Vintage Scientific Apparatus Designs

Engravings of antique scientific devices, showcasing early mechanical inventions for experimentation in physics and engineering.

Cross-section of Edison's lamp-black (carbon) button telephone transmitter (microphone). Wood engraving c1891.

The atwood falling machine was developed by George Atwood in 1784. It was conceived as a proof of the laws of uniformly accelerated motion, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century model

James Prescott Joule's (1818-89) apparatus for determining mechanical equivalent of heat. Vessel of water, oil or mercury encloses vanes attached to spindle. Cord wound round cylinder and drum. Weight descending against scale rotates spindle and vanes. Raising and lowering weight raises temperature of fluid. From rise in temperature and distance travelled energy used can be calculated. Engraving 1872.

Carronade, short piece of naval ordnance with large calibre chamber, like a mortar. Name said to come from Carron Ironworks, Scotland. Wood engraving, 1850

Engraving depicting Joseph Saxton's magneto-electric machine.

Astatic compass

Illustration depicting a design for a German flying machine. Dated 19th Century

Cross section of the rear and the front of the propeller boat of Charles Dallery

An engraving depicting a fly shuttle used in power looms. Top: Shuttle. Bottom: Shuttle in its 'shed' showing the device for throwing it from right to left. A similar device was fitted to the other side to throw it from left to right. Fly shuttle invented by John May circa 1730. Dated 19th century

A single acting cylinder of a steam engine

Cross-section of Edison's lamp-black (carbon) button telephone transmitter (microphone). Wood engraving c1891.

Electromagnetic printing telegraph invented by Alexander Bain, exhibited at the Royal Polytechnic Institution, London. Alexander Bain was a Scottish inventor and engineer who was first to invent and patent the electric clock. He installed the railway telegraph lines between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Engraving depicting 'Barker's Mill' (hydraulic tourniquet) demonstrating the lateral pressure exerted by a liquid on the vessel containing it. Dated 19th Century

Position of the converter at the time of introduction of the lime, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Engraving depicting an arc light projector with optics by Chance Bros of Birmingham designed to enable ships to use the Suez Canal by night.

The time taken up by cerebral operations, p. 223. Mind Association. Illustrations. 1886. General Research Division. Psychology, Philosophy, Measuring instruments, Scientific apparatus and instruments

Engraving depicting a Brockie-Pell Carbon Arc Lamp

Horizontal microscope of Filippo Bonanni microscopes, 1660. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1889

Engraving depicting the apparatus for a vertically cannon boring. Boring is the process of enlarging a hole that has already been drilled (or cast) by means of a single-point cutting tool (or of a boring head containing several such tools), such as in boring a gun barrel or an engine cylinder. Dated 19th Century

'Hall Braille Stereotyping Machine', 1919. Artist: Unknown.

Detail of C.F.W. Ludwig's kymograph

Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone (1875), exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876.

$Observational astronomy in the 19th century: Photographic refractor, refracting telescope, refracting telescope, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th-century model$

Engraving depicting Hermann von Helmholtz's binocular stereoscope. Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894) a German physician and physicist. Dated 19th Century

Washing Machine by Fischer and Co, Camen, Kamen, Germany / Waschmaschine von Fischer und Co, Camen, Kamen, Deutschland, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.

Herstellung von Ethanol, Alkohol, Ethylalkohol und Trinkalkohol, Kontinuierlicher Destllierapparat, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvo...

A stranding machine, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Collin's Improved Turbine Water Wheel, Industrial America - Invention

Cross section of the hearth

or instrument to illustrate the flight of insects, Fig. 87: Representing the artificial insect, or instrument to illustrate the flight of insects, Animal mechanism: a treatise on terrestrial and aërial locomotion, Marey, Etienne-Jules, 1830-1904, Engraving, 1874, With one hundred and seventeen illustrations, drawn and engraved under the direction of the author--T.p. Illustrator unknown.

Historic drawing from the 19th century, Magrepha, the organ of the ancient Hebrews in the Jewish synagogue

Diagram of J. J. Thomson's apparatus for studying 'positive rays'. Large bulb with A) anode, C) cathode in front of the cylinder of soft iron with very narrow copper tube passing through. Particles protected from magnetic field until leaving tube then pass between poles of electromagnet P,P) or plates, E,E). Positive particles then strike photographic plate. J. J. Thomson (1856-1940) an English physicist and Nobel laureate in physics. Dated 20th century

An engraving depicting the mechanism of the power loom. At F is the fly shuttle K, in its 'shed', and the device at either end and thrown from side to side. Dated 19th century

A part of the propeller battery

Labor Inspectorate Photo Collection. Drawing device

Engraving depicting the steam indicator of James Watts' steam engine. James Watt (1736-1819) a Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist. Dated 19th century

Hub for two channels perpendicular to each other, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1861.

