Search our collection | Science Museum Group Collection

Arkwright's prototype spinning machine, 1769.

Textiles Machinery

1769

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

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 Originally made by John Shelton, Shoe Lane, London, 1768-9, with later modifications.

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.

Mummy of a peregrine falcon, Egypt, 2000-1001 BCE

Classical & Medieval Medicine

2000-1001 BCE

Mummy of peregrine falcon, Egyptian, 2000-1001 BC

Copy of clay liver used for divination, original from Babylon, 2050-1750 BCE

Classical & Medieval Medicine

2050-1750 BCE

Babylonian clay liver used for divination, c.2050-1750 BC, copy, 1981

Clock used for transit of Venus observations, 1769

Time Measurement

1768-1769

Regulator clock by John Shelton with glazed mahogany case. One of five such clocks sent with Royal Society expeditions to observe the Transit of Venus on the 3rd June 1769.

Mummy of a crocodile, Egypt, 2000-1001 BCE

Classical & Medieval Medicine

2000-1001 BCE

Mummified crocodile, no provenance, Egyptian, 2000-1001 BCE.

Clay figure of animal

Classical & Medieval Medicine

2000-1000 BCE

Unbaked clay figure of animal, one ear damaged, amuletic, unsigned, Egyptian, 2000BC-1000BC

Mining compass, Italian , 1769

Surveying

1769

Italian mining dial in wood and ivory tablet, 1769.

Memorial stele to the doorkeepr Ruma

Classical & Medieval Medicine

2000-1001 BCE

Memorial stele to the doorkeepr Ruma, showing his withered right leg, plaster copy of Egyptian original, 2000-1001BC. Made in Dantes Plad in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Square pavement brick from Babylonia (Southern Iraq), 2nd millennium BC.

Building Construction

2000-1001 BCE

Square pavement brick from Babylonia (Southern Iraq), 2nd millennium BC

Oil jar, Egypt, 1580-1350BCE

Classical & Medieval Medicine

2000-1350 BCE

Earthenware oil jar, Egyptian, probably New Kingdom, 1580-1350BC

Copy of model of a sheep's liver. Original Babylonian, c. 2050-1750 BC.

Classical & Medieval Medicine

2050-1750 BCE

Resin replica of a clay model of a sheep's liver used for divination, original Babylonian, original 2050BC to 1750BC

Coade Stone fragment, (twice fired mixture of clay

Ceramics

1769

Coade Stone fragment, (twice fired mixture of clay and grog used for architectural mouldings), c.1769

Pocket surgical instrument set in 3-fold leather c

Surgery

1803-876

Pocket surgical instrument set in 3-fold leather case, incomplete, by Charriere, Paris, 1803-1876

Gold pocket watch and chain possibly owned by James Symes

Wellcome (general)

1768

Gold pocket watch and chain, hallmarked 1768, by H.P.C. and by Mackay and Chisholm, 57 Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. Possibly owned by James Symes, Joseph Lister's father-in-law.

Optometer, objective or subjective, possibly Engli

Ophthalmology

1831-900

Optometer, objective or subjective, possibly English, 1831-1900

Pap boat

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1769

Sterling silver pap boat, open boat shape with a stag engraved on the side, hallmarked in London, English, 1769

Scarificator in case, German, 1769 by Johann Dannr

Therapeutics

1769

Scarificator in case, German, 1769 by Johann Dannreuther

A Philosopher gives a Lecture on the Orrery

William Pether

1768

[A Philosopher gives a Lecture on the Orrery] / Jos, Wright Pinxt, ; J Boydell, Exct, ; Wm, Pether fecit 1768. - [2nd state]. - 1print: mezzotint [cut to] platemark 48.5x58.3cm, image 45x58.3cm. in wood veneer and gilt frame, 76x85.5x4cm. - After the oil painting by Joseph Wright of Derby, 1766. - Subject: a transparent orrery, the light source within it from a lamp replacing the sun; wonders of the universe demonstrated to a lay audience including a woman and three children, foreground nephew to scientist 5th Earl Ferrers; to L standing taking notes, cartographer Peter Perez Burdett; philosopher / lecturer stylised, variously suggested as Ferguson, Whitehurst or Newtonian ideal

John Harrison

Art

1768

Print. Mezzotint of John Harrison, horologist (1693-1776). T. King pinxt. ; P.L. Tassaert fect. Engraved from the oil painting by Thomas King, 1767, also in Science Museum collection (Inv.1884-217). Publish'd as ye Act directs. Aug. 1st 1768. Portrait: sitter seated nearly TQL to left beside table with timekeeper H4, for ascertaining Longitude, by his right hand. Third timekeeper H3 delineated in background L. His invention compound pendulum in clock case background R. Tributary inscription to Harrison's work on longitude engraved in plate below image. Sheet trimmed to 41x31.5cm. Platemark 39.4x29cm.

Portrait. Roger Long. Mezzotint 1769

Art

1769

Portrait. Roger Long. Mezzotint 1769

Mechanical Projections of the Travelling Chaise without Horses ... by John Vevers

Art

1769

Print, engraving with letterpress description. Mechanical Projections of the Travelling Chaise without Horses ... by John Vevers... August 19th 1769, printed by Raham Reepe, London. 42 x 33cm.

