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Observations taken at a small water mill at Hitchin

1809 Sept 14

List of microscopes in the Crisp Collection

Manuscript instructions and receipt for Ramsden solar microscope, 1793

1793

Greco-Roman Papyrus, 250-270 CE

250-270 CE

A Description of an Apparatus for explaining the Principles of Mechanicks

1762

Manuscript magnifying powers in diameters of standard achromatic microscope

1846

James Biott, Trip to London

1862-08

Nicholas Culpeper's statement about John Dee's crystal, England, 1651-1658

1651-1658
Gilt circular glazed frame containing an illuminated manuscript copy of the first message transmitted through the original Atlantic Cable in 1858 with a short length of the cable encircling the frame

Illuminated Manuscript Copy of the First Message Transmitted Through Atlantic Cable, 1858

Manuscript lecture: "The aerial graphoscope" by E.S. Bruce

Manuscript lecture: "The aerial graphoscope"

Ueber Strahlen Eleckrisher Kraft / Heinrich Hertz. 1888 [The paper, On Electric Radiation, was communicated to the Academy of Science in Berlin by von Helmholtz and was published in Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1888, p.1297-1307. A translation appears in Electric Waves by H. Hertz, translated by D.E. Jones. The ms. (18p.) describes Hertz's work on the propagation characteristics of electrical radiation and ordinary light waves]

Ueber Strahlen Eleckrisher Kraft / Heinrich Hertz. 1888

1888
Manuscript (14 pp., bound) entitled "An Explanation of the "Pendulum Bucket Engine" invented and executed in a Working Model, Anno 1745" (in parchment cover). Refers to figures which are no longer with the item.

An Explanation of the "Pendulum Bucket Engine" invented and executed in a Working Model, Anno 1745

1745
[Manuscript] The length of all the Mastes and yards of his Ma[jesty's] ships and Pinnaces; A proportion of cables and anchors to furnish them to sea; All their standing roapes; Dimentions of their boates; Breadth and depth of their sayles; their burthen, number of men and ordnance. 1640 Jan. [30 ms. leaves (29 leaves not used). With fold-out list (45 x 25cm) of over thirty named ships giving full particulars of all their sails. The largest ships named in the book include (with 'the tyme of their building') Soveraigne 1637, Prince 1639, Merhonor 1616, Defiance 1616, James 1633 (all rebuilds), Tryumph 1623, Charles 1632, St. George 1622, St. Andrew 1622 and Swiftsure 1621. Formerly in Petworth library since time of 10th Earl of Northumberland]

Manuscript, The length of all the Mastes and yards of his Ma[jesty's] ships and Pinnaces

1640
[Analysis of engine performance re] deep sea trial of HMS 'Sirius', 1869 Aug 11/[Maudslay, Sons & Field. Endorsed, "Private, Copy sent to Admiralty"]

Analysis of engine performance re deep sea trial of HMS 'Sirius'

1869 Aug 11
Die Gipsbrennerei im Kleinen oder Praktische Anweisung, den roh gemahlenen Gips in jeder beliebigen Quantitat ohne Brennofen und Kostspielige Apparate in einer Stunde so zu brennen, das derselbe der Bindekraft des englischen Cements gleich und uberdies noch billiger im Preise, als der auf den gewohnlichem Wege gebrannte Gips, zu stehen kommt / J.A. Hauser. [nd. 10p. ms. in German, bound]

Die Gipsbrennerei im Kleinen oder Praktische Anweisung

nd.
The Evolution & Future of Large Sailing Ships / Prof. W[alter] Laas, Royal High School, Berlin. [Ms. translation by James Hayes of the 1908 book. A translation by Hayes, of James Hayes & Co, London of Die grossen Segelschiffe. Ihre Entwickelung und Zukunft by Prof. Walter Laas of the Royal Technical School, Berlin. Ms. vol.]