Engraving depicting a Brewster Stereoscope. David Brewster (1781-1868) a Scottish physicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor, writer, historian of science and university principle. Dated 19th Century

Preparation of liquid sulfur dioxide, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1857.

Sectional view of Sautter and Lemonnier's projector, fitted to French warships. Power was supplied by a Gramme machine, and the light source was a Serrin arc lamp. The stepped lens in front of the light arranged to give a cylindrical beam. Dated 19th century

Moebius device, Longitudinal section, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

An engraving of a Saccharometer and assay jar, for measuring the sugar content of wort used in brewing, 1866

A greenhouse with a manure pit filled with compost in 18th century France. Date: circa 1760

Drawing of a standard 19th century French navigational Sextant. 1874

An engraving depicting the Bessemer process for the mass production of steel from molten pig iron before the development of the open hearth furnace. Named after Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) an English inventor. Dated 19th century

Illustration showing Reconstruction of Ampere's investigation of the behaviour of an electric current in a magnetic field: Ampere's stand, an arrangement whereby a loop of wire is suspended in such a way that it can revolve freely while each end maintained constantly in electrical contact with a battery. At x and y are small cups of mercury.

Furnace coke, Coppee system, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Sectional view of a telegraph tower for Claude Chappe's semaphore, 1792, (c1870). Artist: Unknown

A woodcut engraving depicting compasses/ dividers being used to measure the bore of a cannon. Dated 17th century

DC dynamom machine

Hub cast iron vertical section, vintage engraving. Hub cast iron vertical section, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1861. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10674160

Electric Lantern of miners

A chain pump for the operation of steam engines by the Jung and Must company in Halle, Germany, digital improved file of an original print from the 19th century, Europe

Alexander Graham Bell's experiment with the musical photo phone. Dated 1891

Ägyptische kannelierte Säule mit Gebälk. Veröffentlichung der Meyers Enzyklopädie Egyptian fluted column with entablature. Publication of the Meyers encyclopedia, Vol. 7, Leipzig, Germany, 1910. LicenseRF Copyright: xZoonar.com/SergeyxKohlx 23189400

Illustration showing Bifilar pendulum (Vll). invented by the Accademia del Cimento. from 'Saggi di naturali esnerienze fatte nell' Accademia del Cimento' Florence, 1691 (2nd edition)

Medicine, anatomy, surgery, surgical device, a chair used for surgical procedures, c. 1720, Historic, digitally restored reproduction from a 19th century original.

Hydro-magnetic Clock Fountain P Valentin Stansel, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1847.

Engraving depicting a Wheatstone stereoscope. Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875) an English scientist and inventor of the Victorian Era. Dated 19th Century

steam engine without condenser, with a vertical cylinder

Pointer telegraph of Wheatstone, left the transmitter, right the receiver / Zeigertelegraf von Wheatstone, links der Zeichengeber, rechts der Empfangsapparat, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.

An engraving depicting a hydraulic ram: pump for raising water from a reservoir to a slightly higher level. Invented by Joseph-Michel Montgolfier in 1796. Dated 20th century

Alexander Graham Bell's experiment with the musical photo phone. Dated 1891

Illustration depicting a table used in surveying to draw a plan on the spot. Dated 18th Century

An engraving depicting Erasmus L. Key's washing machine. Dated 19th century

Apparatus JB Porta or high water vapor above its level, vintage engraving. Apparatus JB Porta or high water vapor above its level, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1847. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10673591

Engraving depicting the arrangement of lenses in Galileo Galilei's telescope. This had two double convex lenses. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) an Italian polymath, physicist, philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. Dated 19th Century

Engraving depicting an idea for an early helicopter. Dated 18th Century

Design for a pendulum clock. From Christiaan Huyghens 'Horologium Oscillatorium' Paris 1673. Cycloidal pendulum with cheeks (fig.II) Woodcut.

