Orrery made by John Rowley for the Earl of Orrery

Astronomy

1712-1713

Orrery, tellurium or planetary model, c. 1712, made for Charles Boyle, the fourth Earl of Orrery by John Rowley, Fleet Street, London.

Crick and Watson's DNA molecular model

Biochemistry

1953

Reconstruction of the double helix model of DNA, using some of the original metal plates, by Francis Crick and James Watson, England, 1953

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

Analogue music synthesizer.

Acoustics

1970

VCS 3 music synthesizer made by Electronic Music Studios, London Limited, London, England, 1970

Terrestrial globe by Willem Janszoon Blaeu

Astronomy

1599

Terrestrial globe made by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1599.

'Pedoscope' shoe-fitting X-ray viewer

Radiomedicine

1948-1953

Pedoscope, by the Pedoscope Company Limited, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, 1948-1953

Pye B16T television receiver

Television

1946-1948

PYE B16T table-top television receiver, manufactured by Pye Limited, East Anglia, England, 1946-1948.

Silver microscope by George Adams, c. 1761.

Microscopes

1763

Silver ‘Universal Double Microscope’ with ornate decoration by George Adams the Elder, Fleet Street, London, c. 1763. The drawer in the base contains several accessories: an alternative eyepiece and eye cap, a stand for the jointed arm, three sets of objectives, talc discs for slides, a fishplate with a glass slide attached, three magnifiers, a pair of stage forceps, a live box, a pair of tweezers and a nosepiece.

Robert Hooke type microscope

Microscopes

1671-1700

Compound microscope designed by Robert Hooke, 1671-1700 and thought to have been made by Christopher Cock, Long Acre, Covent Garden, London, but not signed. Part of an accessory for manipulating specimens has survived and the objective lens is a modern replacement made in 1965.

Bowl from Hiroshima, Japan

Nuclear Physics

1935-1945

Porcelain bowl, retrieved from Hiroshima after the atomic bomb explosion, unsigned, Japan, August 1945

Personal Computer, model Apple I

Computing & Data Processing

1976-1979

Personal Computer, model Apple I, devised by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs and Ron Wayne, and made by Apple Inc, United States, 1976-1979.

‘Trans-Pac’ GPS receiver, 1990-1991

Surveying

1990-1991

‘Trans-Pac’ GPS, global positioning system receiver, made by Trimble Navigation, California, United States, 1990-1991. Retrieved from helicopter shot down in the Gulf War, 1991. Marked P/N 14992-00, S/N 3016A00570. Patented 4, 754, 465

Electronic storm surge modelling machine

Oceanography

1960-2007

Electronic storm surge model, invented and constructed by Shizuo Ishiguro at the National Institute of Oceanography, Wormley, 1960-2007. The Electronic storm surge model is a depth-integrated single-layer two-dimensional electronic model based on hydrodynamic equations used to examine tidal surges, comprising three main units; a unit holding the input and output devices (Advance Instruments OS-240 oscilloscope, Commodore CBM 8032 Computer and Commodore 2031 5¼" floppy disk drive, and another two units (connected and wired together in a V formation) forming the mesh framework of the machine.

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

Armillary sphere by Girolamo Della Volpaia

Astronomy

1554

Armillary sphere made by Girolamo Della Volpaia, Florence, Italy, 1554. Inscribed ‘'Hieronymus Carmilli Vulpariae, Florentin, F.1554'.

Technics SL-1210 Mk2 mode quartz synthesizer direct-drive turntable: one of two

Sound Reproduction

1999

Technics SL-1210 Mk2 mode quartz synthesizer direct-drive turntable: one of two, by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan, 1999. The Technics SL-1210 Mk2 mode quartz synthesizer direct-drive turntable would normally operate as a pair: both connected to the amplifier and speakers through a cross-fader. This is to mix the outputs of two separate soundtracks, a procedure which is the foundation of 'mixing'.

Celestial globe by Willem Janszoon Blaeu

Astronomy

1603

Celestial globe made by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1603.

Barnard Tompion clock

Time Measurement

1708

Table clock with striking mechanism made by Thomas Tompion and original oak carry case. The movement is signed: ‘Tho: Tompion/Edw: Banger/London’ and numbered 460.

Moon globe by John Russell;England;1797

Astronomy

1797

Moon globe 12-inch in diameter on libration stand, by John Russell, R.A., London, England, 1797. Known as ‘Selenographia’, the globe shows the nearside of the Moon visible from Earth. It has a mechanical mounting which demonstrates lunar libration, and which also features a miniature terrestrial globe.

