Search our collection | Science Museum Group Collection

A Mountain of Railway Sleepers

Photographs

1937-10-13

A photograph entitled 'A Mountain of Railway Sleepers, taken in October 1937 by Fox for the Daily Herald.

Woman seated in Art Deco chair

Photographs

1938-01-17

A photograph of a woman seated on an Art Deco chair at a furnishing trades exhibition, taken in January 1938 by Saidman for the Daily Herald.

Tin of 'Horlicks X-ray Shadow Meal', England, 1938-1950

Radiomedicine

1938-1950

Tin of 'Horlicks X-Ray Shadow Meal' barium sulphate compound by Horlicks Ltd., Slough, England, 1938-1950.

Kenwood model A200 electric food mixer

Domestic Appliances

1948

Kenwood model A 200 electric food mixer, one of the earliest Kenwood models, streamlined casing design with four speeds, by Kenwood Manufacturing Co., Woking, 1948

Typex Mk III cypher machine for field use, c. 1945

Radio Communication

1945

Typex Mk III Exp ciphering machine, complete in fibre transit case, c. 1945. Electrical impulses were transmitted through 5 drums or wheels, arranged in a pre-determined order. A message was typed with the left hand whilst turning the handle with the right, achieving 20 words a minute. Cypher, or plain text, was printed onto paper tape, to be transcribed into a communication system.

Baird Portable T164 television receiver

Television

1949-1950

Baird Portable T164 monochrome television receiver, serial no.P3393, 1949. Medallion portrait of John Logie Baird on the front between the control knobs.

Gresford mining disaster: rescue team leaving the air lock

Photographs

1935-03-04

A photograph entitled 'Gresford mining disaster: rescue team leaving the air lock' taken in 1935 by Bishop Marshall for the Daily Herald.

Crowds at Blackpool Station

Photographs

1937-09

A photograph of Blackpool railway station crowded with holiday visitors just disembarked from the train, taken in September 1937 by Saidman for the Daily Herald.

Photograph of the first televised Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

Television

1938-03-26

Photograph, entitled 'Televising the head of the river race from the Harrod's depositary' 1938, showing an Emitron camera pointed at the first televised Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

Merlin 45 Aeroplane Engine

Aircraft Propulsion

1940

Merlin 45 aeroplane engine, made by Rolls-Royce Ltd, Crewe, c.1940. 12 cylinder arrangement with the lower dual ignition sectioned for demonstration purposes and fitted with electric motor to turn it around. Formally part of the UMIST study collection, this engine has been sectioned and motorised for instructional use. The Mark 45 Merlin was used to power Supermarine Spitfire III and V fighters.

Silver Jubilee Commemorative Beaker

Local History

1935

Beaker commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George V, 1935.

Sartorius two pan analytical balance, 1937

Experimental Chemistry

1937

Sartorius two pan analytical balance, no.49107, with cylindrical air dampers and optically projected scale, unusual aluminium beam and brass column, made c1937, glazed mahogany case with a black glass base.

Ram Gopal

Photographs

1944

Silver gelatin copy print made ca.1970s. Photograph by Sir Cecil Beaton of Indian dancer Ram Gopal (1912-2003).

east coast industries

Railway Posters, Notices & Handbills

1938

Poster, London & North Eastern Railway. East Coast Industries - Collieries on the LNER by Frank Mason. 1939 Printed by Jordison & Co. Ltd., London & Middlesbrough. Format: quad royal.

Richmond Educational Spelling Board, a teaching game

Mathematics

1940-1945

Richmond Educational Spelling Board, a teaching game for spelling and numeracy by the Richmond School Furniture Company, Indiana, USA, c.1940.

Model 207.IFL shell fuse nosecap

Aeronautics

1940

Model 207.IFL shell fuse nosecap, 1940

Gate valve from Mather and Platt sprinkler system

Pumping Machinery

c.1938

Gate valve from Mather and Platt sprinkler system used at Blackpool Town Hall.

