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Improved Patent Magneto Electric Machine for nervous diseases

Therapeutics

1862

Improved Patent Magneto Electric Machine for nervous diseases, dynamo with steel magnet and brass and ebony terminals to apply to patient, all in polished wood case dated, unsigned, Europe, 1862

Photograph of the Great Nebula in Orion, 1883

Astronomy

1883

One of eleven photographs, taken by Andrew Ainslie Common of the Orion Nebula (M42) using a 36-inch reflecting telescope with a silver-on-glass mirror in the garden at his home in Ealing, London. Taken with an exposure of 60 minutes on February 26th 1883.

Hangman's rope, England, 1870-1888

Wellcome (general)

1870-1888

Hangman's rope, English, allegedly used in the hanging of Elizabeth Berry and Alfred Scandrett. Originally dated 1810-1824 and additionally associated with the execution of John Thurtell in 1824, stylistically this rope appears to be from a later period and Berry and Scandrett were executed in 1887 and 1888 respectively.

Model of the ‘Optimus’ water closet, England

Domestic Appliances

1870

Model of the 'Optimus' patent water closet, invented by Stevens Hellyer and made by Dent & Hellyer Limited, British, 1870

Cooke and Wheatstone's four needle telegraph, 1838

Telecommunications

1838

Cooke and Wheatstone's four needle telegraph, unknown maker, England, 1838.

Model paddle wheel engines of the SS 'Great Eastern'

Marine Engines

1853-1857

Model paddle wheel engines of the "Great Eastern" steamship, 1858.

Edison carbon button transmitter No. 32, 1878

Telecommunications

1878

Edison carbon button transmitter No. 32, invented by Thomas Edison, United States, 1878.

North Eastern Railway locomotive Aerolite

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

1869

Steam locomotive, North Eastern Railway, 2-2-4T No 66, "Aerolite", designed by Edward Fletcher, built at Gateshead in 1869, withdrawn in 1933.

Edison's electric carbon filament lamp

Lighting

1879

Original incandescent electric carbon filament lamp, by Thomas Alva Edison, Menlo Park, New Jersey, United States of America, with bulb made by Ludwig K. Boehm, Menlo Park, New Jersey, United States of America, 1879

Principal varieties of mankind', 3 May 1850.

James Reynolds

1850

Geographical Diagram. The Principal Varieties of Mankind. Published by James Reynolds 174 Strand, London. 3 May 1850. Drawn and engraved by John Emslie.

A steam hammer at work

James Hall Nasmyth

1871

Painting. [A steam hammer at work] / by James Nasmyth (1808-1890), 1871. Oil on board; 40 x 50 cm, in gilt frame 52x62x6cm. Initialled and dated bl, J.N. 1871. This is an apotheosis of the artist-engineer's invention of 1839 as a triumph of civil engineering. Inside a foundry works, the large steam hammer is shaping a massive iron bar before it can be rolled onto a plate. Possibly the sketch exhibited at a Conversazione of the Institution of Civil Engineers on 1871 June 6, item 46, and painted at their request. Steel-making

Bell transmitter with membrane diaphragm, 1875-1877

Telecommunications

1875-1877

Early type of Bell transmitter with membrane diaphragm, invented by Alexander Graham Bell, made by Charles Williams Jr,, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 1875-1914. This is an exact replica of Bell's first telephone made in June 1875 and was made by the same maker, Charles Williams Jr. of Boston, whose name is stamped on the baseboard.

Booklet of 'Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions' by Anna Atkins

Photographs

1843-1853

Booklet of cyanotype impressions, 'Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions' by Anna Atkins (1799-1871) Part 1 of Fox Talbot's own copy, sewn in original blue wrapper.

Miniature terrestrial globe by J. Manning. Late 19

Astronomy

1850-1860

Miniature terrestrial globe by J. Manning. Late 19th century

Going North, King's Cross Station

Pictorial Collection (Railway)

1893

Painting, oil on canvas, Going North, King's Cross Station, by George Earl, 1893. Depicts a busy platform scene at Kings Cross Station as a train of East Coast Joint Stock carriages is prepared for departure. One carriage has a destination board for Edinburgh and Perth "via the Forth Bridge", another for Aberdeen "via the Forth & Tay Bridges" and the third for Perth. There are groups of passengers and their servants, including a ghillie, Indian ayah, grooms and footmen. A soldier kisses his wife goodbye. There are about twenty hunting dogs, including spaniels, setters and pointers, and the luggage includes fishing tackle, golf clubs, guns and other sporting equipment. Station staff adjust the oil lamps, carry luggage and assist crowds of passengers. Beneath the curve of the train shed roof are advertisements for the Daily Telegraph and Van Houten's Cocoa, and Pears Soap featuring "Bubbles" by Millais. Signed and dated by the artist at bottom right. Framed and glazed.