Pocket globe in case by Dudley Adams

Astronomy

1799-1802

Three-inch pocket globe in fish-skin case by Dudley Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1799-1802. A celestial map lines the inside of the case. The terrestrial globe is inscribed: ‘A New Globe of the Earth by Dudley Adams’. The voyages of Captain James Cook are also shown.

Nasmyth steam hammer

Hand and Machine Tools

1845-1855

Nasmyth steam hammer, by James Nasmyth, Patricroft, Salford, Manchester, England, 1845-1855. Probably the earliest steam hammer. It was installed at the Royal Mint until 1933. Consisting of the component parts: - Anvil block, Anvil, Bedplate, two Standards (with maker's name and with lead stop-block attached - to which control gear attaches), Cylinder with valve chests, piston & rod, valve spindles and lubricators, Tup, with wiper cam and trip lever with wooden tappets and the Control gear assembly.

Vodafone 'Transportable' mobile telephone, 1985

Telecommunications

1985

Transportable mobile telephone, made by Vodafone Limited, England, 1985

Three-ring Enigma cypher machine in oak wood transit case

Radio Communication

1934

Three-ring Enigma cypher machine complete in oak wood transit case, together with original German battery (Serial number A6421/1937), unsigned, Germany, 1934 (see Note)

Edward Jenner's lancets

Public Health & Hygiene

1801-1823

Six lancets, steel and tortoiseshell, in shagreen and silver case, by John Weiss of London, England, 1801-1823. As used by Edward Jenner.

William Thomson's Tide Predicting Machine, 1872

Geophysics

1872

Tide-predicting machine designed by William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin), built by A. Légé & Co., 20 Cross Street, Hatton Gardens, London, 1872. The machine is a mechanical analogue computer which traces the tidal curve for a given location, by combining ten astronomical components. It is the first working machine of Thomson’s design, based on his application of harmonic analysis to tidal phenomena.

Tracy, a transgenic sheep

Biotechnology

1990-1997

Tracy, a transgenic ewe. Genetically modified to produce a human protein (alpha antitrypsin) in her milk, 1990-97.

Model of a pair of side-lever engines from the H.M.S. 'Dee', (1832)

Marine Engines

1832-1851

Working model, scale 1:32, of a pair of side-lever engines from the H.M.S. 'Dee', (1832), mounted on wood hull section, designed by Henry Maudslay and made by Maudslay, Sons and Field Limited, Lambeth, London, England, 1827-32.

Apple 'iPad 2', 2011-2012

Computing & Data Processing

2011-2012

Apple iPad 2, Black, 16GB, Wi-Fi, Model A1395, designed by Apple in California, assembled in China, 2011-2012

Navigational Computor Mark III

Mathematics

Navigational Computor Mark III, calculating device for aerial navigation

Remington 44 revolver

Hand and Machine Tools

1863-1865

Remington 44 revolver, bears an inspector's stamp, barrel length 236 mm / 9.3 in and calibre 11.2 mm / .44 in, by Remington Small Arms Factory, E. Remington and Sons, Ilion, New York state, United States, 1863-1865

Electron capture detector for gas chromatograph

Experimental Chemistry

1955-1965

Electron capture detector for gas chromatograph, constructed by James Ephraim Lovelock and the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, England, 1955-1965

Hoover 'Keymatic' washing machine

Domestic Appliances

1963

Hoover 'Keymatic' model 3224 washing machine, designed and developed by Hoover Limited engineering laboratories, Perivale, Middlesex, and made by Hoover (Washing Machines) Limited, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, with motors made at Hoover (Electric Motors) Limited, Cambuslang, Scotland, 1963

Terrestrial globe by John Senex

Astronomy

1738

Twelve-inch terrestrial globe made by John Senex, Fleet Street, London, 1738. Inscribed: ‘A new and correct Globe of the Earth together with a view of the general and coasting trade winds, monsoons etc. Laid down according to the newest discoveries and from the most exact observations by John Senex, F.R.S. Sold by him at the Globe against St. Dunstans Church in Fleet Street, 1738.’