Illustration showing Mechanism of the bobbin net machine. 1855

Cross section of the rails of the Mont Cenis railway

An engraving depicting a Fresnel echelon or lighthouse lens from the front and side. At A is a plano-convex lens a foot in diameter surrounded by glass rings whose curvature is calculated so that they have the same focus as A. M, N are mirrors which turn light which escapes the lens into the same path as the primary beam. Dated 19th century

$Engraving depicting Giuseppe Piazzi's refracting telescope with achromatic lens built by Jesse Ramsden. Giuseppe Piazzi (1746-1826) an Italian Catholic priest of the Theatine order, mathematician, and astronomer. Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800) an English mathematician, astronomical and scientific instrument maker. Dated 19th Century$

Cross-section of Elihu Whitney's (1765-1825) saw-gin for cleaning cotton. Seeds can be seen ejected on left, while cotton fibres are passing on right. Wood engraving 1865

Engraving depicting Leon Foucault's machine for producing current in a copper plate.

A mine: cross-section of an equipment for extracting ore from the pit. Etching by Bénard after L.J. Goussier.

An apparatus for collecting the chlorine in the water, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1857.

TELEGRAPHONE: magnetic recording tele phone invented by Valdemar Poulsen (1869-1942). He applied for a patent on 1 December 1898; and the instrument aroused great interest at the Paris Exposition of 1900. RIBBON TELEGRAPHONE: detail of thin steel ribbon mounted on pulleys.

Engraving depicting Gustave Trouve's electric motor used to power the propeller of a launch through a chain drive. Exhibited at the International Exhibition of Electricity , Paris.

Chemische Waage, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, genaues Originaldatum nicht bekannt

Microscope by the Zeiss company from Jena, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century model, Germany, Europe

Bisoc M. de Meixmoron, Dombasle, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

$Observational astronomy in the 19th century: Refractor, refracting telescope, refracting telescope, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th-century model$

Compasses and dividers being used to measure the bore of a cannon. From Levinus Hulsius Instrumentorum Mechanicorum, Frankfort-am-Main, 1605. Acknowledgement must be made to the Ann Ronan Picture Library and EP Goldschmidt & Co Ltd.

Torpedo launcher on a mobile mount, developed by the French engineer Gustave Canet (1846-1913). From Bibliotheque Des Merveilles, published 1888.

The telephone by Alexander Graham Bell, 1861, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century

Hydraulics: a water-wheel with a pressure relieving device, end elevation and plan. Engraving by J. B. Taylor after J. Pinchback.

Siemens-Halske equipment for extraction of copper from its ores by electrolysis, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

A woodcut engraving depicting an Archimedean Screw for raising water. Dated 18th century

Victor Tatin (1843 1913) was a French engineer who created an early airplane, the Aéroplane in 1879. Tatin's mechanical bird:

Healthy toilets with tank flushing and siphoned and ventilated devices without mechanism. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886

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

Congressveraket, as possibly used by the English during the bombardment of Vlissingen on August 13, 1809. Longitudinal view and cross-section of the rocket (flare), the parts numbered, at the bottom of a scale stick, Congress rocket, possibly used by the English in the bombardment of Vlissingen, 1809., draughtsman: anonymous, draughtsman: Daniël Veelwaard (I), (possibly), Netherlands, 1809 - 1810, paper, pen, brush, h 123 mm × w 269 mm

Engraving depicting an armillary sphere. An armillary sphere is a model of objects in the sky, consisting of a spherical framework of rings, centred on Earth or the Sun, that represent lines of celestial longitude and latitude. Dated 18th century

A row of washbasins, sanitary facilities in plants, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1909.

Ocean Current Meter. from: 'The Gulf Stream'; by John Elliott Pillsbury; 1891

Sewing machine blueprint, illustration

Governor, or 'Fly-Ball Governor', invented by James Watt to regulate the supply of steam in order to preserve a nearly fixed engine speed Date: circa 1785

Elisha's telephone, dated 1896. Created by Elisha Gray (2nd August 1835 - 21st 1901), American inventor and competitor of Alexander Graham Bell.

Lotus-Säule, Ägypten. Lotus Column, Egypt. Publication of the Meyers encyclopedia, Vol. 7, Leipzig, Germany, 1910. LicenseRF Copyright: xZoonar.com/SergeyxKohlx 23252826

An engraving depicting a lighthouse optics, showing the light source surrounded by eight Fresnel echelon or lighthouse lenses. P is the weight which drives the mechanism for revolving the lens, M, which includes a governor for regulating the speed. Dated 19th century

of 3