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Arkwright's Water Frame, 1775

Textiles Machinery

1775

Improved spinning machine (water frame), by Sir Richard Arkwright, England, 1775.

Marine Timekeeper known as 'H5' by John Harrison and Son 1770

Clockmakers

1770

Silver pair-cased verge escapement marine timekeeper, known as H5, by John Harrison & Son, London. White enamel dial with gold central star to adjust hands. Verge escapement with Harrison’s special diamond pallets. Steel balance and spring. Fusee. Maintaining power. 7 1/2 seconds remontoir on 4th wheel. All wheels from the 3rd, jewelled. Long bimetallic strip on adjustable frame. Original key and starting pin. Signed ‘John Harrison & Son London 1770 No. 2’. Case hallmarked for 1768 – 9 and stamped ‘HT’ (probably Henry Taylor who became a free Clockmaker in 1746). With original mahogany carrying case and three silk cushions.

Arkwright's Water Frame

Textile Industry

1775

Water frame, water powered spinning machine made by Richard Arkwright, Cromford, c.1775, and used at the Arkwright Mills at Matlock Bath.

Arkwright's prototype spinning machine, 1769.

Textiles Machinery

1769

Original spinning machine, Sir Richard Arkwright and John Kay, England, 1769.

Small orrery by Benjamin Martin

Astronomy

1738-1777

Small orrery on mahogany stand by Benjamin Martin, England, mid-18th century. The orrery shows seven planets (to Uranus), but Uranus is thought to be a later addition.

Refracting telescope with achromatic lens, made by the Dollond family

Optics

1760-1775

Achromatic refracting telescope for terrestrial use, with an optical lens diameter of 1.4 inches, and focal length 30 inches, by Dollond, London, 1760-1775

Watt's end measuring machine

Industrial Metrology

1776

Watt's end measuring instrument with micrometer screw,1776; probably the first screw micrometer made.

Clock movement for Shelton regulator clock

Time Measurement

1768-1769

Movement for regulator clock with dead beat escapement, inverted grid iron pendulum with steel knife edge pivot on an agate plate and bubble level. Originally made by John Shelton, Shoe Lane, London, 1768-9, with later modifications.

Ornamental turning 'rose-engine' lathe

Hand and Machine Tools

1740

Ornamental turning 'rose-engine' lathe, unsigned, Germany, c. 1740

Culpeper microscope

Microscopy (Wellcome)

1738

Culpeper microscope with boxfoot made by George Adams in 1738

Barograph clock by Alexander Cumming

Time Measurement

1766

Barograph clock made by Alexander Cumming (1731 or 1732-1814), London, England, 1766. It consists of a compensated pendulum regulator clock and a mercury barograph mechanism for measuring changes in air pressure, which are recorded on the circular paper chart around the outside of the dial. Two tubes of mercury are concealed in the fluted wooden columns visible inside the glass trunk door. An ivory cistern and a wood and ivory pen cage run in ivory rollers connecting the pressure-measuring mechanism to the recording dial. The clock is housed in an exuberant carved mahogany case believed to be by the esteemed cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale. Originally used by Cumming himself, the barograph clock was purchased in around 1814 and used by manufacturing chemist and meteorologist, Luke Howard (1772-1864).

Hindley's pyrometer

King George III

1752

Hindley's pyrometer and three expansion tubes made by Henry Hindley, York, 1752.

Silver microscope by George Adams, c. 1761.

Microscopes

1763

Silver ‘Universal Double Microscope’ with ornate decoration by George Adams the Elder, Fleet Street, London, c. 1763. The drawer in the base contains several accessories: an alternative eyepiece and eye cap, a stand for the jointed arm, three sets of objectives, talc discs for slides, a fishplate with a glass slide attached, three magnifiers, a pair of stage forceps, a live box, a pair of tweezers and a nosepiece.

