Historic Electrical Machines

19th-century engravings of early electrical and mechanical devices, including dynamos, teleprinters, and static electric machines, capturing pioneering technology.

D'Asrlincourt's teleprinter. 1878.

The first self-excited dynamo. Machine by Samuel Alfred Varley (1832-1921) English electrical engineer, 1866. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1885

D'Asrlincourt's teleprinter. 1878.

An engraving depicting a plan of French traction engine with a vertical boiler and vertical cylinder. Designed and built by Lotz of Nantes. Dated 19th century

Glass globe static electric machine. Figure 2 shows the wheel of the machine being turned to produce electricity by friction on the glass globe. The other figures are the glass globe and its mounts. From 'Recherches sur les Causes Particulaires des Phenomenes Electriques' by Abbe Nollet (Paris, 1753). Engraving.

Clarke's Machine

Electric generators in the 19th century, Siemens Model H, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century model

The modern electric machine

Nairne's Electrical Machine (1782)

Laboratory microtome, vintage engraved illustration.

Henry Daniel Ruhmkorff's induction coil / inductor, Rühmkorffscher spark coil / Heinrich Daniel Ruhmkorff's induction coil / Induktionsapparat, Rühmkorffscher Funkeninduktor, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.

Mechanism of Miller, Taylor and Symington's steamboat's engine

Historische Illustration von Gasmotoren, Gasdynamo von Gebrüder Körting, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhunde...

An engraving depicting a horizontal Otto Gas Engine. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting an ice making machine which uses evaporated ammonia. Dated 19th century

Musical organ pipes. Engraving.

Improved yarn winding machine by Ch. Parker, historical, digitally improved reproduction from an original around 1860.

Ball valve, late 19th century. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887

Engraving depicting a blueprint machine. Dated 20th Century

Apparatus developed by James Prescott Joule (1818-89) for determining the mechanical equivalent of heat. A vessel containing water, oil or mercury encloses vanes attached to a spindle. String wrapped around cylinder and drum. A weight falling against the scale rotates the spindle and blades. Raising and lowering the weight increases the temperature of the liquid. The energy consumed can be calculated from the rise in temperature and the distance travelled, Historic, digitally restored reproduction from a 19th century model, Record date not stated

Engraving depicting Étienne Lenoir's gas engine. Étienne Lenoir (1822-1900) a Belgian engineer. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting Paul-Gustave Froment's electromagnetic engine. Paul-Gustave Froment (1815-1865) a French mechanic, instrument maker and inventor. Dated 19th century

Camera sectional electrical lighting, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1877.

Two-stage air pump from 1870, historical, digital reproduction of an original from the 19th century

An engraving depicting Paul-Gustave Froment's electromagnetic engine. Paul-Gustave Froment (1815-1865) a French mechanic, instrument maker and inventor. Dated 19th century

Sugar refinery in the 19th century, osmosis apparatus, side and front view, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th-century original

Hand-powered Berliner Gramophone (1887). Engraving

Horizontal engine, gas engine, by Nicolaus August Otto (June 10, 1832 to January 26, 1891) was a German inventor of many details still used in combustion engines today. Historical, digitally enhanced reproduction of a model from the 19th century.

Apparatus for the preparation of alkaline earth metals by electrolysis, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Pixii's magneto-electric machine

Schwechten Franz (1841-1924), water production machine. (From: Contributions to machine construction, H.1, ed. V. Rothe, Berlin 1827.) (1827-1827): cross-section, detail. Stitch on paper, 44.1 x 33.9 cm (including scan edges)

Elektrische Generatoren im 19. Jahrhundert, Edison von 1881, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert

Illustration, cannon, mortar of the German siege and fortress artillery in a mobile carriage, 19th Century, Meyers Konversations-Lexikon encyclopaedia, 1889

Amalgamating Pan. The Pan amalgamation process is a method to extract silver from ore, using mercury. The process was widely used from 1609 through the 1800s, it is no longer used. Harpers New Monthly Magazine December 1878

Cylindrical electrometer by M M Ayrton and Perry. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1889

Dynamometre to evaluate the resistance of fabric ribbons, produced by Ollivier et Cie, Paris, France, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1901.

