Model of Hooke's universal joint

Model of Robert Hooke's universal joint made by Mr Pease, probably in London, in 1760 and owned by Stephen Demainbray.

This model is thought to have been made by Mr Pease, a spring-maker in London. It was itemised in the Queen's Catalogue and therefore believed to have belonged to Stephen Demainbray. Demainbray worked as superintendent at the King's observatory at Kew from 1768 and his collection of instruments and apparatus was absorbed into the King's own collection. Using two double joints, rotary motion can be transferred from one shaft, through a second, to a third that is orientated at a right-angle to the first. This type of joint has been attributed to Hooke sinc he described it in detail in his Cutlerian Lectures of 1679. The model is demonstrated by truning the handle.