The Evolution & Future of Large Sailing Ships / Prof. W[alter] Laas

1908
Apparatus to be fixed in front of a [2-wheeled] chaise/[Maudslay, Sons & Field. Sketch and brief description of a somewhat obscure device (for supporting the front of a two wheel chaise?) The device has a rack and pinion arrangement at one side] n.d.

Apparatus to be fixed in front of a 2-wheeled chaise

nd
Calculation of the strength of the Richmond boiler/[H. Maudslay & Co. Endorsed 'Joshua Field. c. 1815]

Calculation of the strength of the Richmond boiler

circa 1815
Tender for making & repairing Roads &c. [in] Westminster District / [anon. 1857? 22p. Addressed to the 'Board of Works for the Westminster District'. Comprises costs re 'Footways' and 'Carriageways', and 'Conditions of Contract']

Tender for making & repairing Roads &c. Westminster District

1857
The Golden Fortress of Hermes and the words of the little Peasant / Johan Walch. [17--. Ms. copy of various hermetic writings, in French, with title page in English. 46p. Possibly a copy of earlier hermetic writings of which the most substantial is La fortresse doree d'Hermes, followed by Commentaire de Jean Valchius, philosophe, sur le livre du petit paysan, and by other short items.]

The Golden Fortress of Hermes and the words of the little Peasant / Johan Walch

1701-1800
Programme. Ecole des Mines [Paris. 184-. 158p., in French. Syllabus of courses in chemistry, paleontology, geology, mineralogy, economics and mine legislation, physical mechanics, geometry and calculus, construction and railways, etc. at the National School of Mines, Paris. Bound with printed order (10p.) of the Ministre des Travaux Publics concerning the organisation of the School, 1849]

Programme. Ecole des Mines

1840-1849
Typescript of a lecture, "History of the Rise and Progress of the Lanashire and Yorkshire Railway and its Rolling Stock," by A. Rogerson, dated 30 July 1896 and read at the Horwich Mechanics' Insitute. With notes from the "General Office" titled "General List of Events - Horwich Works" 1886-1937.

History of the Rise and Progress of the Lanashire and Yorkshire Railway and its Rolling Stock

1896
Manuscript, paper, Diary of a journey from London to Algeria to level and survey a line of railway from Philipville to Constantine, by John Lyon Alexander (1821-1884). 41pp. Alexander wrote this diary account for his wife Jane. According to the family, Alexander was an architect and it is not known if he undertook other railway work.

Diary of a journey from London to Algeria to level & survey a line of railway from Philipville to Constantine

1856
"Acceleration in Theory and Practice" - manuscript of an unpublished book by C. F. Dendy Marshall, 1945. In the preface he states that the book grew out of his preparations for a new edition of "The Resistance of Express Trains" (1925). He also says "I do not think any book has ever been published, in any language, devoted solely to the subject [of acceleration], although it is such an interesting and important one." Includes a note to publishers dated 30 March 1945, and a list of Dendy Marshall's previous books.

Acceleration in Theory and Practice

1945
Manuscript, paper, 'A Fortnight Abroad', by William Buckle, 1885. An account of a holiday to Switzerland by the author and his friend Edward Doughty, in August 1885. The holiday was a GER package tour, and the account details travel, the places he stayed at, and the people he met. 37pp. Transcript available.

A Fortnight Abroad

1885
Typewritten manuscript of lecture notes to accompany lantern slide show entitled 'Impressions of Egypt', written by Alexander Keighley. 35 pages secured together and to carboard back by two brass studs at top. Annotated and corrected in pencil.

Impressions Of Egypt

1900-1929
Typewritten manuscript of lecture notes to accompany lantern slide show entitled 'Impressions of Egypt', written by Alexander Keighley. 35 pages secured together and to carboard back by two brass studs at top. Annotated and corrected in pencil.

Impressions Of Egypt

1900-1929
M.S. description of Ellis's tuning forks; envelope with counts of pitches of forks; three books: History of musical pitch, Musical Scales, Sensations of Tone.

