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

Insulators used for Morse's telegraph, 1835

Telecommunications

1835

Insulators used for Morse's telegraph, unknown maker, United States, 1835

Daniell cell used by Edward Davy, 1836-1839

Telecommunications

1836-1839

Daniell cell used and possibly made by Edward Davy, England, 1836-1839. Found in a field in Somerset by J J Fahie, an historian of the electric telegraph, in 1883.

Ceramic teaching doll to show treatment for polio

Orthopaedics

1930-1950

Doll, ceramic infant doll, encased within a full body-length, supported plaster cast, probably used to demonstrate to child patients their prospective treatment for scoliosis, polio or skeletal TB with accompanying large and small descriptive labels, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1930-1950

Pyrophone

Acoustics

1873-1876

Pyrophone, patented and made by Frédéric Kastner, France, 1873

Sectioned catalyst convertor matrix for car exhaust, 1982-1983

Environmental Science & Technology

1982-1983

Ceramic catalyst convertor matrix removed from exhaust system of a (C-registered) 1982-83 Toyota Carina motor car that had travelled 50,000 miles, unsigned, 1982-1983. The matrix was removed for testing in 1986.

part of Rugby transatlantic telephone transmitter, 1927-1956

Radio Communication

1927-1956

Part of Rugby transatlantic telephone transmitter, made by Standard Telephones and Cables, New Southgate, England, 1927

Electric Oil Break Fuse

Electricity Supply

1898

Electric oil break fuse, made by S. Z. de Ferranti Ltd, 1898.

Pestle and Mortar

Textile Industry

Pestle and mortar, made by Wedgwood.

Sectioned toilet bowl model

Domestic Appliances

1876-1895

Sectioned toilet bowl with lever valve and U-bend, marked 57. Yellow and white. Part of collection of small models of sanitary appliances, to be used for instruction in hygiene, in cabinet

Hippopotamus ivory teeth, upper denture on stand, England

Dentistry

1875-1910

Upper denture, hippopotamus ivory teeth, on ceramic stand

Bubby pot for infant feeding, England, 1770-1835

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1770-1835

Bubby pot for infant feeding, possibly by Wedgwood, English, 1770-1835

climate change tile coaster

Mental Infestation

2006-2008

Tile coaster: 'Climate change; a problem from pole to pole', 2006-2008

Three-Pin Plug Socket

Electricity Supply

1920

Three-pin plug socket by Wandsworth Electrical Company Limited.

SWB1 transmitter no. 7, 1927

Radio Communication

1927

Short wave beam (SWB1) telegraph transmitter no. 7 (Dorchester) restored to approximate original (1927) configuration in c. 1970, made by Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company, Chelmsford, 1927

Daniell cell used by Edward Davy with spare pot, 1836-1839

Telecommunications

1836-1839

Daniell cell with spare pot used and possibly made by Edward Davy, England, 1836-1839. Found in a field in Somerset by J J Fahie, an historian of the electric telegraph, in 1883.

Model of Gharnai, raft of pots, from Gaya River

Water Transport

1851-1930

Model, scale unknown, of Gharnai, raft of pots consisting of earthenware pots connected by bamboo, as used on the Gaya River, near Patna, (1851-1930).

Hippopotamus ivory teeth, lower denture on stand, England, 1795

Dentistry

1795

Lower denture of hippopotamus ivory, on ceramic stand

George II's Grand Orrery

King George III

1733

Large orrery on pedestal base with with gilded horse head decorations beneath the calendar ring and glazed cover, original maker unknown, enlarged by Thomas Wright, Fleet Street, London, 1733. Inscribed 'All the Machinery of this instrument was made new in 1733 by Tho Wright Instrument maker to His MAJESTY GEORGE II'.

British Airways Concorde catering tray

Aeronautics

British Airways Concorde inflight catering tray, c1994. With three dishes, a plate, a napkin, two glasses, and a salt and pepper shaker.

Walker's harpoon log with rotator and recording mechanism combined into one

Navigation

1861

Walker's Harpoon log with rotator and recording mechanism combined into one, patented by Thomas Walker, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, and made by Thomas Walker and Son LImited, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, 1861

Pewter and ceramic inkwell, Stockton & Darlington Railway

Tools of the Trade & Personal Accessories

Inkwell, pewter with ceramic pot in centre, Stockton & Darlington Railway , marked S & D R C. Overall: 61 mm x 200 mm, 0.79kg; pot: 36 mm x 49 mm.

Model of a hospital promoting the King Edward's Hospital Fund

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1930-1932

Miniature hospital, scale 1:16, made for publicity for King Edward's Hospital Fund for London, 1932

Fuse Holder from a Heidelberg Standard Platen Press

Printing & Writing

1927-1929

Fuse holder from a Heidelberg Standard Platen Press, Heidelberg Graphic Equipment Limited., London, United Kingdom, 1927-1929

Drug jar for carbolic acid ointment

Medical Ceramic-ware

Drug jar for carbolic acid ointment, containing white ointment, pink and white ceramic jar labelled "UNG: ACID: CARB:" white label with red and gold border.

