Historical Communication Devices

A collection of 19th-century printing telegraphs, engines, and relay systems illustrating early communication technology and inventions, with detailed engravings.

Petroleum engine developed by Otto, historical, digitally enhanced reproduction of a model from the 19th century.

Morse printing telegraph, showing transmitting key and roll of paper attached to the receiving instrument.

Petroleum engine developed by Otto, historical, digitally enhanced reproduction of a model from the 19th century.

Wheatstone's relay; which enabled the electric telegraph to be used over a long distance. 1890.

Engraving depicting a pneumatically operated perforating machine for Morse electric telegraphs. Shown at the International Electric Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Dated 19th century

'Diving machie and suit by C.H. Klingert of Breslau, 1797. Machine essentially a reservoir of air which enabled the diver to opertate at greater depths. Engraving, c1870.'

Ruhmkorff's machine

Pulverizer for natural and artificial stones, with air vortex system, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1888.

Engraving depicting Zenobe Gramme's hand-powered machine for laboratory use

Cross section of the hearth and the crossed boiler reboiler of M. Hermann-Lachapelle's industrial traction engine

Elektrische Generatoren im 19. Jahrhundert, Modell von Schnuckert & Co aus dem Jahre (1877), digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage a...

Hot-air-powered machine, steam engine, built by Roper, Dampfmaschine, Historisch, digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert

Alcohol engine Charon, vintage engraving. Alcohol engine Charron, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10657387

Engraving depicting John Thomson's magic lantern with continuous slide feed. John Thomson (1837-1921) a Scottish photographer, geographer, and traveller. Dated 19th century

An engraving depicting Johann Philipp Reis's "musical" telephone: Transmitter (left) and receiver. Johann Philipp Reis (1834-1874) a German scientist, teacher and inventor. Dated 19th century

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler; A chain or rope washer pump or paternoster

Illustration showing Watt's steam engine, shoving a number of his innovations including his governor, sun-and-planet gears and parallel motion 1826

Engraving of Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet. Dated 19th Century

J. Philip Reis's (1834-74) telephone. From R. Wormell Electricity in the Service of Man, London, 1890.

Illustration of a universal milling head from the former machine tool factory Aug. Hamann, H. Walz in Berlin, Germany, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original template from the 19th century, exact original date unknown, Europe

A woodcut engraving depicting pumps for a fountain driven by under- and overshot water wheels. Dated 17th century

19th century drawing of a galvanometer shown here operated by a simple wet cell. 1881

Historical illustration of gas engines, 19th century: Benz engine, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century illustration

Engraving depicting a 'new' Edison phonograph. The phonograph was invented in 1877, for the mechanical recording and reproduction of sound by Thomas Edison. Thomas Edison (1847-1931) an American inventor and businessman. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting a galvanometer shown here operated by a simple wet cell.

Coffee roaster ball, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Die Kolbensetzmaschine mit einem vertikalen Schnitt zur Veranschaulichung ihres inneren Mechanismus. Veröffentlichung der Meyers Enzyklopädie Die Kolbensetzmaschine mit einem vertikalen Schnitt zur Veranschaulichung ihres inneren Mechanismus. Veröffentlichung der Meyers Enzyklopädie LicenseRF Copyright: xZoonar.com/SergeyxKohlx 23160466

Machine for cleaning semolina, Kaiser type, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1887.

Illustration of a lathe for taps by J. E. Reinecker from Chemnitz-Gablenz, Germany, 1885, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century pattern, exact original date unknown, Europe

Tympan described by Vitruvius and restored by Perrault, vintage engraving. Tympan described by Vitruvius and restored by Perrault, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1852. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10673613

Lederherstellungsmaschinen 1890: Maschine zur Herstellung von Lohe aus Tanbark, der Rinde bestimmter Baumarten. Sie wird traditionell zum Gerben von H...

First model of Edison's Phonograph (c.1877). In this model the recording cylinder was rotated by hand. Engraving, c 1880

Beobachtungsastronomie im 19. Jahrhundert: Meridiankreis, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert

condenser, a laboratory apparatus used to condense vapors, by Justus von Liebig / Der Kühlapparat von Justus von Liebig, Liebigkühler, Historisch, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhunder.

Engraving depicting James Wimshurst's static or 'influence' machine. This consisted of 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.

Machine for printing railway tickets, produced by Georg Gobel, Darmstadt, Germany. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887

Dampfmaschinen des 19. Jahrhunderts, Vertikale Dampfmaschine, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert

Eine Pulvermischmaschine zum Mischen von Farben und Chemikalien, Industrieprodukt dem Jahr 1880, Historisch, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer O...

Isaac Merritt Singer's first sewing machine, patented 1851.