Description of Ellis's Tuning forks and related material

[Grundliche Anleitung zur Chemie Part II, Section II / Gottfried Rothe (translated by A. Macbean). 1743. Ms. vol. (109p.) Also contains a dissertation on the anodyne sulphur of vitriol, a treatise on antimonial tinctures and a rational analysis of antimony]

Grundliche Anleitung zur Chemie Part II

1743
40 typed pages from the unpublished autobiography of Ken Danvers "Perks".

Pages from Unpublished Autobiography of Ken Danvers

8 typed pages from the unpublished autobiography of Ken Danvers "On the Beach".

Pages from Unpublished Autobiography of Ken Danvers

11 typed pages from the unpublished autobiography of Ken Danvers "Of such men".

Pages from Unpublished Autobiography of Ken Danvers

14 typed pages from the unpublished autobiography of Ken Danvers "Mainly about Ava".

Pages from Unpublished Autobiography of Ken Danvers

45 typed pages from the unpublished autobiography of Ken Danvers "The weather forecast".

Pages from Unpublished Autobiography of Ken Danvers

53 typed pages from the unpublished autobiography of Ken Danvers "Sand with everything".

Pages from Unpublished Autobiography of Ken Danvers

Manuscript notebook of geometrical figures in ink and coloured washes. Only 13 leaves of approximately 200 used.

Manuscript Notebook Showing Figures in Ink and Coloured Washes

[Folio of ms. notes and figs. on three dimensional geometry / anon. ca.1845. 9p. on 4 folded leaves, 1 leaf watermarked 1841. Acquired with drawings re the London and Croydon railway (MSL 212, inv. no. 1980-1098) and a box of drawing instruments. There may therefore be a connection to George B. Childe]

Folio of ms. notes and figs. on three dimensional geometry

circa 1841
Charcoal Burning in the Forest of Dean / Herbert Curwen. [ca.1899. 28 leaves + 11 photos. Text, ms., copied by Dr Leslie Trotter from Curwen's account. The original photographs of the charcoal-making process were taken by Curwen. The whole bound in 1953]

Charcoal Burning in the Forest of Dean/Herbert Curwen.

circa 1899
[Manuscript] 'A System of practical geometry' by Richard Oliver, member of Mr. Lochee's Royal Military Academy, 1782. [Author is a 'Member of Mr Lochee's R[oyal] M[ilitary] A[cademy]'. 35 leaves, consisting of geometrical constructions with examples, some coloured, of the scale reduction of maps and drawings. Each page is titled but there is no explanatory text]

Manuscript 'A System of practical geometry' by Richard Oliver

1782
History of the Framework Knitting and Lace Trades / Gravenor Henson. 1829 Oct. [110p. ms., bound. 'Published by R. Sutton, Nottingham: (October 1829)'. Forms first 3+ chapters of Henson's 'The Civil, Political, and Mechanical History of the Framework-Knitters in Europe and America ... vol.1' published by Richard Sutton, Nottingham in 1831. Vol.2 never appeared]

History of the Framework Knitting and Lace Trades, Gravenor Henson. 1829 Oct.

1829
An economical plan for examining the merits of the Velocipede, or Swift Walker, and a chance of obtaining one of five shillings / R. Childs, secretary. [ca. 1818. 1 sheet, ms. signed, with ink and colour wash drawing of machine and rider. A call for subscriptions to a five-shillings-per-stake lottery, with the velocipede as prize. Bears signatures of forty subscribers. Watermarked 1818]

An economical plan for examining the merits of the Velocipede

circa 1818
Memorandum [26p.] on the uses of my soya-flour for Great Britain and for the British Empire with references to some difficulties in the introduction of this new food/L. Berczeller, 1935. [35p. ms. Arranged in fourteen titled sections, with accompanying letter, Budapest/L. Berczeller (2p, detailing the merits of the flour and his efforts in developing it), section of "Propositions in connection with the memorandum..." (3p) etc. Total number of pages is 35]