Engineering: a Newcomen steam-engine. Engraving, 1747.

GRABADO-HORNOS DE SOLDADURAS-MARTILLO A VAPOR-1880.

Edison carbon telephone: sending and receiving apparatus with battery box at base. Solid metal diaphragm. Wood engraving, New York 1890

Small Quadrant or Quarter of a Circle after copper engraving in book Tychonis Brahe Astronomiae Instauratae Mechanica of 1602. From Science and Literature in The Middle Ages by Paul Lacroix published London 1878

Jacobi's Motor. Date: 1838

Engraving depicting James Wimshurst's static or 'influence' machine. This had two glass plates on which were mounted pieces of brass, the plates revolved in opposite directions. As plates moved, stationary brushes made contact with the brass and received positive and negative charges. Used therapeutically in treatment by Franklinism.

Engraving depicting Rumford's Calorimeter which he used to determine the amount of heat produced by combustion. Dated 19th Century

The Columbia typewriter by the legendary typewriter pioneer Charles Spiro. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887

Drawing of the various views, industrial product from 1880, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century master, exact original date unknown

An engraving depicting Gillett and Bland's weight-driven turned clock, with 'going' and 'chiming' trains. Dated 19th century

Construction drawings of the steam traction engine by Simon Stevens, vertical and side view of the traction engine for omnibuses and other wagons for the road, industrial product from the year 1880, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original template from the 19th century, exact original date unknown

The Columbia typewriter by the legendary typewriter pioneer Charles Spiro. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887

Das erste Telefon, erfunden von Johann Philipp Reis im Jahres 1860, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert

English electric machine built by Adams (1750)

Edison pyromagnetic generator. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887

Single-cylinder gas engine, produced by Gerhard Adam, Munich, Germany, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1887.

Receiver device used to remotely reveal the presence of electric waves. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1899

Lederherstellungsmaschinen 1890: Maschine zur Herstellung von Skiverleder, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhun...

Tool for making shoes, by Koch & Company Leipzig, Germany, Historical, digitally restored reproduction of a 19th century original, exact date unknown, Europe

MEDITERRANEAN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC RECORDING OF THE VELOCITY EXPERIMENTS

Wind powered pump, patented by Bernard, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 1071, Volume XLI, September 5, 1863.

'Bessemer's Steel-converting Apparatus', c1917. Artist: Unknown.

Herstellung von Ethanol, Alkohol, Ethylalkohol und Trinkalkohol, Ilgesscher Automat, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 1...

Browning's apparatus for producing spark spectra of salts and gases with a large discharging condenser inside the box. 1881.

Illustration depicting a self-acting feeder for steam boilers. Dated 19th century

Hot air engine, produced by Benier Freres, Paris, France, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1887.

Engraving depicting a hand-powered Gramme dynamo for laboratory use.

Illustration of a sledgehammer with foot operation / Illustration eines Vorschlaghammers mit Fußbedienung, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, Originaldatum nicht bekannt, Kolorierung, koloriert, handkoloriert, Hand-colouring, hand coloured, colored.

Engraving depicting a Holstein vertical butter churn. This model was a belt-driven, powered either by steam or water. Dated 19th Century

Diagram of James Watt's steam indicator. James Watt (1736-1819) a Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist. Dated 19th Century

Magnetoelectric Machine by E. M. Clarke. 19th century. Induction machine that amplifies induction currents. These devices are called electrovoltaicos induction apparatus. Colored engraving.

Horizontal milling machine, produced by Bariquand et Fils, Paris, France, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1889.

Illustration showing Electroplating bath with part of the side cut away to show arrangement of items to be silver plated 1904

Cutting engines, 18th century, including a rose engine lathe or figure lathe made by Holtzapffell & Deyerlien. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by John Farey Jr. from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1816.

