bénard after L.J. Goussier.

Single valve pump. Industrial device built by Captain Krebs. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886

Engraving depicting a turnip drill. Dated 19th century

Ausstellung zur Unfallverhütung in Berlin 1889, Kreissäge mit Schutzvorrichtung, digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, historisch

An engraving depicting Johann Philipp Reis's "musical" telephone: Transmitter (left) and receiver. Johann Philipp Reis (1834-1874) a German scientist, teacher and inventor. Dated 19th century

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler

John Ericsson's hot air machine at The Science Museum, South Kensington, London.

Illustration, cannon, German marine turret cannon with an upper deck mount and a central pivot, 19th Century, Meyers Konversations-Lexikon encyclopaedia, 1889

Aeronautical navigation device, Appareil de Navigation Aerienne, System Kaufmann, detail, 1869, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of a 19th century original

Engraving depicting a hunting camera. Dated 19th Century

of 5