Allbrit [sliding bar] compensating polar planimet

Mathematics

1946-1948

Allbrit [sliding bar] compensating polar planimeter with weighted arm, magnifier and missing spacer bar, in felt lined wood and paper case, by Stanley, London. Calibrated for Metric Measure, model U2334A with serial number, 10215.

Clarkes Stove gas iron

Gas Industry

c.1935

Gas iron, marked 'The Fairy Prince, No 375,' made by Clarkes Stove Co. Ltd, c.1935.

'Mary Ann Doubleway' type B iron

Domestic Appliances

1938

'Mary Ann Doubleway' type B iron by Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd, 1938

Oldham Type C electric hand la

Coal Mining

c. 1950

Oldham Type C electric hand lamp

Moving-coil d.c. milliammeter model 505 serial no.

Electricity and Magnetism

1944

Moving-coil d.c. milliammeter model 505 serial no.800624 by Ernest Turner Electrical Instruments Ltd., scaled 0-2 mA, also marked with broad arrow (i.e. War Department) symbol and dated 1944, in 2.5 inch dia. flush-mounting case

Balance by Sartorius, Gottingen, made 1949, serial

Experimental Chemistry

1949

Balance by Sartorius, Gottingen, made 1949, serial no. 69721, in a glazed wooden case with a black glass base, brass beam supported on a steel upright, beam has cylindrical air dampers.

Presenta Pocket Ciné Silent 9.5mm projector/viewer

Cinematography

1935

PPC (Presenta Pocket Ciné) Silent 9.5mm projector/viewer. Pocket sized viewer and projector for 9.5mm film in closed cassettes. Retailed in United Kingdom by Presenta Ltd, manufactured in Switzerland, 1926. British Patent Nos 259935 and 267812; other patents pending. Cable missing plug attachment.

Telephone Exchange Ringing Machine

Telecommunications

1939

Telephone exchange ringing machine R2, 50v DC powered, 75v AC output. Made by Walter Jones & Co. (Engineers) Ltd, Sydenham, 1939

worksplate, North British Locomotive Company

Locomotives and Rolling Stock Components

1947

Locomotive worksplate, "North British Locomotive Company Ltd 1947 No 26094 Glasgow", ex London & North Eastern Railway "B1" class 4-6-0 No 1193, subsequently British Railways No 61193, built May 1947, withdrawn September 1962.

Ferguson Type 941T Television Receiver, 1949

Radio Communication

1949

Ferguson 9" table model monochrome television receiver Type 941T, Serial No T16474, manufactured by the Ferguson Radio Corporation, Enfield, 1949.

non-electric dry shaver

Hand and Machine Tools

c. 1942

Viceroy non electric dry shaver,model M.S, c. 1947; model M.S. in a storage case with sales box and instructions.

hair clippers, chromed steel, made by Brown's Clip

Domestic Appliances

c. 1950

hair clippers, chromed steel, made by Brown's Clipper Co. (1939) Ltd., Birmingham, England. c1950

RGD Television

Television

1965-195

A RGD Television.

Fire Pump Chain-Drive Safety Guard

Pumping Machinery

c.1938

Mather and Platt fire pump chain-drive safety guard

Vernier potentiometer type 4363 serial no. 72400 m

Electricity and Magnetism

1946

Vernier potentiometer type 4363 serial no. 72400 made by H. Tinsley and Co. Ltd., Werndee Hall, London, SE25, England, 1946.

Devon

Pictorial Collection (Railway)

1945

Painting, gouache on board, Devon, by Frank Sherwin, 1946. Depicts a sandy beach, curving away to an outcrop of red rock. At right is a sea wall, with fishing boats in the foreground. There is a steep hill behind the sea wall, with a white house in the distance. Signed at bottom left. Caption beneath, with the GWR 'roundel' logo below. Original artwork for Great Western Railway poster.

Murphy Baffle Radio

Radio Communication

1949

Murphy Baffle radio, model A104.

