Explore objects revealing the many ways medical professionals have thought about and treated mental illness, as well as attempts to measure and categorise people, whether physically or mentally.
Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry
1936-1940
Right side panel ('Side 3' in diagram) from padded cell used at Farnborough Hospital, made by Pocock Brothers, 235 Southwark Bridge Road, London, England, 1936-1940.
1829-1850
Plaster phrenological head of Sparrow by De Ville, London, c.1824
2011
Hand-operated CPP (conditioned place preference) test unit for modelling drug addiction in zebrafish, made from an unused housing unit for mice. Designed by Alistair Brock, Matthew Parker, and Caroline Brennan at Queen Mary, University of London, 2011.
1988-1994
Five mains connection cables, as used at the Biosignal Laboratory at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, England, established by Professor Hans Eysenck and Dr Paul Barrett to conduct psychological investigations into the relationship between psychophysical and psychometric measures; 1988-1994.
Asher Law Stereoscope cards, by Keeler, London
1856-1900
Leather case for aesthesiometer, Sieveking, brass and nickel, by Becker of London, 19th century
Finger dynamometer by C.F. Palmer Ltd., London
1891-1921
Unidentified device by C.F. Palmer
Switch box for galvanometer readings by Gambrett Bros. Ltd., London
1920-1960
Papier-mâché "safety" chamber pot, by Thetford Pulp-Ware, England, from Brighton County Borough Asylum/St. Francis Psychiatric Hospital, Haywards Heath, 1920-1960.
1920 - 1970
Metal model of a post box missing a door, made by B&S, made in England, used for Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Earthenware phrenological bust, also designed as a penholder, area divisions, numbers and labels marked in underglaze black, by F. Bridges
Metal model of a totem pole with a green base and animals in blue, yellow and pink, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Wooden model of a red scooter with semi-attached animal rider, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Metal model of a marker stone reading 'To London V Miles', unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Metal model of a road sign on a black and white stripped pole on a circular white base, with a red warning triangle in a red circle and a white sign, reading a 'Road Junction', unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Metal model of a road sign on a black and white stripped pole on a circular white base, with a red warning triangle in a red circle and a white sign, reading a 'Road Narrows'
Metal model of a water pump and trough, missing handle, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Metal model of a road sign on a black and white stripped pole on a circular white base, with a red warning triangle in a red circle and a white sign, reading 'Steep Hill', unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Red model of a weighing scales with scale and 'Try Your Weight', unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Wooden model of a woman wearing a green dress standing underneath a parasol, all on a wooden base, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's "World technique", 1920-1970
Nine square plastic Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (3rd UK Edition) pattern test blocks, by Pearson Assessment, London, England, 1998-2000. Used in the Lothian cohort study.
1999
'Paleocal-1', dual-axis calipers, made by Paleo-Tech Instruments, Wheeling, Illinois, United States and the Mitutoyo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1999. Used by skeletal biologists to study human remains.
1970-1979
Calliper by Helios, used for measuring radiographs, 1970-1979.
1824
Plaster phrenological head of John Pallet, murderer, by O'Neill, Edinburgh, c.1824
Record marked 'E.C.', maker unknown, in a brown paper sleeve.
Record with letter I marked on it, in brown sleeve, no maker marked
1970-1989
Anthropometric field set, incomplete, containing items by Holtain Ltd and CMS Ltd, as used in the Chard Survey, 1970-1989.
1800-1899
Plaster phrenological head of unidentified male, 19th century.
Box of 12 wooden cubes, no maker marked
Tin (from 'John Bell's Cold Cure Capsules') with 2 pegs inside, no maker marked
Record marked 'F(c)' on one side and 'L(c)' on the other side, no maker marked. In thin cardboard sleeve, by Perfectophone (Northern) Ltd, Manchester & London. Sleeve is inscribed with 'No., Title, Artiste', 'We stock every record in the Columbia, Vocalion, Zonophone and Pathe Catalogue' and 'Comfortable soundproof audition rooms', with a printed image of a gramaphone box.
Record tag marked 'Cinema A Conversation', by National Electric Recording
1966
Distribution board (head board) and extension for recordings of intracranial pressure (ICP), oxygen, blood flow etc. made at the Burden Neurological Institute in 1966. This board was fitted to a 16 channel pen recorder for use in the Department of Neurological Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. Purchased by grant from the Medical Research Council.
Cigarette box filled with pegs for peg boards, no maker marked
1960-1990
Assorted pegs for peg board; as used in the Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, c.1960-2000.
Decade resistance box Type A-6-D 'Hundreds', by Muirhead and Co. Ltd.
Decade resistance box, Type A-6-A 'Tenths', by Muirhead and Co. Ltd.
1980-1999
"Prior" binocular microscope, for use with stereotaxic unit, used by the Psychology Department, Guildhall University, 1980-1999.
2000
"Outside Myself II", a bronze sculpture of a man contemplating his own heart which is on the end of a measuring rod emerging from his torso, made by sculptor Steve Johnson, 1999-2000.
1920-1950
Dr. Cox's mechanical test Number D ('Test I'), comprised of three wooden wheels mounted on a wooden board with string, marked 'Time 1 1/4 mins'. (BPS Inv. No. 0062)
Monkey skull, complete with lower mandible, possibly for phrenological use, from the British Phrenological Society.
Steadiness test comprising 'm' and 'V' shapes in double rows of metal pins mounted on insulating board. (BPS Inv. No. 0147)
c.1977
Original box and certificate of authenticity for "The Royal Silhouette Vase", manufactured for Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee in 1977 by Kaiser Porcelain.
Peg Board Test, consisting of a 4 x 4 grid of numbered holes, as used by the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, c.1980-2000.
Plaster phrenological head, possibly of a 'companion of Gall's', 19th century.
1992-1997
Face mask used in experiments to study the illusion of depth reversal, made in-house, Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Scotland, 1992-97.
Record with yellow manufacturing label, marked with 'O (b)' and in a brown paper sleeve. Made by M.S.S. Recording Co. Ltd., Colnbrook, Bucks, England.
1990-2000
Three children's books, American and Canadian, 1990-2000. Titles consist of (1) 'Dazzle the Dinosaur' by Marcus Pfister (North-South Books, Canada, 1994-2000); (2) 'The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System', by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen (Scholastic Inc., New York, United States, 1990); (3) 'The Poky Little Puppy's Little Counting Book', by Rita Balducci and Jean Chandler (A Golden Book, New York, United States, 1996).
1950-1980
Picture Completion Test; depicting a classroom scene painted by H.O. Kennedy, and made by Stoelting; as used by the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, c.1980-2000. Same as 1996-277/90 except colours are greatly faded.
