Bottle of water from the River Jordan

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1920-1930

Bottle of water from the River Jordan at the site of the baptism of Christ, collected in March, 1930

Amuletic hand to avert the 'evil eye'

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1880-1925

Brass hand, flat sheet, left hand inscribed on upper side with intent to avert evil eye, Persian, 1880-1925, one of two hands the other owning R16909[A]

Porcelain medicine spoon

Pharmacy-ware

1830-1930

Porcelain medicine spoon, with bowed half-cover, 1830-1930, European(?) or American(?)

Samples of cinchona bark

Materia Medica & Pharmacology

1930-1931

Bundle of strips of rolled bark, cinchona, Quinquina Route Equateur faux, prepared by F. Laurent, Paris, supplied by H. Salle, Paris, France, 1930-1931

Hand perforator and copy stand for Wheatstone automatic telegraph system, 1890-1910

Telecommunications

1890-1910

Hand perforator and copy stand for Wheatstone automatic telegraph system, invented by Charles Wheatstone, unknown maker, probably British, 1890-1910. Wheatstone two unit stickpunch with paperslip dispenser.

Brooch in the shape of a horseshoe with a riding crop

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1914-1918

Amulet, tin, gilt, brooch in form of shoe and riding crop on horseshoe, reputedly worn by soldier of the Middlesex Regiment, from Lovett collection, British, 1914-1918

Glass pharmacy bottle with crest

Medical Glass-ware

1600-1800

Italian glass crested pharmacy bottle with cork stopper, 17th century

Spark gap or knob coherer, 1889

Radio Communication

1889

Spark gap or knob coherer, unknown maker, England, 1889. Used by Sir Oliver Lodge to first show the coherer effect and detect electric surgings by closing the circuit of a galvanometer during experiments on lightning guards.

Roman cupping vessel

Classical & Medieval Medicine

1-79 CE

Bronze cupping vessel, from Pompeii, Roman, 1-79AD

Linen skull cap printed with religious pictures

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1860-1920

Amuletic skull cap with printed pictures of religious nature, used to cure convulsions in child, from Tyrol, Austrian, 1860-1920

Soiled dressing container, England, 1910-1950

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1910-1950

White enamelled iron pail, formerly used in Farnborough Hospital, English, 1910-1950; with SOILED DRESSINGS painted on the side, with handles and lid

Britannia telephone wire joint specimen, 1900-1980

Telecommunications

1900-1980

Specimen of Britannia Joint for joining heavy-gauge telephone wire, unknown maker, probably British, 1900-1980

Ivory memento mori

Anatomy & Pathology

1601-1900

Ivory model of a half head, half skull

child's china tea plate, 1922-1923

Radio Communication

1922-1923

Child's china teaplate, with cartoon bearing the legend "2ZY Manchester calling", unknown maker, British, 1922-1923

Plaster bust of boy, head missing

James Watt's Garret Workshop

1790-1819

1 Plaster bust of boy, head missing

Gear wheel from long-case clock by Fromanteel

Time Measurement

1660-1665

Brass gear wheel from long-case clock made by Ahasuerus Fromanteel, London, 1660-1665.

Bonochord Transitron transistor hearing aid case, c.1954

Sound Reproduction

1954-1955

Bonochord transistor hearing aid case, c.1954. The Bonochord Transitron all-transistor hearing aid case was introduced in 1954 and was made by Bonochord, 48, Welbeck Street, London, W1. It was an early all-transistor hearing aid, using a transistor in place of a radio valve. The active element of the transistor was a piece of the metal germanium about 1/16 inch square and half as thick. Unlike the contemporary 3-valve hearing aid, the Transitron did not require a high-tension battery, operating using only a very small low-tension cell. The running costs of everyday use was estimated as being as little as five shillings a year. The power output was variable, according to the number of battery cells used. Total current consumption was 2mA for 1.5V and 7.6mA for 4.5V, and according to the maker's figures the maximum air-to-air gain was 70db. The instrument was advertised as having the advantage of small size and weight – the polished stainless steel case measured 3.25 x 2.25 x 0.125 inches and the weight including battery was only 4.4oz); great reliability and life; and great volume in proportion to size. Features included separate on/off and volume controls.