A Philosopher Shewing an Experiment on the Air Pump

Valentine Green

1769

[A Philosopher Shewing an Experiment on the Air Pump] / Jos. Wright Pinxit. 1768; J. Boydell, excudit ; Val. Green fecit, Londini 1769. - [2nd state]. - 1print: mezzotint [cut to] platemark 48.7x59.2cm, image 45.2x59.2cm. in wood veneer and gilt frame, 76x85.5x4cm. - After the oil painting by Joseph Wright of Derby, 1768. - Subject: A dramatic moment in a night scientific lecture on pneumatics; the inevitability of laws of nature, and assorted human responses, reflected by light source of candle behind glass jar with skull, traditional symbols of mortality; on table, a pair of Magdeburg hemispheres, etc; dominated by air pump apparatus with white cockatoo almost lifeless at base of glass receiver, from which air pumped out; lecturer's l.hand poised on stopcock, r.hand gesturing to skull, looks direct to viewer; moment of choice and uncertain (divine) outcome

Refracting telescope on stand by Ramsden, Dollond and Miller, 1769

Astronomy

1769

Refracting telescope of 2 inch aperture and 30 inch focal length, engraved, 'Ramsden London' on an equatorial stand by John Miller, Edinburgh with wooden case. A label in the transit box states that the telescope was made by Peter Dollond for Jesse Ramsden. The telescope may have been used by Dr Lind F.R.S. to observe the 1769 Transit of Venus.

Stele of King Hammurabi of Babylon, plaster copy, original 1796-1750BC.

Classical & Medieval Medicine

1796-1750 BCE

Two copies of Stele (copy) depicting King Hammurabi of Babylon, 1st Dynasty, 1796-1750BC

Two models (1:16 scale) of agricultural implements found in the Theban necropolis

Agricultural Engineering

2000-1500 BCE

Two models (1:16 scale) of agricultural implements found in the Theban necropolis, XVI 11th Dynasty, 2000-1500 BC. Mounted together on a plaster base.

Large hand magnifier, European, early 19th century

Microscopy (Wellcome)

1801-850

Large hand magnifier, European, early 19th century

Egyptian funerary statue of man and wife, granite

Classical & Medieval Medicine

4000-1000 BCE

Egyptian funerary statue of man and wife, granite, Old Kingdom, from plain of Memphis

Silver pendant medal commemorating Maximilian Jose

Wellcome Medals

1768

Silver pendant medal commemorating Maximilian Joseph, King of Bavaria, and Maria Theresa Empress of Austria his patron, German or Austrian, 1768

Three prints of London Bridge Waterworks, by Smeat

Pumping Machinery

1768

Three prints of London Bridge Waterworks, by Smeaton, 1768. (Smeaton's reports and Rees Encyclopaedia).

A collection of rose engine rosettes

Hand and Machine Tools

1768

A collection of rose engine rosettes (cams) and miscellaneous parts some marked Inv.no. 1912-283 and some unmarked. Now all assigned to this number but may not fit this machine

Rose engine lathe parts by Hulot of Paris

Hand and Machine Tools

1768

Rose engine lathe parts by Hulot of Paris

Copper medal, by J.G., commemorating M. de Sartine

Wellcome Medals

1769

Copper medal, by J.G., commemorating M. de Sartine for establishing illumination of Paris, French, 1769

Alabaster bottle, Egyptian, probably New Kingdom

Classical & Medieval Medicine

2000-1350 BCE

Alabaster bottle, Egyptian, probably New Kingdom, 1580-1350BC

Bronze medal to commemorate P.P. Pozzoli, Italy, 1

Wellcome Medals

1769

Bronze medal to commemorate P.P. Pozzoli, Italy, 1769

Slide rest and cutting tool

Hand and Machine Tools

1768

Slide rest and cutting tool

One oval chuck, french pattern (fitted to the lath

Hand and Machine Tools

1768

One oval chuck, french pattern (fitted to the lathe head)

Blank wooden chuck with brass female thread fitted

Hand and Machine Tools

1768

Blank wooden chuck with brass female thread fitted with brass work specimen /5

Rose engine lathe mounted on bench with foot motor

Hand and Machine Tools

1768

Rose engine lathe mounted on bench with foot motor under, with slide rest; glass cover to fit bench.

Bronze medal to commemorate the establishment of a

Wellcome Medals

1769

Bronze medal to commemorate the establishment of a hospital at Bourges, France, 1769

Medal, silver, commemorating Pierre Bercher, dean

Wellcome Medals

1768

Medal, silver, commemorating Pierre Bercher, dean of Paris Faculty of Medicine, 1766-1768, by P.S.B. Duvivier, French, 1768

Rose engine lathe by Hulot Fils 1768, mounted on t

Hand and Machine Tools

1768

Rose engine lathe by Hulot Fils 1768, mounted on table with treadle drive and complete with slide rest and chucks

Sun fire office lead fire mark no.273695, c1769

Firefighting

1769

Sun fire office lead fire mark no.273695, c1769

Two steel wedges

Hand and Machine Tools

1768

2 steel wedges used to lock the headstock when used as a conventional lathe

Copper medal to commemorate the passing of a plagu

Wellcome Medals

1768

Copper medal to commemorate the passing of a plague, by Timothy Ivanov, Russia, 1768

Circular bronze medal, commemorates Pietro Paolo M

Wellcome Medals

1768

Circular bronze medal, commemorates Pietro Paolo Molinelli, Italian surgeon at Bologna, made in Italy, 1768

Octagonal copper medal, token of state office, by

Wellcome Medals

1768

Octagonal copper medal, token of state office, by Lorthior, inscribed Louis Phelipeaux, Comte de St. Florentin, French, 1768

Milby Cut bridge girder, 1769

Civil Engineering

1769

Girder, cast iron, from Milby Cut Bridge, Boroughbridge, 1769. Bridge carried the Great North Road over the Milby Cut.

Print of Water Pressure Pumping Engine, by Smeaton

Pumping Machinery

1768

Print of Water Pressure Pumping Engine, by Smeaton, 1769. (Smeaton's Reports).