Apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, United Kingdom, 1939-1949

Made:
1939-1949 in United Kingdom
maker:
Glaxo Laboratories Limited
Set of apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin Set of apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin Set of apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Set of apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Set of apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Set of apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Set of apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, comprising enamel dish and metal device to contain liquid, cellophane cover, wire to support cellophane, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Although the effects of penicillin on bacteria were observed in 1928 by the British bacteriologist Alexander Fleming (1881-1955), the drug was not successfully made in any quantity or isolated from the juice exuded by the penicillium mould until the early 1940s. The pioneering work on making and separating penicillin, and finding its huge medical potential was conducted in Oxford. This apparatus was used in some of the very earliest experimental work there. It was used to grow the mould which produces penicillin, on the surface of a shallow nutrient soup. The sterilisable containers were plugged with cotton wool. This stopped air bringing in common microbes which would contaminate the growing process. They were once biscuit tins and butter containers purchased from an Oxfordshire greengrocer. Drawing on the experience with this apparatus, specially designed ceramic vessels were soon developed. This apparatus was donated by Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford.

Details

Category:
Biotechnology
Object Number:
1964-457
Materials:
metal, enamel, glass and cellophane
Measurements:
overall: 92 mm x 340 mm x 228 mm, 1.9 kg
type:
laboratory apparatus
credit:
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology

Parts

Enamel dish and metal device from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Enamel dish and metal device from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Enamel dish and metal device from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Measurements:
overall: 93 mm x 362 mm x 291 mm, .883 kg
Materials:
metal , enamel , glass and cellophane
Object Number:
1964-457/1
type:
laboratory apparatus and penicillin
Brown rectangular metal penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Brown rectangular metal penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Brown rectangular metal penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Measurements:
overall: 123 mm x 302 mm x 240 mm, 1.14 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1964-457/2
type:
laboratory apparatus and penicillin
Brown circular metal penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Brown circular metal penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Brown circular metal penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Measurements:
overall: 132 mm x 338 mm 263 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1964-457/3
type:
laboratory apparatus and penicillin
Seven white ceramic fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Seven white ceramic fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Seven white ceramic penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Materials:
ceramic (unspecified)
Object Number:
1964-457/4
type:
laboratory apparatus and penicillin
Glass vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Glass vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Glass vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Measurements:
overall: 460 mm x 376 mm x 230 mm, 2.93 kg
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
1964-457/5
type:
laboratory apparatus
Metal container from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Metal container from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Cuboids metal container from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Measurements:
overall: 352 mm x 167 mm x 105 mm, .5 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1964-457/6
type:
laboratory apparatus
Glass penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Glass penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Glass penicillin fermentation vessel from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Measurements:
overall: 380 mm 175 mm, 2.779 kg
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
1964-457/7
type:
laboratory apparatus
Metal cylindrical container from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Metal cylindrical container from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Metal cylindrical container from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Measurements:
overall: 234 mm 92 mm, .208 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1964-457/8
type:
laboratory apparatus
Metal container with handle and rubber disc from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Metal container with handle and rubber disc from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin

Metal container with handle and rubber disc from apparatus used in experimental work with penicillin, by Glaxo Laboratories Limited, England, 1939-1949

Measurements:
overall: 280 mm x 460 mm x 215 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and rubber (unidentified)
Object Number:
1964-457/9
type:
laboratory apparatus