Atmospheric Engine by John Smeaton, 1772

Motive Power

1772 (original); 1919 (model)

working model, sectioned, scale 1:12, John Smeaton's atmospheric engine at Long Benton Colliery, 1772

George III's philosophical table

King George III

1761-1762

Philosophical table made for King George III by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1761-62. A pillar in three pieces, two wooden rings and wooden nut; vertical board with ivory scale (one fixing screw and washer missing) and backing board for pendulum experiments are attached.

Sextant by Jesse Ramsden

Astronomy

c. 1772

Brass sextant by Jesse Ramsden, Piccadilly, London, 1770-75. Sextant has polished brass 120° scale (-2° to 136°) with 20’ divisions and brass vernier (30”), three index-filter shades (red & green), one horizon filter (red) and ‘Maskelyne flap’ for greater accuracy when taking a sight of the Sun or Moon. Fitted with threaded telescope bracket for sighting telescope (130mm –inverted image). The instrument has its original fitted mahogany keystone case.

Wax male anatomical figure

Anatomy & Pathology

1750-1774

Wax male anatomical figure, by Anna Morandi Manzolini, Bologna, Italy, 1750-1774

Section of lightning conductor from St Paul’s cathedral

Geophysics

1769

Iron bar which formed one section of the lightning conductor installed on St. Paul’s cathedral, London, in 1769, as recommended by a Royal Society committee. This bar remained in place until 1899.

George III's cycloidal pendulum

King George III

1762

Cycloidal pendulum made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, England, 1762

Celestial globe by George Adams

King George III

1766

Celestial globe on mahogany tripod stand with compass and ctagonal glazed mahogany case made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1766. Inscribed 'Made by G. ADAMS Fleet Street LONDON' on the compass.

Thin-walled square glass bottle

King George III

1761

One of nine thin-walled square glass bottles, five sealed with cork stoppers and wax, two unsealed and two with brass fixtures, made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1761.

Demainbray's model of a camera obscura

King George III

1752

Model demonstrating the principle of a camera obscura, unknown maker, 1752, but once belonged to Stephen Demainbray.

Barrel and Device from George III's guinea and feather' apparatus

King George III

1761

Apparatus for guinea and feather experiment consisting of a glass cylinder with brass release device.

Gold and leather pair-cased quarter-repeater cylinder watch by George Graham

Clockmakers

1745

Gold pair-cased, quarter-repeater, cylinder escapement watch by George Graham. The inner case with edge pierced and engraved, the outer covered with leather studded with gold. White enamel dial with steel beetle hands. Signed dust cap, scratched on the inside with the number 883. Pierced and engraved balance cock with diamond endstone. Quarter-repeating on bell. Signed ‘Geo. Graham London 883’, hallmarked for 1745 – 6

Model diving bell

King George III

before 1753

Model diving bell with 12 sinking weights, unknown maker, before 1753. Once belonged to Stephen Demainbray.

Portrait of Benjamin Gray (1676 – 1764)

Clockmakers

1745-1755

Portrait of Benjamin Gray (1676 – 1764), oil on canvas, attributed to J. Davison, mid 18th century.

George III's glass sphere

King George III

1761

Glass sphere containing glass rod with perforated ball at end made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1761.

Anamorphosis Painting of Perspective View of a Ship Model

.Unattributed

1744-1774

An anamorphosis painting of a perspective stern view of a ship model / Artist unknown, c.1744-1774. Oil on panel; 43.5 x 52.5 cm in gilded frame, 53.5 x 62 x 4.3 cm. Formerly attributed to 'Van de Velde'. Panel is made from three pieces of wood, the paint overlaid. Painted viewing circle encloses an image of a woman's head. Ship model is of French origin; mounted upon a marbled tabletop. With cylindrical mirror (see 1948-326/2) and anamorphic prints (see 1948-326/3-22).

Wooden tuning key for a stringed instrument

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1758-1769

Wooden turning key for a stringed instrument, by James Watt, Glasgow, 1758-1769

King George III's archimedean screw

King George III

1762

Archimedean screw made for King George III by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, in 1762. Mounted on adjustable frame and including an ivory ball.

Pair of ebony violin fingerboard shape and sized hollow fabrications

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1758-1773

One of eight long pieces of ebony, partly pierced - violin fingerboards made by James Watt, Glasgow, Scotland, to the design of Charles Clagget, 1758-1769.