Memorandum on the uses of my soya-flour for Great Britain and for the British Empire with references to some difficulties in the introduction of this new food

1935
Descriptio theoretica machinae, quae se ipsam movens, aquam ad altitudinem 32 e 34 pedum elevat, quamdiu partes illius notabilem destructionem non acquirunt : et Methodi quomoda fluvii construendi sunt ut in illis ad versus cursum illorum navigari possibile sit / Gotthelf Josepho Schops. [Describing a perpetual motion machine which he invented in 1798, based on the siphon principle. The article was written in Vienna. In Latin. With letter, 1802 Jun 20, Vienna to Le Comte de Buquoy, a l'academie theresienne, Vienna. Holograph signed]

Descriptio theoretica machinae

circa 1802
[Note on the course and timetable of a packet boat operating between Falmouth and Corfu/ Maudslay, Sons & Field, c. 185-?]

Note on the course and timetable of a packet boat operating between Falmouth and Corfu

circa 1850
[Manuscript (4p.)] Observations on the intended Rail or Tram way from Stockton by Darlington to the Collieries near Auckland &c proj[ecte]d in 1819 - & which was intended to pass thro Lord Darlington's Estates in the Co[unt]y of D[urha]m. [Bears note under title 'This Line was aft[erwar]ds aband[one]d'. Probably the copy of Francis Mewburn, solicitor to the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company. Signed 'Willm. Stobart, Thos. Fenwick, Bishop Auckland Feby. 23rd 1819']

Manuscript, Observations on the intended Rail or Tram way from Stockton by Darlington to the Collieries near Auckland

1819
Manuscript, paper volume with buckram-covered card covers, 'Unbeaten Tracks', by H.B., assumed to be H. Bird, writing to his brother (brother-in-law?) Charles Chambers. The manuscript consists of copies of letters from H.B. to Chambers between April 1860 and November 1870. The inside cover bears the signature of Edith M. Bird. The letters describe railway journeys, works and travels through France, Italy, Hungary, Poland etc. Towns from where HB writes and frequently describes include Paris, Leghorn, Naples, Foggia, Borynicze (Poland), Bukowina, Transylvania, Budapest, Moldavia, Vienna and London.

Unbeaten Tracks

circa 1870
Manuscript, paper, A Trip to Paris, & its Exhibition of 1889, by John Dodd. Describes a trip by rail to visit the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. Includes detailed descriptions of the journey, fellow passengers, Paris, the exhibition including Locomotion, the French transport system, etc. Dodd was station master at Tow Law in County Durham. Includes printed map of the exhibition site. Transcript and notes by the donor available.

A Trip to Paris, & its Exhibition of 1889

1889
M.S. description of Ellis's tuning forks.

Description of Ellis's Tuning forks

A description of the pneumatic aparatus [sic] made by George Adams in Fleet Street, London 1761 [text and plates / George Adams. 46p. on 33 sheets; 24 pl. Text makes references to works of Gravesande, Nollet, Hauksbee et al. Most sheets are double (48.5 x 69cm.) folded to 48.5 x 34.5cm., and all are housed in a portfolio. 54 'experiments' are given in the text. Six of the plates bear 'Wm. Franks fecit'. Photocopy volumes of both text and plates are available at the same shelfmark. See inv. nos. 1952-36 and 1927-2060 (MS 353 and 354) for a draft of the text and for instructions to the illustrator re the plates]

A description of the pneumatic aparatus [sic] made by George Adams in Fleet Street

1761
An account of an horizontal Top, invented by Mr Serson / James Short. 1752 Feb 6. 3p. on 3 leaves. [Ms. transcription from Philosophical Transactions/Royal Society v.47, p.352 of Short's paper. It refers to Science Museum object (inv.no.1927-1123), an artificial horizon or whirling speculum. (The account mentions Mr [John] Smeaton and [Sir] William Watson.) The leaves include a further 2p. of notes on the speculum and on Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion.]

An account of an horizontal Top

1752