Mechanical Devices and Engineering

Artifacts illustrating early mechanical devices like a perpetual motion fountain, an onager, and various engineering tools from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Alexander Graham Bell's photophone, which uses light to transmit sound. Date: 1880

Blowing cylinder or sheet glass. Method of making sheet glass introduced into England by Lucas Chance in 1832. Larger sheets could be obtained than by the crown glass method. Wood engraving c1860.

Illustration depicting Heinrich Hertz's mirror experiment using oscillation and reflecting metal sheets to show outward and return paths of electromagnetic (radio) waves. Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894) a German physicist who conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves theorised by James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light. Dated 20th century

The formation of the echo, vintage engraved illustration. From the Universe and Humanity, 1910.

An engraving depicting the forming of a carriage spring by hammering on an iron band to hold the individual leaves together. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting fruit picking tongs, which are used to collect fruit from the tops of trees. Dated 19th century

Furnace for processes where protracted heat required, such as cementation. This furnace is gravity-fed and self-stoking. From 1683 English edition of 'Beschreibung allerfurnemisten mineralischen Ertzt', Lazarus Ercker, (Prague, 1574). Copperplate engraving.

Pouchet's modification of Schulze's experiment

The Jacob's staff, forerunner of the sextant, is an early astronomical instrument for measuring angles

A Sawrian: cartoon on Gideon Mantell (1790-1852) the English geologist who discovered a suarian, the Iguanodon, near Cuckfield, Sussex in 1820, and deduced from the teeth that it was a herbivore, not a carnivore like previously discovered dinosaurs. Cartoon by John Scott from Thomas Hood 'Comic Annual', London, 1836. Woodcut.

An engraving depicting a portable electric light which used a zinc/carbon "dry" cell (Obach Cell). Dated 19th century

An egg in a carafe, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1873.

Transparent spherical velocipede by A Rousseau of Marseille, France 1882

Allen & Hanbury, Vacuum pans

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler; A design for drawing water from a well

Another well-thought-out experiment in dentistry from Heath Robinson, the Gadget King and mastermind behind endless convoluted contraptions and silly ideas. Date: 1927

Strohskelettbeute mit Honigraum. Veröffentlichung der Meyers Enzyklopädie Straw skep hive with honey super. Publication of the Meyers encyclopedia, Vol. 7, Leipzig, Germany, 1910. LicenseRF Copyright: xZoonar.com/SergeyxKohlx 23189379

Illustration depicting Heinrich Hertz's oscillator and reflecting metal sheets to show outward and return paths of electromagnetic (radio) waves. Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894) a German physicist who first conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves theorised by James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light. Dated 20th century

Illustration depicting Ptolemy of Alexandria in his observatory. Claudius Ptolemy (100-168) was a Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting Marin Mersenne performing an experiment to prove the rotation of the earth: ball fired from vertical cannon did not fall back down the barrel. Marin Mersenne (1588-1648) a French theologian, philosopher, mathematician and music theorist. Dated 17th Century

Netherlands, Weissenbruch, Isaac, Thermometer, print, prent, prints, prenten, height 127 mm, width 111 mm, Dutch, 1826-08-27 - 1912-11-13, print maker, printmaker, 1836 - 1912, paper, papier, houtgravure

Engraving showing a Lloyd's of London insurance underwriter, closely examining a globe of the Earth, 1886. Date: 7 August 1886

sports, swimming, swimming lessons, preliminary practice onshore, wood engraving, from: Friedrich Eduard Bilz, New Naturopathic Treatment, Leipzig, Germany, 1902,

Take the bottle to the oil density, vintage engraving. Take the bottle to the oil density, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1869. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10678566

An engraving depicting the Bessemer process in action: manoeuvring the ladle into position to take charge from the converter. Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer method of making steel. Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) an English inventor. Dated 20th century

Eudiometer, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1857.

Engraving depicting the Busby two-horse plough. Dated 19th Century

An engraving depicting the serving of a rope - the binding of a thick rope with a thin one to lengthen its life. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting a stoneware milk-dish in which cream was allowed to rise. Dated 19th Century

Reed's (Reid's) Syringe used at St Thomas's Hospital, London to pump out the stomach in cases of poisoning. Contents of the stomach are being pumped into a receiver, a guard is placed between teeth to prevent tube being bitten. Woodcut published London, 1835.

