Invention Collection (page 10)

Abel Pifres solar-powered printing press, c1894 ([c1927). This used Augustin Mouchots solar engine in which a mirror focused the Suns rays onto a small boiler (patented in 1861)

Pound lock, 1664. The vessel has entered the pound from the lower level on the left, the gate has been closed behind it and water is being allowed to flow through the gate on the right

French physicist Denis Papins, steamboat being wrecked, 1707 (1870)
French physicist Denis Papin s, steamboat being wrecked, 1707 (1870). The boatmen on the river Weser saw the boat powered by Papins (1647-1712)

Galileo demonstrating his telescope, Venice, 1609 (1870). In this artists reconstruction Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), Italian astronomer, mathematician and physicist

Denis Papin, French physicist, 1870. In 1675, Papin (1647-1712) went to London where he worked with Robert Boyle and invented the forerunner to the pressure cooker, the steam digester

Milking parlour equipped with Thistle suction and pulsation milking machine, 1899. Devised by Dr Alexander Shields of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1895

The amateur chemists laboratory bench, 1860. Artist: M & N Hanhart
The amateur chemists laboratory bench, 1860. The largest item on the bench is a Liebig condenser, a piece of apparatus devised by the German chemist Justus von Liebig (1803-1873)

Elisha Gray, American inventor, presenting the caveat for his telephone, 1876, (c1890). Gray (1835-1901) arrived at the US Patent Office at 4pm on 14 February 1876

Universal joint invented by Robert Hooke, 1676. Hooke (1635-1703) devised this joint to allow directional movement of astronomical instruments. From A Description of Helioscopes by Robert Hooke

Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec, French physician who invented the stethoscope, 1889
Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec, French physician who invented the stethoscope, [1889]. Laennec (1781-1826) is shown listening to a patients chest at the Necker Hospital, Paris

Samuel Finley Breese Morse, American artist and inventor, 1873. Morse (1791-1872) was the inventor of the first functional electric telegraph (1835) and, with Alexander Bain (1810-1977)

Advertisement for Ediswan incandescent light bulbs, 1898. The Ediswan brand was the result of a merging of the interests of the two pioneers of electric light bulbs

James Watts prototype steam engine Old Bess, c1778. Scottish engineer and inventor Watt (1736-1819) formed a successful partnership with the entrepreneur Matthew Boulton in 1775

The Military Accelerator - Particularly Recommended to Cavalry Officers, c1820. Cartoon showing a suggested use for the Hobby-Horse or Dandy-Horse which was introduced into the British Isles in 1818

Replica of Marconis first transmitter used in his early experiments in Italy, 1894. Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937), an Italian physicist and inventor

A General Display of Arts and Sciences, 1790. Artist: Reynolds Grignion
A General Display of Arts and Sciences, 1790. At first glance it seems that ancient science and technology is depicted, but a closer look shows not only Pythagoras (6th century BC)

Claude Chappe demonstrating his optical telegraph (semaphore) system in 1793 (c1870). Chappes (1763-1805) system was in use in France and French colonies until about 1850

Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, 1924. Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific inventor who registered over 1000 patents, many of which were related to the development of electricity

Thomas Edison, American inventor, in his laboratory, Menlo Park, New Jersey, USA, 1870s (1920s)
Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, in his laboratory at Menlo Park, New Jersey, USA, working on the perfection of the incandescent light bulb, 1870s (1920s)

Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, c1906
Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, listening to a recording on an electric model of his phonograph powered by a wet battery, c1906

Leclanche wet cell, an early storage battery, 1896. Invented by the French engineer Georges Leclanche (1839-1882), this was an early form of the zinc carbon (dry cell) battery

Leclanche wet cell, an early storage battery, 1887. Invented by the French engineer Georges Leclanche (1839-1882), this was an early form of the zinc carbon (dry cell) battery

Voltaic battery (pile), 1887. A battery of the type invented by Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745-1827). It consists of a disc of zinc, a disc of copper, a disc of cloth moistened with acid

Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor, c1879. Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific inventor who registered over 1000 patents, many of which were related to the development of electricity

Leclanche wet cell, an early storage battery, 20th century. Invented by the French engineer Georges Leclanche (1839-1882), this was an early form of the zinc carbon (dry cell) battery