Electric motor used by James J

Scientific Instruments & Research

1860

Electric motor used by James Joule, c.1860. Armature original but the rest may be replica. This simple electric motor was used by the scientist James Joule for experiments about energy. Joule was a Salford resident and the son of a brewer. He was taught by the famous scientist John Dalton. Joule's experiments in 1845 led him to an new understanding of energy conversion. Research by Joule showed that electricity, mechanical work and heat are all the same thing - forms of energy. He used equipment like this to learn that formd of energy are interchangeable and that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Joule is remembered as one of the founders of modern physics. From 1948 the Joule became a standard international unit of energy measurement.

Alarm clock, mounted on model of coffin

Anatomy & Pathology

1840-1900

Alarm clock, mounted on model of coffin with skeleton, probably English, 1840-1900

Kodak No 1 Camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1891

Kodak No 1 camera, manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co 1889 to1895. Box camera for factory loaded film, 100 exposures. 2 1/2" diameter / rapid rectilinear lens, fixed aperture and focus, sector type shutter, cocked by string, with attached lens plug. Serial No 10275 embossed in top and rear of camera body.

Steam locomotive, entitled Cornwall

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

1847

Steam locomotive and tender, London & North Western Railway, 2-2-2 No 3020 "Cornwall", designed by Trevithick, built at Crewe in 1847, withdrawn in 1927 and components.

Silver thimble, used to pass a current through the 1866 Transatlantic cable, 1860-1866

Telecommunications

1860-1866

Silver thimble, unknown maker, probably Ireland, 1860-1866. Originally owned by Miss Emily FitzGerald and by means of which an electric current was sent through the two Atlantic telegraph cables in 1866

Fowler's phrenological head

Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry

1879-1896

Fowler's phrenological head, 19th century, English, 1860-1896

Prototype of the Brougham carriage

Road Transport

1838

Known as the prototype or the original Brougham carriage, a comparatively low, light and manoeuvrable design of closed passenger-carrying vehicle drawn by a single horse. The carriage was designed for and made popular by Henry Brougham, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain 1830–1834 and political activist for education and legal reform and the abolition of slavery. Lord Brougham was also a co-founder and prolific contributor to the Edinburgh Review, one of the most influential publications of the 19th century, covering topics from Science to poetry. The Brougham carriage and the Clarence, developed from it, were the most popular type of closed carriage built. They influenced the design of other carriage styles throughout the rest of the 19th century and even cars into the 20th century.

Double duck-billed speculum

Clinical Diagnosis

1871-1900

Speculum, vaginal, Sims, double duck-bill, metal, nickel plated, by Maw of London, late 19th century

Chronophotographe double-use camera

Cinematography

1890

Etienne Jules Marey's Chrono-photographic camera, without lens (B3030), 1890.

'Pock-marked faces: A curious illusion', anti-vaccination leaflet

Great Northern Railway locomotive Stirling Single

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

1870

Steam locomotive and tender, Great Northern Railway, 4-2-2 No 1, designed by Patrick Stirling, built at Doncaster in 1870, withdrawn in 1907.

Bain's chemical telegraph, 1850.

Telecommunications

1850

Alexander Bain's chemical telegraph, unknown maker, England, 1850. Includes key not shown on photograph.

Binocular stereoscopic camera

Photographic Technology

c.1856

Binocular stereoscopic camera no. 12, made by John Benjamin Dancer, Manchester, c.1856 and probably owned by Joseph Sidebotham in the 1860s. Rear plate holder removeable. Focussed by turning milled nut on top. Fitted with a focal plate shutter as well as a front of lens shutter. Missing spirit level, brass plunger for changing plates and changing box.

Anatomical drawing of a human skeleton

John Linnell

1840

Anatomical Drawing of a human skeleton signed: John Linnell. For a Students Ticket. February 25th 1840'. 39 numbered bones with inked key - additional pencil key and mss notes. Pen and brown/black ink hightened with white, on cream/buff paper. 700x430mm.