Gilt-metal and engraved silver verge watch by James Valtrolier

Clockmakers

1622-1628

Verge escapement watch by James Vautrolier. The oval gilt-metal case has profusely engraved silver covers and band. The engraved silver dial has a gilt hand. The movement has a three wheel train, pinned on balance cock and ratchet wheel set-up. The backplate has an engraved border. With original brass key and plain silver outer case. London c.1625

Deck-watch used by Capt. William Parry during his attempt to reach the North Pole, 1827

Clockmakers

1823

Silver spring detent escapement deck-watch in a mahogany case by Parkinson and Frodsham. White enamel dial with a subsiduary seconds dial and blued steel hands, signed 'Parkinson & Frodsham London 948' and the broad arrow mark. Flat spiral balance-spring with its stud on a flexible arm to aid the even coiling and uncoiling of the spring. Hallmarked for 1823 – 4.

Exchequer standard gallon measure of Queen Elizabeth I, 1601

Weighing & Measuring

1601

Bronze Exchequer Standard Winchester Gallon Measure, dated 1601. One of a series issued to 60 cities in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Model of Hooke's universal joint

King George III

1760

Model of Robert Hooke's universal joint made by Mr Pease, probably in London, in 1760 and owned by Stephen Demainbray.

Compendium rule signed Humfrey Cole

Mathematics

1574

Compendium rule made by Humfrey Cole in 1574, London. It is signed 'Humfrey Cole 1574'. The instrument consists of two folding arms, each of which are engraved with scales for measuring and making calculations.

Ready reckoner

Mathematics

1990

`MONEYWISE' calculator converting metric to imperial, Celsius to Farenheit and mortgage interest rates using interference, 1990

Hysteroscope with camera attachment

Clinical Diagnosis

1958-1965

Hysteroscope, rigid, Fourestier-Glandu-Vulmiere type, with camera attachment, France, 1958-1965

Hypothermia advice card, England, 1994-1995

Public Health & Hygiene

1994-1995

Combined hypothermia thermometer and advice card, produced by Eastern Electricity for their elderly customers, London, England, 1994-1995.

Two lancets in a patterned silver case

Therapeutics

1844

Two lancets, steel blade in tortoiseshell sheath, by Savigny and Co. of London, 1810-1850, in silver case, inscribed "R.G.," made in Birmingham in 1844

Mechanical hearing aid

Audiology

1935-1936

Brune-Sedeyn mechanical hearing aid, silver, by the Naturton Company, London, 1935-1936

Watch movement by Thomas Tompion

Clockmakers

1692

Verge escapement watch movement by Thomas Tompion. The movement has a four wheel train and tulip pillars, and is signed ‘T. Tompion London 0598’ c.1692

Supersonic flaw detector

Radiomedicine

Supersonic flaw detector, MK 2B serial no.45321, made by Henry Hughes and Son Ltd. consisting of two parts. (1) control unit, (2) tube unit

Robert Dudgeon’s sphygmograph

Clinical Diagnosis

1876

Sphygmograph which belonged to Dudgeon, by J. Ganter, 19 Crawford Street, London, England, 1876.

Section of lightning conductor from St Paul’s cathedral

Geophysics

1769

Iron bar which formed one section of the lightning conductor installed on St. Paul’s cathedral, London, in 1769, as recommended by a Royal Society committee. This bar remained in place until 1899.

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1640

Brass Gunter quadrant (3-inch radius) signed J M, probably John Marr, and dated 1640 with degree and trigonometric scales and volvelle on reverse side.

Difference Engine No. 1

Computing & Data Processing

c. 1832

Portion of Charles Babbage's calculating machine (Difference Engine No.1), built by Joseph Clement, London, 1832.