Plane table outfit

Surveying

1750-1766

Plane table outfit by Benjamin Cole, 1750-1766

King George III's friction machine

King George III

1762

Friction machine made for King george III by George Adams in 1762, Fleet Street, London.

Twelve-inch quadrant by John Bird

Astronomy

1760-1769

Twelve-inch quadrant on pillar stand with two plumb bobs, two glass beakers and two detachable reading microscopes, by John Bird, Strand, London, England, 1760-1769. This instrument has its original mahogany case. This type of quadrant was used by Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook during his first voyage of exploration aboard HMS Bark Endeavour (1768–1771).

Altazimuth theodolite

Surveying

1755-1765

Altazimuth theodolite by Benjamin Cole & Son, London, 1755-65. Without wooden tripod base.

Edward Jenner

1749 - 1823

1749-1823, physician; surgeon; pioneer of smallpox vaccination, British; English

Square signed "J.Ramsden, 1757"

Mathematics

1757

Square signed ‘J. Ramsden, 1757’. This square belonged to, and was probably made by, Jesse Ramsden. The brass section of the instrument is scored with letters, figures and other marks.

Model of Hooke's universal joint

King George III

1760

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

Three circular saw blades

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1758-1773

Three circular saw blades, 2⅛”, 2⅞”, 3” diameter, two with key-way slots to the spindle slots, and one with a more pronounced saw teeth set, unsigned, United Kingdom, 1758-1773

George III's double-barrelled air pump

King George III

1761

Double barrelled air pump and reservoir, made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1761.

Dial micrometer, 1760-1772.

King George III

1760-1772

Dial pyrometer micrometer by Joseph Finney, Liverpool, 1760-1772

George III's Magdeburg hemispheres

King George III

1761

Brass Magdeburg hemisphere apparatus on a wooden stand, made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1762.

Head joint from flute

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1758-1769

Head joint from flute, roughed out internally with a reamer, by James Watt, Glasgow, Scotland, 1758-1769

Barometer printing plate, inscribed " I.Watt Glasgow"

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1756-1757

Barometer printing plate, brass, inscribed 'I. Watt Glasgow'

Pivoted-detent escapement watch by John Arnold

Clockmakers

1776

Pivoted detent escapement watch by John Arnold in a silver-gilt case with monogram ‘C.M.’ surrounded by chiselled wreaths. White enamel dial with a subsidiary seconds dial and steel hands. Pivoted detent s-shaped balance and helical balance spring. Signed ‘John Arnold Invt. et Fecit No. 28’. London, hallmarked 1776-7

William Roy’s standard scale, 1742

Weighing & Measuring

1742

42-inch standard scale marked with a standard yard, made by Jonathan Sisson and divided in 1742 by John Bird, both based in the Strand, London. The scale was owned by surveyor General William Roy and used by him whilst conducting measurements of a baseline at Hounslow Heath in 1784.

Magnetic toy by George Adams

King George III

1765

Magnetic toy demonstration device made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1765. Consisting of two mahogany boxes. One contains 4 dials with the numbers: 1, 5, 6 and 7 in each - situated beneath sliding lid with square window revealing one number per dial. The second box contains 4 ebony blocks numbered 1, 7, 6, 5, each slightly trapezoid in shape. Both boxes have hinged lids with 2 metal catches at the front.

Wax male anatomical figure

Anatomy & Pathology

1750-1774

Male anatomical figure, wax, by A.M. Manzolini, Italian, 1740-1780

Case for William Roy’s standard scale, 1742

Weighing & Measuring

1742

Case for 42-inch standard scale marked with a standard yard, 1742, inscribed: ‘General Roy’s 3-Feet Standard’. The scale was owned by surveyor William Roy and used by him whilst conducting measurements of a baseline at Hounslow Heath in 1784.

Plate for printing calibrated scales for barometers

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1756-1757

One copper plate for printing calibrated scales for barometers made for James Watt, Glasgow, 1756-1757