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Colchester 2000L CNC lathe

Production Machinery

1985-2000

Colchester 2000L CNC lathe fitted with FANUC 6-TB numerical control system. Today CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine tools are indispensible for the mass production of all types of industrial products. They can automatically cut and shape metal parts much quicker and more accurately than human machinists

Forest of Rods model of myoglobin

Biochemistry

1960

Part of model of myoglobin ("forest of rods") constructed in 1960 during work on the structure of the molecule to a resolution of 2 Angstroms: it comprises steel rods with meccano clips in wooden base-boards with Kendrew-type skeletal models showing the peptide chain

External hearing aid

Audiology

1978-1980

Hearing aid, behind ear, with ear mould and battery, type BE14, c. 1980

Votive right leg

Classical & Medieval Medicine

200 BCE-400 CE

Votive right leg, bronze,Roman(?)

Model of the SS Oceanic (1899)

Water Transport

1899-1919

Model, scale 1:64, of the White Star Line Royal Mail Steamer "Oceanic" (1899), original built by Harland and Wolff Limited for the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Limited. She was the last British transatlantic liner to be launched in the nineteenth century

Hirtz's compass for locating bullets, Paris, France, 1915

Clinical Diagnosis

1915

Hirtz's compass for locating projectiles in the body, brass and steel compass, brass limbs, steel pointers, Gaiffe, maker, Paris, France, 1915

GRiD 'Compass' laptop computer, 1982-1990

Computing & Data Processing

1982-1990

GRiD Compass laptop computer manufactured by the GRiD Systems Corporation, Fremont, California, United States, 1982-1990

Whitworth Planing Machine

Hand and Machine Tools

c.1842

Planing machine, made by Joseph Whitworth & Co. of Manchester, 1842. Belt drive, three pullies, one loos in the middle, to drive the lathe in either direction. Table worked by the worm screw and nut. Parts of the automatic cross feed to the tool holder are missing, as is the original tool holder which probably was the reversing type. This machine was originally in the LNWR Crewe works, reputedly used for making horn blocks for axles. Presented by A Bebbington & Son, Culland Street Works, Crewe.

Reid III Rangefinder Camera

Photographic Technology

c. 1956

Reid III Type 2 35mm camera for 24 x 36mm pictures. Coated Taylor Hobson Anastigmat lens. F:2 inches f/2-16, Serial No 328898. Fabric focal plane shutter 1/2/5/8/20/30/40/60/100/200/500/1000/T. Interchangeable lens, Leica thread. Coupled rangefinder coincidence type, separate direct vision viewfinder. Flash synchronised, two coaxial sockets for electronic and flash bulbs. Accessory shoes. Reid and Sigrist. Camera Serial No P3277.

Cupellation furnace

Metallurgy

1696-1700

Cupellation furnace, maker unknown, England, 1696-1700.

'Digit Al' soft toy, 2008

Television

2008

'Digit Al' doll, designed by Abbot Mead Vickers BDDO, unknown maker, 2008. Produced to promote the digital television switchover.

Cammann type binaural stethoscope

Clinical Diagnosis

1845-1855

Cammann binaural stethoscope, presented by Cammann to Dr. Barth.

Nintendo Game Boy Color, model CGB-001

Computing & Data Processing

1998

Nintendo Game Boy Color, model number CGB-001.

model locomotive, London & North Western Railway Claughton class

Railway Models

1913

Model steam locomotive, 1/16 scale, London & North Western Railway `Claughton' class 4-6-0 No.1160 `Sir Gilbert Claughton', liveried as LMS No.5900, prototype built 1913, model built 1913 at Crewe Works, ex LNWR collection, with cutaway smokebox.

In memory of Henry West

Fixtures & Fittings from Railway Buildings

1971

Memorial, oak plaque, in memory of Henry West, killed in a whirlwind at Reading Station, Great Western Railway, 24th March 1840, replacement panel of 1971. The panel reads: "In memory of Henry West, who lost his life in a whirlwind at the Great Western Railway station, Reading on the 24th March 1840, aged 24 years. Sudden the change. I in a moment fell and had not time to bid my friends farewell. Yet hushed be all complaint, tis sweet, tis blest to change Earth's stormy scenes for endless rest. Dear friends prepare, take warning by my fall, so shall you hear with joy your Saviour's call. A rail was erected at the time by his fellow workmen as a token of affectionate respect to his memory. Renewed by his brother George, 1862. Renewed by his niece, F G Rixon, 1924. Renewed by the Reading Corporation, 1971".