An engraving depicting a fossil tree trunk in a coal seam, with its roots still clay beneath the clay. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting a comet observed over North Africa during the 15th Century. Dated 15th Century

Engraving depicting a hydrostatic bellows (Paradoxical Instrument). The men standing on the bellows can be lifted by pouring a small quantity of water down tube at the right. Dated 19th Century

Engraving depicting a thermometer screen at the Kew Observatory. Dated 19th Century

Illustration depicting a rotary magnetic separator, capable of extracting ferrous metals from up to 4 tons of rubbish per hour. Dated 19th century

Another experiment on the hemisphere of Magdeburg, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1852.

Paths of alpha, beta, and gamma rays from a radium sample placed between poles of electromagnet, as used in Curies' laboratory, Paris. Engraving published Paris, 1904

medicine diseases gout (Arthritis urica) etching from series ""Krueppel and Bettler"" by Jacques Callot 17th century,

Gaston Bozerains pedal-driven douche which stimulated the system simultaneously with cold water and exercise. Engraving from La Nature, Paris, 1878.

THE WIMBLEDON PRIZE MEETING, VIEW OF THE NEW CANVAS TARGETS AND DUMMY, JULY 11, 1874, 1874 engraving

Woodblock engraving depicting lightening and a fireball in the sky. Dated 17th century

A state-of-the-art diving suit of the late 19th century, made of rubber and fitted with an emergency air tank, just in case the unthinkable should happen... Date: circa 1875

Illustration depicting action and reaction by use of a reconstruction of he steam engine developed by Hero of Alexandria

An illustration from Giuseppe Piazzi's catalogue of star positions, celebrating his discovery of the planetoid on 1 January 1801 which he named Ceres. The instrument on the right is the Palermo circle, built for Piazzi by Jesse Ramsden. Giuseppe Piazzi (1746-1826) an Italian Catholic priest of the Theatine order, mathematician, and astronomer. Dated 19th Century

The primitive lathe. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1885

Experiments with an electrical device to find gold underground. Date: 1892

Grasshopper verrucivore, laying, vintage engraved illustration. From Zoology Elements from Paul Gervais.

Device used by Janssen for the expedition. Old 19th century engraved illustration, Scientific ascent to the refuge des Grands Mulets, Mont Blanc by Pierre Jules César Janssen (1824-1907) in 1888 from Le Tour du Monde 1889

1878 Illustration depicting an electrophorus or electrophore. This was a manual capacitive electrostatic generator used to produce electrostatic charge via the process of electrostatic induction. The first version of it was invented in 1762 by Swedish professor Johan Carl Wilcke, but Italian scientist Alessandro Volta improved and popularized the device in 1775, and is sometimes erroneously credited with its invention

A patent double-action grinder for mashing asbestos fibre - a drawing done for Turners Asbestos Cement Co by William Heath Robinson, renowned for his machines and convoluted contraptions. Date: c.1925

Illustration, Railway Ribaldry by W Heath Robinson -- How they train railway porters to manoeuvre their loads on crowded platforms. Date: 1935

Cartoon depicting a biological engineer in his laboratory

Illustration showing Lodestones used as magnets and compasses. Frontispiece of seventh book of 'della Porta Magia Naturalis' by Johannes Baptista , Nuremberg, 1715. The first edition of this book appeared in Naples in 1558

An engraving depicting Transpiration of plants: Stephen Hales' (1677-1761) experiment, designed to measure the rate of transpiration in a Sunflower. From: F.A. Pouchet The Universe, London 1874

medicine soul pineal gland as point of soul drawing from ""Traite de l'homme) by Rene Descartes 17th century,

Engraving depicting a spinthariscopic invented by William Crookes (1832-1919) an English chemist and physicist who attended the Royal College of Chemistry in London. Dated 20th Century

Scientific toys, little electric waltzers. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887

'All Cares and Sorrows Were Forgotten By Him Who Inhaled Its Fragrance', c1930. Artist: W Heath Robinson.

Serpula contortiplicata, vintage engraving. Old engraved illustration of Serpula contortiplicata.

Cartoon depicting a Colorado Beetle: Fear of its spread to Britain led to an Order in Council ordering the destruction of any specimens found. Also pictured is A. J. Mundella. Dated 19th Century

Aquarium for the study of diatomaceous, vintage engraving. Aquarium for the study of diatomaceous, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1873. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10679363

GARGANTUA Y PANTAGRUEL DE FRANÇOIS RABELAIS - GRABADO DE AHORCADO - SIGLO XIX. Author: Gustave Dore (1832-1883). Location: BIBLIOTECA DE CATALUÑA-COLECCION. Barcelona. SPAIN.

The Similigraph Level by Captain Billioque. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1890

Indian illustration of the universe, bible, Old Testament, First Book of Moses, universe, turtle, snake, elephants, light, historical illustration 1850

Machine to classify stones according to their size. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887

Hipparchus (c. 190 BC-120 BC). Greek astronomer and mathematician. Hipparchus at the Alexandria Observatory. Drawing by J. Planella. Chromolithography. "Historia Universal" by César Cantú. Volume III, 1882.