Lancet owned by Edward Jenner

Public Health & Hygiene

1720-1800

Lancet belonging to Jenner, probably used for vaccination, by Savigny and Co., 1701-1800, English

Pugh orthoptoscope, London, England, 1948-1968

Ophthalmology

1948-1968

Pugh orthoptoscope by Hamblin, London, English, 1948-1968

Steljes ABC type printing telegraph receiver

Telecommunications

1895-1910

Steljes ABC type printing telegraph receiver No. 477, made by the Typewriting Telegraph Corporation Limited, London, England, 1895-1910

Caesium atomic clock, 1955.

Time Measurement

1955

NPL caesium atomic clock of 1955 (less associated electronic equipment)

Carbolic steam spray used by Joseph Lister

Surgery

1866-1870

Carbolic steam spray used by Lister by D. Marr, English, c. 1867

Silver pair-cased astronomical watch

Clockmakers

1660

Silver pair-cased watch with astronomical indications. The matted dial plate is gilded and engraved with cherubs and has two applied silver dials. The lower dial, with blued steel hand, has a pierced centre and indicates the hours. The upper dial comprises a fixed silver ring showing the day of the month with a silver turning disc and pointer inside. The disc has five circles; the outer circle indicates the signs of the zodiac, the second the months, the third and fourth have a series of figures and the fifth shows the length of month. Also shown in separate apertures on the dial plate are indications for day of the week, moon phase and age, and high tides. Signed 'Nathan Barrow London'on the movement, but partially obscured by the balance cock and silver regulator. These appear to be later than the rest of the watch, which may have originally been made without a balance-spring. Verge escapement and three-wheel train.

Sundial by Elias Allen, c.1630

Clockmakers

1625-1635

A very high quality horizontal sundial, set out to show individual minutes and signed ‘Elias Allen fecit’. London, c.1630

Wax anatomical model of thorax

Anatomy & Pathology

1825-1879

Wax anatomical model of thorax showing ecthyma luridum, in glass case, by Joseph Towne, English, 1825-1879

Point-contact transistor,type GET 2 c.1953

Electronic Components

c. 1953

Point-contact transistor,type GET 2 c.1953

London Dome ear trumpet

Audiology

1869-1900

Small square ear trumpet, hearing aid, European, 1869-1900

Analogue music synthesizer.

Acoustics

1970

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

Refracting telescope with achromatic lens, made by the Dollond family

Optics

1760-1775

Achromatic refracting telescope for terrestrial use, with an optical lens diameter of 1.4 inches, and focal length 30 inches, by Dollond, London, 1760-1775

'Tabloid' medicine chest used on 1924 Mount Everest Expedition

Materia Medica & Pharmacology

1887-1924

'Tabloid' medicine chest, empty, used on 1924 Mount Everest Expedition, made and patented by Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., London, 1887-1924

Four scalpels and a hernia bistoury in case

Surgery

1901-1930

4 scalpels and a hernia bistoury, steel, aseptic, in sterilisable case, various makers, early 20th century, military issue

Packet of 20 Death cigarettes, London, England, 1999

Smoking

1999

Packet of 20 Death cigarettes, labelled: 'Manufacturer's advice: Cigarettes are addictive and debilitating. If you don't smoke, don't start. Death is a responsible way to market a legally available consumer product which kills people when used exactly as intended. Death cigarettes: For an honest smoke', made in the EC under the authority of The Enlightened Tobacco Company Plc, London, c.1999.

One of Fleming's first thermionic diode valves, 1889

Electronic Components

1889

Thermionic valve, one of three original examples, by Sir John Ambrose Fleming, London, England, 1904. This valve uses a lamp with a cylindrical aluminium filament, by Edison & Swan United Electric Company, London, England, 1889.

One of Fleming's first thermionic diode valves, 1889

Electronic Components

1889

Thermionic valve, one of three original examples, by Sir John Ambrose Fleming, London, England, 1904. This valve uses a lamp with a flat rectangular aluminium filament, by Edison & Swan United Electric Company, London, England, 1889.