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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.
D'Asrlincourt's teleprinter. 1878.
423 assets in this story
1746-29961002
An engraving depicting Knapp's auto-ophthalmoscope. Dated 19th century
1746-28999381
Engraving depicting a spy camera in the form of a book. Dated 20th Century
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Six cylinder engine, illustration
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Drawing for a Phonograph
1746-19631927
Phonautograph (c 1857) apparatus for studying sound vibrations graphically, invented by (Edouard) Leon Scott de Martinville. Vibrations produced in cone traced on lamp blacked cylinder. Engraving, c1880.
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Engraving depicting a water driven mechanical organ. The engraving depicts how the pins on the revolving drum open and close the pipes. Dated 17th century
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Diagram showing how to insert a Eastman negative film roll into a camera. Eastman Kodak Company photo frame with negative paper. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887
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An aneroid barometer for measuring atmospheric pressure. Invented in 1844 by French scientist Lucien Vidi, the aneroid barometer uses a small, flexible metal box called an aneroid cell (capsule), which is made from an alloy of beryllium and copper.
1746-28999247
Engraving depicting Lavoisier and Laplace's Calorimeter which he used to determine the amount of heat produced by combustion. Dated 19th Century
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Section showing drum an tubes of 'Comet' 1889 furnace. Plate 26-B.. text. Illustrations, Advertisements, Catalogs. 1877 - 1893. Science, Industry and Business Library: General Collection. Plumbing , Equipment and supplies , Catalogs
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Buerk's Watchman's Time Detector, Industrial America - Invention
1746-28992828
The homacoustic speaking tube. This model had both mouthpiece and earpiece which made it unnecessary to change position when speaking or listening to someone elsewhere in the building. Dated 1892.
1746-19631520
Patrick Bell (1799-1869) Scottish clergyman and inventor. His horse-powered machine reaping of 1826. First successful reaping machine, but not commercialised. Hand-coloured engraving 1851.
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Engraving depicting a portable electric light which used a zinc or carbon dry cell power source
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Revolver by J. Deane of King William Street, London. Engraving from The Mechanics Magazine, London, 1862
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Revolver-Devismes. engraving 1855
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Demarest's Patent Water Closet Apparatus, 1888, J.L. Mott Iron Works., 1888., New York. Publisher, J. L. Mott Iron Works. Plumbing, Equipment and supplies, Catalogs, Toilets, Wood engravings
6176-67079092
Colt Frontier revolver, invented by Samuel Colt (1814-62), c1850. Artist: Unknown
1746-19631979
Colt revolver. Fig. 2 shows the breech disc, Fig. 3, the cartridge in section. From 'The Mechanics' Magazine', London, 1869.
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'Exercise on this saddle', three speeds trot, canter or gallop and claims to help with; creates appetite, cures dyspepsia, quickens the circulation, stimulates the liver, relieves hysteria, insomnia, gout and rheumatism and safely reduces obesity. Date: 1895
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Savery's patent engine, 1699. Illustrations. 1830. Rare Book Division. Steam-engines
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Sir Isaac Newton's reflecting telescope. Date: 1668
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Picture series How a Liebig picture is created, under the rapid press, digitally restored reproduction of a collective picture from c. 1900, in the public domain, exact date unknown