Engraving depicting a bow drill, a prehistoric form of drilling tool, which was used to produce fire. Dated 19th Century

Engraving depicting Stephen Gray's experiments with static electricity caused by rubbing a glass rod.

Engraving depicting a beehive with glass side and sections which could be removed. Dated 19th century

Die Flugmaschine von Lana Francesco Lana Terzi 1631 - 1687 Italienischer Jesuit und Luftfahrtpionier / Lana s Flying Machine Francesco Lana Terzi 1631 - 1687 Italian Jesuit and aeronautics pioneer From the book Wondeful Balloon Ascents or The Conquest of the Skies published c 1870, Historisch, digital restaurierte Reproduktion von einer Vorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, Record date not stated,

An entomologist at work; represented by a composite man made up of insects. Coloured lithograph by G.E. Madeley, 1830, after G. Spratt.

Allegorical depiction of global research in chemistry, historical share, detail, steel engraving, National Chemsearch Corporation, 1973, Delaware, USA, North America

Forager, vintage engraving. Forager, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1845. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10660511

Spinning a Web, 1931 - MODEL RELEASE NOT AVAILABLE Copyright: xVithalbhaixJhaveri/DinodiaxPhotox

Artificial insemination in fish in 1880, Italy, Historical, digital reproduction of an original from the 19th century, Europe

Engraving depicting Alessandro Volta's electrophorus

Cartoon - Our Rube Goldberg Parliament. John Collins (1917-2007)

Illustration showing hand operated suction pump, similar to the majority of village pumps in the latter half of the nineteenth century 1887

Illustration depicting a double-feed printing machine using stereo plates, and capable of high-speed operation. Dated 19th century

History of navigation. Claulking shot holes. Iconographic Encyclopaedia of science, Literature and Art, 19th c. Color.

A cartoon commenting on the testing of the efficacy of Brilliantine. Dated 20th century

Engraving depicting a wood mounted line block for printing using photography and etching. Dated 20th century

Illustration depicting two ancient Egyptian, cotton spinners. 1838

An engraving depicting an electric floor polisher. Dated 19th century

Astronomical and physical observations in the Kingdom of Perœ, made by Antonio de Ulloa and Jorge Juan. Printed in Madrid in 1783. Illustration from the 3rd Book. Etching. SPAIN. MADRID (AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY). Madrid. Navy Museum.

Diagram explaining why the observer observes his image to be diminished. Principal focus at C, virtual focus A, B. Dated 19th century

Quadrant telegraph by Louis Francois Clement Breguet (1804-1883). Nineteenth century colored engraving.

Various dislocation exercises performed by circus acrobats. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1885

Science games, Manning wooden horse. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887

Collecting the blue material, vintage engraving. Collecting the blue material, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1857. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10673728

A suggestion for a flying machine, illustration from the magazine The Graphic, volume XVI, no 421, December 22, 1877. Digitally colorized image.

Treatment of mummies, Egypt, craft, tool, saw, death, burial, embalming, social upper class, Bible, Old Testament, First Book of Moses, chapter 50, verse 2, historical illustration 1850, Africa

A tooth-drawer frightening his patient with a hot coal causing him to pull away violently and extract a tooth. Coloured etching, 1810, after J. Collier.

'Cage containing inoculated used by Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) during his work on Hydrophobia (Rabies) at the Ecole Normale, Paris. Engraving, London, 1885.'

Set of constellations of the northern hemispheres - Ursa Minor and Major, Draco, Cassiopea and others. All main constellation with names of stars and constellations. Sky map vector illustration. Constellations of the northern hemisphere set vector

Water pours, Praktischer Hausschatz der Heilkunde, II. volume, 1930, Heinrich Killinger, Nordhausen

Engraving showing a 'weather helmet and cap', made of fur, used by Sir James Clark Ross's Search Expedition of 1848-1849. Ross's expedition was one of many to search the Arctic for signs of Sir John Franklin's ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845. In 1845 the British Admiralty sent two polar exploration ships, HMS 'Erebus' and HMS 'Terror', to look for the Northwest passage round the northern coast of Canada. The expedition, commanded by Sir John Franklin, disappeared from view late in 1845

Balllista. Siege engine. 14th century. Engraving.

Engraving of a Martin's anchor, a device used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent a craft from drifting away. Dated 19th Century

A doctor, straddled by a skeleton, holds a full purse in his hands; signifying that he lives well off others' deaths. Coloured engraving.

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