First lockstitch sewing machine, invented by Elias Howe, c19th century
The first lockstitch sewing machine, patented by American inventor Elias Howe in 1846

Woman using sewing machine patented by Elias Howe [c1878]
Woman using sewing machine patented by Elias Howe. [c1878]. Howe, an American inventor (1819-1867), patented the first lock-stitch sewing machine in 1846. From Adams Illustrated Panorama of History

First lock-stitch sewing machine, [1915]. Constructed in 1845 by American inventor Elias Howe (1819-1867). From a cigarette card. (1915)

Reverse of medal commemorating 50 years of cinematography by the Lumiere brothers, 1945. August (1862-1954) and Louis Lumiere (1864-1948), French chemists and pioneers of cinematography, 1945

Obverse of medal commemorating 50 years of cinematography by the Lumiere brothers, 1945. August (1862-1954) and Louis Lumiere (1864-1948), French chemists and pioneers of cinematography

Louis Jean Lumiere (1864-1948), pioneer of cinematography, c1935
Louis Jean Lumiere (1864-1948), French chemist and pioneer of cinematography, c1935. Collaborated with his elder brother, Auguste. From obverse of commemorative plaquette

Etienne Jules Marey (1830-1903), French physiologist, 19th century. Pioneer of cinematography. From reverse of commemorative plaquette showing Marey at his desk

Etienne Jules Marey (1830-1903), with cine camera, 1903
Etienne Jules Marey (1830-1903), French physiologist, with cine camera, 1903. Top: Chambre chrono-photographique, the first cine-camera, is used to study movement of creatures in aquarium

Opening of the 1851 London to Paris telegraph link (1852)
Opening of the 1851 London to Paris telegraph link. Instrument room at the Submarine Telegraph Company, Cornhill, London, showing the Wheatstone needle telegraph instruments

James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), Scottish theoretical physicist, 1882
James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879). Scottish theoretical physicist. From Campbell & Garnett The Life of James Clerk Maxwell, 1882

James Clerk Maxwells (1831-1879) comparison apparatus, 1880
James Clerk Maxwells (1831-1879) apparatus for the comparison of electrostatic and electromagnetic units, 1880. From A Physical Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism by JEH Gordon, (London, 1880)

Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894), German physicist and physiologist, 1894
Hermann Helmholtz (1821-1894). German physicist and physiologist, inventor of the Opthalmascope. Seen here giving a lecture on 7 July 1894 shortly before his death

Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875), British physicist, 19th century
Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875), British physicist. Pioneer in electrical resistances. Along with partner William Cooke, responsible for the invention of the electric telegraph, 19th century

Typewriter patented by John Pratt in 1866 (1915)

George Atwoods machine for demonstrating the effect of gravity on falling bodies, c1780
George Atwoods machine for demonstrating and investigating the effect of gravity on falling bodies, c1780. Atwood (1746-1807), an English mathematician

Advertisement for Edison phonograph cylinder recordings, 1900. From Scientific American. (New York, 1900). Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Thomas Edisons improved form of JW Trowbridges electric dynamometer, 1879. Edison (1847-1931) was a prolific inventor who registered over 1000 patents

Thomas Edisons generator for electric light at his home at Menlo Park, New Jersey, USA, 1879. Behind the doors is the 80 hp engine

Courting by telephone across Paris, 1883. An idea of one of the results of the invention of the telephone. From Le Vingtieme Siecle (The 20th Century) by A Robida. (Paris, 1883)

Longitudinal section of a steam turbine fitted into the Dover packet boat Queen, c1904. The turbines for the Queen were designed by the Anglo-Irish engineer Sir Charles Parsons (1854-1931)

Longtudinal sections of two steam turbines. 1: Parsons marine turbine; 2: Rateaus marine turbine. Anglo-Irish engineer Sir Charles Parsons (1854-1931)

Steam turbines fitted into the Dover packet boat Queen, 1904. The turbines were designed by the Anglo-Irish engineer Sir Charles Parsons (1854-1931)

Private and Confidential, opening of the Anglo-French telephone line, 1891. Artist: John Tenniel
Private and Confidential, opening of the Anglo-French telephone line, 1891. The British Prime Minister (Lord Salisbury) in conversation with the French President (Sadi Carnot). Cartoon from Punch

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