Raleigh, Trent, lady's bicycle, 21" frame, 1962.

Road Transport

1962

Raleigh, Trent, lady's bicycle, 21" frame, 1962.

Packet of 'Sweet Afton' Fine Cut hand rolling toba

Smoking

1999

Packet of 'Sweet Afton' Fine Cut hand rolling tobacco, named after Robert Burns' ballad 'Afton Water', sealed inside multi-laminate pouch for freshness, made by P.J. Carroll and Co. Ltd, Ireland, c.1999.

Orbitel 901 mobile telephone, 1992

Telecommunications

1992

Orbitel 901 mobile phone, manufactured by Orbitel, probably Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, 1992.

Iron Baby

Antony Gormley

1999

A cast iron sculpture, 'Iron Baby', Edition AP III/III, by Antony Gormley, England, 1999 (see note).

Waterloo Station

Terence Tenison Cuneo

1967

Painting. [Waterloo Station] / by Terence Cuneo, May 1967. Signed and dated bl. Painted on site in the Science Museum, with the assistance of Anthony Kerr. Perspective view of the concourse of Waterloo Station, London, as seen from the first floor British Rail Southern Region Board Room windows. Includes both steam and electric trains, porters, cars, passengers, indicator board and clock; relatives, artist and politicians of the day amongst the travelling public. General activity any day in the early 1960s

Plane line articulator

Dentistry

1965-1975

Plane line articulator, de Trey's free plane with full denture on plaster mould, by de Trey, England, 1965-1975

Raytheon Model M-1601 console television receiver

Television

1950

The Donald Fleming Collection of North American television receivers: Raytheon Model M-1601 C-1602, 17" console television receiver, 1949. 'Washing Machine' (circular screen or 'porthole') Type Set. Very unusual looking set to Europeans used to oblong screens.

Kodak Brownie 500 cine projector

Cinematography

1956-1963

For 8mm silent film; Kodak projection Ektanar lens F:3/4", f/1.6. Auto threading still/reverse/forward, lamp motor, eleveation, framing controls. Integral case. 110v 60 cps.

Kodak Automatic 8 Movie Camera and carton box

Cinematography

1962

Kodak automatic 8 camera and carton packaging, 1962. For 8mm film, 25' double run; Kodak Ektanar lens F:13mm f/1.6. Auto exposure, direct setting of aperture by photocell. Clockwork drive; DV optical finder, low light signal. In original packing with instructions. Lens: 13mm Kodak 'Ektanar' Lens f/1.6, the lens is limited to a maximum aperture of f/1.9 due to the requirements of the automatic exposure control. Viewfinder: of the telescopic type, incorporating two moulded lenses housed in the top of the case. It includes a zone type low-light indicator. The front finder lens has a parallax correction mark for close-ups from 3-5ft. Finish: the general finish of the camera is a light grey case, front plate and shutter housing with dark blue/grey side panels.

John Dee's crystal, Europe, 1582

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1582

John Dee's crystal, used for clairvoyance and for curing disease

Arriflex 2C 35mm cine camera

Cinematography

1960

35mm Arriflex IIC cine camera; body number C8587, wild motor number VR661949, constant speed mains synch motor, 24fps, plus parts, number 1867, bellow matte box (400ft magazine on camera), etched ground glasses, swan neck, cables for different motors. On fixed mount, with power cable. Serial Nunber 3452. Fitted with three lenses; Taylor Hobson 50mm lens, Serial No 516420; 75mm Speed Panchro lens, f2; Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon lens 1:2/28, Serial Number 3087691.

'VeeDee' Mechanical vibrator, London, England, 1900-1915

Therapeutics

1900-1915

Mechanical ' VeeDee' vibrator, cased by J.E. Garratt, London, English, 1900-1915

Memento mori, Roman, 199 BCE-500 CE

Classical & Medieval Medicine

199 BCE-500 CE

Bronze miniature skeleton or "Larva Convivalis", a "memento mori" handed to guests at feasts, articulated but with lower right leg missing and left arm substituted for lower right leg, Roman

BT Message Master series 1200 pager, 1980-2000

Telecommunications

1980-2000

BT Message Master series 1200 pager, model 31D, made by British Telecom, Japan, 1980-2000. Black plastic pager with rectangular screen and two silver buttons plus clip, serial number 1212023. Phone number on the back: 930705007/7

Camera Lite camera Model B

Photographic Technology

1955

Subminiature camera for 8mm wide film 6x6mm concealed in cigarette lighter' f/8 lens, B/I shutter, fixed focus; frame finder in lighter top; functioning flint/petrol ligther.

