Demainbray's rat's tail crane model

Model of a rat's tail crane, maker unknown, 1735-1753. Once belonged to Stephen Demainbray.

This type of crane was common in the eighteenth century. It was operated by men, horses or donkeys walking inside the wheel, or sometimes by means of a rope outside the wheel. It was used to move cargo or masonry. This model once belonged to Stephen Demainbray and was used by him in his lectures on natural philosophy.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.