Ceramic-on-ceramic joint replacements

Plastics and Modern Materials

2006

Artificial ceramic Femoral Head, for ceramic-on-ceramic joint replacements, by Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics, England, United Kingdom, 2006

Ordinary mercury thermometer, 1875-1901

Meteorology

1875-1901

Ordinary mercury absolute thermometer, scale (250 to 320 degrees Kelvin) one of two, with white ceramic frame, made by Negretti & Zambra, London, 1875-1901. Marked as calibrated at Kew Observatory, used at the Met Office (Met Office 19052).

Glass Islamic mosque lamp, with painted decoration

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1700-1900

Glass mosque lamp, with 3 chains for suspension, and painted decoration, Islamic, unsigned, Middle East, 1700-1900

"Homesun" ultra-violet lamp

Domestic Appliances

1927

"Homesun" ultra-violet lamp, the original model, 1927.

Swift Microscope Lamp

Scientific Instruments & Research

1875-1885

J. Swift & Son microscope lamp and case.

Igniter, for Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir's gas engine, 1860

Heat Engines (non steam)

1865

Igniter / spark-plug, for two-stroke double-acting single cylinder gas engine, patented by Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir, France, 1860, and made by Reading Iron Works Limited, Reading, Berkshire, England, 1865

Water testing kit, England, 1920-1940

Public Health & Hygiene

1920-1940

Water testing kit, in wooden carrying case by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., England, 1920-1940

Light Switch

Electricity Supply

1925

Electric wall switch with flick mechanism, made by J.H. Tucker & Company Limited.

Ceramic-on-ceramic joint replacements

Plastics and Modern Materials

2006

Artificial ceramic Cup Insert Liner, for ceramic-on-ceramic joint replacements, by Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics, England, United Kingdom, 2006

Ceramic teaching doll showing orthopaedic treatments, England, 1930-1950

Orthopaedics

1930-1950

Ceramic infant doll, with scoliosis brace and splints for drop-foot, lying in a model bed, probably used to demonstrate to child patients a convalescent stage in their prospective orthopaedic treatment, with bedding, small teddy bear, additional model splint (possibly from a different model) and descriptive label, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1930-1950

Detonator pouch

Coal Mining

Detonator pouch by Remploy. Originally covered in red painting, now worn off. Number 70 painted on white on the body and on the cover (faded).

Ceramic jug, London & North Eastern Railway

Passenger Comforts

Jug, white with blue floral design and gold touches, good condition, base printed LNER and makers mark, detachable metal lid with spring clip

Drug jar for zinc oxide ointment

Medical Ceramic-ware

Drug jar for zinc oxide ointment containing traces of ointment, pink and white ceramic jar labelled "UNG: ZINCI OX:" white label with red and gold border.

Mercury-in-glass thermometer

Heat

1850-1924

Mercury-in-glass thermometer mounted on white tile (broken) and wood, measuring in the range -20 to 50 degrees Centigrade, both Fahrenheit and Centigrade scales marked, made 1850-1924 (Wellcome No. B814).

Drug jar for cold cream

Medical Ceramic-ware

Drug jar for cold cream, contains white waxy solid turning brown, pink and white ceramic jar labelled "CREM. FRIG." white label with gold and red border.

Toy Smokers Set

Local History

A toy smokers outfit set with clay pipe, pipe swab, and plastic pouch; made by John Pollock & Co.

Toy Smokers Set

Local History

A toy smokers outfit set with clay pipe, pipe swab, and plastic pouch; made by John Pollock & Co.

Elblight Light Bulb

Lighting

1900-1920

A light bulb, made by Elblight Company of America.

Day Two-stroke Valveless Petrol Engine, 1913

Heat Engines (non steam)

1913

Two and a half h.p. single cylinder Day valveless two-stroke motor, (patent nos. 6410 and 9247, dated 1891).

Light Switch

Electricity Supply

1920-1940

Electric light switch with flick mechanism.

Kodak Flashlight Outfit

Photographic Technology

1925-1930

Kodak flashlight lamp outfit in original cardboard box.

Ediswan Light Bulb

Lighting

1930-1960

An Ediswan light bulb, with ceramic base.

Pestle and Mortar

Textile Industry

Pestle and mortar, made by Royal Doulton.

Drug jar for boric acid ointment

Medical Ceramic-ware

Drug jar for boric acid ointment, containing traces of white ointment, pink and white ceramic jar, labelled "UNG: ACID: BORIC:" white label with red and gold border.

Ashworth Ross & Co. Balance Scale

Weighing & Measuring

A balance scale manufactured by Ashworth, Ross & Company Limited.