Mercedes Prima portable typewriter, c. 1936 (seria

Printing & Writing

1936

Mercedes Prima portable typewriter, c. 1936 (serial no. 33496)

Blitz on an London Midland & Scottish Railway Marshalling Yard near Willesden, September 1940

Pictorial Collection (Railway)

about 1945

Painting, oil on canvas, Blitz on an LMS Marshalling Yard near Willesden, September 1940, by Norman Wilkinson, about 1945. Depicts the marshalling yard with lines of freight trains under air attack at night. Some of the goods vehicles are on fire, and two open wagons lie on their side alongside the tracks. Railwaymen are running along the yard, directing the shunting engines marshalling the trains. The sky and city in the background are lit by fires, and the sky is illuminated by searchlights. Signed by the artist at bottom left. Created for The LMS at War series. Unframed.

Muirhead-Belin portable picture transmitter scanning unit, 1948

Telecommunications

1948

Case for Muirhead-Belin portable picture transmitter scanning unit, type D-368-AM, no. 144985 M, Muirhead and Coompany Limited, Beckenham, 1948

Wyndham Sisters

Photographs

1950

Silver gelatin copy print made ca.1970s. Photograph by Sir Cecil Beaton of Mrs John Wyndham, Lady Cranborne, and Lady Roderic Pratt. Image modelled after "The Wyndham Sisters" painting by John Singer Sargent (1899).

It's Quicker by Rail - Harrogate

Railway Posters, Notices & Handbills

1936

Poster, London and North Eastern Railway, Harrogate by Arthur Michael, 1936. Coloured lithograph depicting a night scene, with people in evening dress on the lawns in front of the theatre. Part of the It's Quicker By Rail series. Printed by R.H.Perry. Format: quad royal. Dimensions: 40 x 50 inches, 101.6 x 127 cm.

Watson Bactil binocular microscope

Scientific Instruments & Research

1950

Watson Bactil binocular microscope, c.1950, used by Dr Kathleen Drew-Baker for her research on nori seaweed.

Hoather collection

Photographic Collections (Railway)

1938-07-03

Photographs, a collection of nine 6 x 9 cm cellulose nitrate film negatives, six silver gelatin photographic prints and four laser prints, 4 x 3 to 5 x 3 ins, showing London & North Eastern Railway A4 class steam locomotive No 4468 Mallard on its record breaking 125 mph run. A total of nine images. Photographer H M (Max) Hoather.

Muirhead-Belin portable picture transmitter scanning unit, 1948

Telecommunications

1948

Muirhead-Belin portable picture transmitter scanning unit with telephone attachment, type D-368-AM, no. 144985 M, Muirhead and Company Limited, Beckenham, 1948

RAF Officers' great coat, with

Aeronautics

c.1940

RAF Officers' great coat, with brass King's crown buttons, worn by Flight Lieutenant Edmund Bell, Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

WW2 aircraft propeller

Aircraft Propulsion

1939-45

Wooden aircraft propeller made between 1939 and 1945 in Trafford Park, Manchester, by F. Hills and Sons Ltd.

Emor globe radio, 1947.

Domestic Appliances

1947

Emor globe radio, 1947.

Brake van, Southern Railway

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

1936

Railway wagon, Southern Railway, 25T Bogie Goods Brake Van, No 56297, 1936 (British Railways No 041414).

Ayrton-Mather universal shunt no. L-105029, by the

Electricity and Magnetism

1939-1940

Ayrton-Mather universal shunt no. L-105029, by the Cambridge Instrument Co. Ltd., England, switch type with ranges 1000, 100, 10, and 1, plus 0 and off positions

Olivetti standard manual typewriter, model M40/3,

Printing & Writing

1947

Olivetti standard manual typewriter, model M40/3, c. 1947, (serial number 527635) with 16" carriage

Prismatic compass by F Barker and Son (1932) Ltd,

Meteorology

1944

Prismatic compass by F Barker and Son (1932) Ltd, marked MO 640/44/54, no 1926, cased

Nameplate, London & North Eastern Railway "Hycilla"

Locomotives and Rolling Stock Components

1946

Locomotive Nameplate, London & North Eastern Railway, "Hycilla", ex Thompson A2/3 Class, No. 516/60516, built November 1946, Doncaster Works No. 2007, withdrawn November 1962, (note: "Hycilla" was the name of the winner of the 1944 Oaks).