Kempelenz Talking Machine, Wolfgang von Kempelen, in its final configuration, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century

Patent for Edison's Kinetoscope Camera, the Kinetograph

Engraving depicting a dividing engine for making scales on astronomical instruments. Dated 19th Century

Buchbindereimaschinen 1890: Satinierwalzwerk, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, Originaldatum nicht bek...

Illustration showing Horizontal steam engine shoving governor and flywheel 1888

Power pump divers, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Westinghouse system high speed steam engine. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1885

Historical graphic representation, technical drawing, Kley's water column engine by Carl Kley, steam engine, piston heat engine, the thermal energy or pressure contained in steam is transformed into mechanical work, 19th Century, from Meyers Konversations-Lexikon encyclopaedia, 1890

Explosives factory. Industrial machine for manufacturing nitroglycerin. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1889

Illustration showing sectional view of a cable anchor, from the Brooklyn Suspension Bridge, New York, designed and built by John Augustus Roebling (1806-1869), and his son Washington Augustus Roebling (1837-1926): opened 1883. Arrangement of 19 Strands, each of. 278 wires, which made up the main cables. 1883

Engraving depicting William Armstrong's hydro-electric machine. The boiler was mounted on insulated pillars and the steam electrified positively, the boiler negatively. Sparks almost two feet long were generated.

Montrichard pump, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1888.

Skiopticon image from the Department of Photography at the Royal Institute of Technology. Use by Professor Helmer Bäckström as lecture material. Bäckström was Sweden's first professor in photography at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm 1948-1958.Rependency of the mark Zeiss. Top: lighting and image holder. In the middle: objective. Bottom: work table.

Hydraulic pumps including Captain Jekyll's improved ship pump and Benjamin Martin's pump. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1815.

Telephone apparatus available to New York subscribers. This used an Edison transmitter and a 'pony crown' receiver (lower right of picture. Wood engraving c1891.

Clover's inhaler for ether and nitrous oxide. From Henry M Lyman Artificial Anaesthesia and Anaesthestics, London, 1883.

ROBINSON AND LEE'S PATENT BREAD MAKING MACHINE

N.N., Schleuse, Groß Plehnendorf (01.03.1890): Wind device: cuts 1: 5. Lithograph on paper, 64.5 x 47 cm (including scan edges) N.N. : Schleuse, Groß Plehnendorf

Compound presses battery, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

cylinders for nitrous oxide, medical equipment, surgical instrument, history of medicine

Engraving depicting Leitner of Vienna's 'Steam Spray'. This supplanted his 'Donkey Engine' spray and could fill a room with steam and carbolic acid vapour. Dated 20th century

Illustration depicting the original 'Lenoir' gas engine. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting Johnson, Matthey & Co's improved platinum rectifying still for the production of sulphuric acid. Dated 19th century

Mechanical sifter vsrs invented after 1552, vintage engraving. Mechanical sifter vsrs invented after 1552, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1852. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10673698

Engraving depicting Ingram's rotary printing machine, used for printing illustrated newspapers. Dated 19th century

Washing machine by Watson and Whalley of Keighley, Yorkshire, England, patented 1884.

Reconstruction of André-Marie Ampère's investigation of the behaviour of an electric current in a magnetic field: Ampère's stand, an arrangement whereby a loop of wire is suspended in small cups of mercury so that it can pivot freely while each end is in constant electrical contact with a battery. André-Marie Ampère (1775-1836) a French physicist and mathematician. Dated 19th century

Breguet's Portable Alphabetical instrument a telegraph consisting of a transmitter and a receiver powered by an electric battery both have a round face on with letters of the alphabet. Like the British Cooke-Wheatstone telegraph this French telegraph communicated with alphabetically instead of Morse Code. Ca. 1850.

Bell & Tainter's Graphophone. A recording was made by speaking into a mouthpiece while turning the wax cylinder by a treadle; as in a sewing machine. With an earpiece attachment on the stylus the cylinders could be played back for audio typing.

Engraving depicting a horizontal steam engine showing the governor and flywheel. Dated 19th century

Laval steam turbine. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1893

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