Silk skirt and blouse dyed with Perkin's Mauve Aniline Dye

Industrial Chemistry

1862-1863

Silk skirt and blouse dyed with Sir William Henry Perkin's mauve aniline dye, unsigned, England, 1862-1863

Tri-unial magic lantern

Photographic Technology

1880

Goodwin Norton Triple lantern. Triunial lantern for 3 1/2 x 3 1/4" slides; lower two lenses missing, 2 mixing, one blowthrough oxyhydrogen limelight jets; star mixers; with hydrogen and oxygen gauges by Beard; previously catalogued as 1990-5036/259. Two lenses missing. Donated by daughter of maker. This tri-unial lantern, used by the lanternist Charles Goodwin Norton, was possibly made by W Butcher & Sons. The projector is missing two of its three lenses , though it retains its oxyhydrogen limelight jets - two mixing, one blowthrough -, star mixers and hydrogen and oxygen gauges by Beard.

Biped robot

Human Robotics

1987-1997

Biped robot, designed by David Buckley and made by the Shadow Robotics Project Group, London, England, 1987-1997

Two Guillotine blades and plinth

Wellcome (general)

1790-1794

Two Guillotine blades and plinth, unsigned, French, 1790-1794. Used at the execution of Jean-Baptiste Carrier in 1794.

Iron model of the joints in a human skeleton, Italy, 1570-1700

Therapeutics

1570-1700

Articulated manikin, iron, used to teach bone-setting etcetera, possibly Italian, 1570-1700

3D printed gun

Computing & Data Processing

2013

3D printed gun, single shot pistol, barrel length 55 mm / 2.2 in and calibre 9 mm / 0.35 in, by Yleisradio, Finland, 2013

Teapot illustrated with a ballooning scene, late 18th century.

Penn-Gaskell Collection

1783-1810

One teapot in white and gold porcelain, 4" x 6". Obverse: Charles & Robert balloon in gold inscribed "Bon Voyage". Reverse, balloon with rudders, inscribed "Sic Itur Ad Astra".

Model of the periodic system of de Chancourtois

Experimental Chemistry

1925; 1862

Model demonstrating the telluric screw periodic system of Alexander-Emile Beguyer de Chancourtois proposed in a paper published in 1862.

Gray-Milne seismograph made by James White

Geophysics

1885

Gray-Milne seismograph, plus weights, winding keys and carton of parts, for recording both horizontal and vertical motion during an earthquake. Designed in Japan by Thomas Gray and John Milne, and made by the James White firm, Glasgow, Scotland, 1885. A plaque on the instrument reads: ‘Gray & Milne’s seismograph | No. 3 | James White | Glasgow.'

Educational toy

Science Teaching

1851-1900

Educational toy, object lesson box or 'Cabinet of Natural History', containing several trays, each compartmentalised with bottles and boxes of samples, both natural and manufactured, unsigned, British, 1851-1900

Silver sundial by Humfrey Cole

Time Measurement

1568-1590

Silver altitude sundial made and signed by Humfray Cole, London, 1568-1590. It was made for use in latitude 51°30 secs, in which London is located, Complete with original leather carry case.

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

Triple loop Klein bottle which when cut gives a pair of five-twist Mobius strips

Mathematics

1995

Triple loop Klein bottle, which when cut gives a pair of five-twist Mobius strips, by Alan Bennett, Greenfield, Bedfordshire, England, 1995

Edison 'Concert' phonograph

Sound Reproduction

1910-1912

Edison Type A 'Concert' phonograph, model SM, with wax cylinders, by Thomas A. Edison Inc., American, 1910-1912

Tin, empty, for Cow & Gate Milk Food

Domestic Appliances

circa 1956

Tin, empty, for Cow & Gate Milk Food, compounded dried full cream milk. Cow & Gate Limited, Guildford, Surrey. c. 1956.

Whitehouse experimental thermograph, c. 1872.

Meteorology

1872

Whitehouse experimental thermograph, c. 1872.

Brass framed sextant.

Navigation

1790-1800

Brass sextant with polished frame and limb in keystone-shaped mahogany box, by Jesse Ramsden, London, England, 1790-1800. Fitted with hinged stand instead of handle, which can be fitted to threaded hole on the lid of the case. Consists of inlaid silver 129° scale (-2° to 147°) with 20’ divisions, a silver vernier reading to 20”, three filter shades (two red, one green), three horizon shades (two red, one green) and scale magnifier on swivel arm (missing). Fitted with threaded telescope bracket (with detachable dovetail) for telescope (123 mm, set focus?) inverted image, four cross-wires and sight tube (51 mm).