Artificial left arm, Europe, 1850-1910

Orthopaedics

1850-1910

Artificial arm, steel with brass wrist mountings, leather top piece, European, 1840-1940.

Model of Leeuwenhoek's microscope

Microscopy (Wellcome)

1901-1930

Model of Leeuwenhoek's simple microscope, from Leyden

Hangman's rope, England, 1870-1888

Wellcome (general)

1870-1888

Hangman's rope, English, allegedly used in the hanging of Elizabeth Berry and Alfred Scandrett. Originally dated 1810-1824 and additionally associated with the execution of John Thurtell in 1824, stylistically this rope appears to be from a later period and Berry and Scandrett were executed in 1887 and 1888 respectively.

Calliper used to measure head size

Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry

1886-1927

Phrenological calliper(?), possibly nickel-plated brass, from the British Phrenological Society, by Arnold and Sons, London.

Drawing instruments by Charles Whitwell

Mathematics

1593-1610

Case of drawing instruments in leather sling case made by Charles Whitwell between 1593-1610 near St. Clement's Church (without Temple Bar), London. The set contains a pair of 8-inch brass-and-steel dividers with pencil attachment, an 8-inch brass sector, 41/2-inch brass three-legged dividers (probably not original to the set and made at a later date) , a pair of 41/2-inch brass dividers and a brass scribing tool used to mark a surface on which a line is to be drawn. The sector is engraved with the initials 'C.W' for Charles Whitwell.

IBM 5151-02 computer monitor, 1983

Computing & Data Processing

1983

Green screen monochrome monitor Model 5151-02, made by IBM USA, Taiwan, 1983. Serial number 5500156

Pye Bantam radio telephone set, 1963-1965

Radio Communication

1963-1965

One Pye Bantam radio telephone set, labelled as 'Museum A', made by Pye Telecommunication Limited, Cambridge, England, 1963-1965

'King’s Fund’ hospital bed

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1994

Variable height and tilt hospital bed by Hoskins Healthcare, 1994. 5" linked brake castors, pump pedals, hydraulic lift and two way tilt. Head end with variable geometry backrest. Panelled foot end. Model number 3100M, often referred to as the King's Fund bed.

Strowger step-by-step automatic telephone exchange switch, 1897-1898

Telecommunications

1897-1898

Strowger step-by-step automatic telephone exchange switch, made by the Strowger Automatic Telephone Company, United States, 1897-1898

Section of TAT-8 transatlantic optical fibre cable, 1989

Telecommunications

1989

Section of TAT-8 transatlantic optical fibre cable in display case, made by British Telecom International, British, 1989. Brass plaque inscribed:- 'Section of TAT-8- the first transatlantic optical fibre cable. Presented to the Science Museum, London, by Mr. Alan Jefferis, director, satellite and lines, British Telecom International, on 22nd March 1989'.

Bo-Third Rail No D75S

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

1898

Electric locomotive, Waterloo & City Railway, Bo - Third Rail No D75S, built by Siemens Brothers of London in 1898, withdrawn in May 1968.

Gloster Aircraft, E28/39, (without engine)

Aeronautics

Gloster Aircraft, E28/39, (without engine)

Eurostar 3000 satellite, 2000

Space Technology

2000

Eurostar 3000 satellite including main satellite bus & two antennas, made by EADS Astrium Ltd, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, 2000

Panhard Levassor 4hp motor car

Road Transport

1894-1895

Panhard Levassor 4hp motor car, France, 1894-5.

A solar powered car

Road Transport

1998

This solar powered car, known as MAD DOG II, was built in 1998 by a joint staff-student team at the South Bank University.

Reflecting telescope by William Herschel

Astronomy

1783-1785

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter speculum mirror of 7-foot focal length with mahogany tube and altazimuth stand; includes accessories and a pamphlet of directions for use. Telescope made by Herschel for his friend Sir William Watson in Bath, 1783-1785.