Dining Car number 76, London & North Western Railway

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

1900

Railway carriage, London & North Western Railway, No.76, first class dining car, sometimes used in the Royal Train.

Colour lithograph of the S.S. 'Great Eastern'

Lenses from the Finsen lamp

Therapeutics

1890-1900

4 lenses from the Finsen ultraviolet lamp, presented by Princess Alexandra to the London Hospital in 1900

Sample of Bessemer steel

Metallurgy

1860

Sample of Bessemer steel, one slice cut from the muzzle of a gun section, 2.5" x 1.375", and bent cold under the steam hammer, 1860

Crookes' spiral periodic system

Experimental Chemistry

1888

Periodic table model, in spiral form, made by Sir William Crookes, representing the order of evolution of the elements, 1888.

Decapitating hook, London, England,1851-1900

Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception

1851-1900

Decapitating hook, Galabin, steel, ebony handle, by Down Bros. of London, second half 19th century

Anatomical model of a horse, c. 1850-1880.

Veterinary Medicine

1850-1880

Part of anatomical model of horse, half scale, annotated parts, by Dr. Auzoux, France, 1850-1880

Geometrical Groin Vault, string surface model

Mathematics

1872

Groin; oblique intersection of two splayed vaults of the same spring

Thomson's Mirror Galvanometer, 1858

Telecommunications

1858

(Lord Kelvin) Thomson's mirror galvanometer (land type) used at Valentia Island end of the original Atlantic cable, made by White and Barr, Glasgow, Scotland, 1858.

Model steam locomotive, spirit fired live steam 'dribbler' 3

Railway Models

1890

Model steam locomotive, spirit fired live steam 'dribbler' 3 inch gauge, Stevens' Model Dockyard 2-2-2.

Marble statue of George Stephenson, 1852

Fixtures & Fittings from Railway Buildings

1852

Marble statue, George Stephenson, on plinth (weight approx 6 tons). Dimension: 15' high (180" high x 36" square), from the Great Hall of Euston Station

Panhard Levassor 4hp motor car

Road Transport

1894-1895

Panhard Levassor 4hp motor car, 1894-5. The engine is a twin-cylinder Daimler. The first owner of this car, the Hon Evelyn Ellis, was one of a small number of pioneer British motorists who had the vision to see the importance of the developing motor car. The first car imported into Britain, it made its first road journey of 90 km (56 miles) on 5 July 1895. The car also took part in the first Emancipation Run from London to Brighton on 14 November 1896, which was held to celebrate the coming into force of legislation which freed motor cars of the need to be preceded by a pedestrian, and raised the speed limit to 19 km/h (12 mph). From this moment motoring in Britain was able to develop.

Sunglasses with dark blue lenses

Ophthalmology

1860-1900

Sunglasses, straight arms, silver, dark blue lenses, English, 1860-1900

National Telephone Company directory, 1898-1899

Telecommunications

1898-1899

National Telephone Company UK telephone directory for 1898-9, published by the National Telephone Company, British, 1898-1899

Bo-Third Rail No D75S

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

1898

Electric locomotive, Waterloo & City Railway, Bo - Third Rail No D75S, built by Siemens Brothers of London in 1898, withdrawn in May 1968.

Sixteen lens cine camera by Louis Le Prince

Cinematography

1886-1887

Sixteen lens cinematographic camera, made by Louis Le Prince in Paris in 1887 (with electrical connections)

Chart of the Atlantic showing proposed couRse of the Atlantic Cable, 1856-1857

Telecommunications

1856-1857

Framed and glazed chart of the Atlantic Ocean showing the proposed course of the Atlantic Cable, plus section marked 1857 showing the depth of the ocean bed at points along the course, made by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, London, England, 1856-1857.

sample of the first transatlantic cable, 1857-1858

Telecommunications

1857-1858

Sample of deep-sea portion of first transatlantic telegraph cable, manufactured by Glass, Elliot and Company, Greenwich, London, England, 1857-58. With outer wire armouring wound with a left-hand lay.

Architect's model of S&J Watts' warehouse

Textile Industry

1850-1856

Architecht's model of S & J Watts' warehouse, made around 1850.

Writing machine for blind people, United Kingdom, 1862

Printing & Writing

1862

Martin's writing machine for use by blind people, 1862

Whalebone walking stick, owned by Charles Darwin, England, 1839-1881

Orthopaedics

1839-1881

Whalebone walking stick with skull form pommel in ivory, once owned by Charles Darwin, probably English, 1839-1881