Greenwood and Kinder's wood-mortising machine. From The National Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge, published c.1890

technics steam engine Ericsson's hot air engine wood engraving 19th century,

Werkzeuge für die blechbearbeitung, 19. jahrhundert: eine schere für kreise, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrh...

Griffin mill used for dry crushing of hard minerals, produced by Bradley Pulverizer Co, Boston, United States of America, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1895.

Superior type Gramme dynamo used at the Drouot station. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887

APARATO MAGNETO-ELECTRICO DE CLARKE. Grabado S. XIX.

Fig.1: Repeat of Stephen Gray's (1666-1736) experiment on static electrical charges with a rubbed glass rod. Engraving 1731.

Arthur S. Denny's steam organ, the Calliope, exhibited 1859.

Vertical mixer semi-soft ground, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.

Illustration of Edison's recording apparatus. The apparatus was used for making recordings on a wax disc, showing the clockwork mechanism housed in the stand under the disc. Dated 19th Century

Condenser of a steam engine, 1880, England, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century, exact original date unknow...

Illustration showing a transmitting key for a Morse Telegraph. 1906. The electrical telegraph, or more commonly just telegraph, superseded optical semaphore telegraph systems, thus becoming the first form of electrical telecommunications

Lavoisier's apparatus for synthesizing water from hydrogen (left) and oxygen (right). From Robert Routledge 'A Popular History of Science', London, 1881. Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-94) French chemist. Engraving

Illustration showing Sectional view of Whitworth's drilling machine 1866

Centrifugal milk cream separator, produced by Burmeister and Wain, Denmark, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1888.

Illustration of 's hand printing machine in which the bed moved backwards and forwards on a railway type of track, and 800 impressions were made per hour. Nineteenth Century, London 1876

Konig's flame manometer for demonstrating the vibration of sounds. Engraving from ''Elementary Treatise on Physics'' by E. Atkinson, London, 1906.

Engraving depicting the compression of printed sheets in a hydraulic press prior to binding. Dated 19th century

Ericsson's hot air machine

Magnifying apparatus with converging lens, magnifying glass, magnifying glass, 1880 / Lupenapparat mit Sammellinse, Lupe, Vergrößerungsglas, 1880, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert,.

Illustration showing FARADAY'S demonstration (1832) that magnetism produced an electrical current. A bar magnet is passed into the hollow centre of a bobbin wound with wire, and the current registered on the galvanometer (right). 1874

ARKWRIGHT THREADER. Designed in 1767 by Sir Richard ARKWRIGHT (1732-1792). It was a semi-mechanical machine for spinning cotton, powered by hydraulic energy. 18th century. ENGRAVING.

The abb_ Nollet's electric machine (1747)

Electric generators in the 19th century, Edison, Hopkinson from the year 1883, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century model

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.To Left Universal Camera for universal use, to the right camera microscope Ultraphot, both from Zeiss.Bäckström, Helmer. Photographic manual. Nature and Culture. Stockholm. 1942. p. 910.

Engraving depicting a small hand-driven Lactocrite, a machine for testing the butter-fat in milk samples. Dated 19th Century

Morse writing apparatus, writing telegraph, around 1870, Germany, Historical, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century, exact date unknown, Europe

Carre's ice machine, a simple form of an adsorption chiller that utilizes the heat of vaporization of ammonia, digitally enhanced reproduction of a 19th-century model, historical, exact date unknown.

Konstruktion einer Maschine zum Schneiden von Zuckerrohr durch Leon Gauchet, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrh...

An engraving depicting an apparatus for demonstrating induction by the motion of a coil. Dated 19th century

Engraving depicting a camera used to take daguerreotype photographs invented by Louis Daguerre. Louis Daguerre (1787-1851) a French artist, inventor and photographer. Dated 19th Century

Electric dynamo, Thomson-Houston machine. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887

Refrigeration unit at the Paris morgue, France. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887

Engraving depicting Edison's electromagnetic ore sorter. Particles of ore are placed in hopper at the top. As they fall past the box enclosing an electromagnet the iron particles deviate from the vertical and fall into separate collector from non-ferrous portion. Thomas Edison (1847-1931) an American inventor and businessman. Dated 19th century

Rumford's calorimeter, used to determine the amount of heat produced by combustion. From a print 1887. Benjamin Thompson, Count RUMFORD (1753-1814) Anglo-American scientist and administrator

Hot air and coke engine by Benier Freres. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886

Dynamo machine for lighting the Hotel Continental in Paris, France. Old illustration by Louis Poyet (1846-1913) from La Nature 1887

Varley's vacuum tube lightning protector for electric telegraphs. Shown at the International Electric Exhibition at Crystal Palace. 1882.

The phonograph by Thomas Edison, recording and reproduction of sound, Historical, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century

Illustration depicting Heinrich Hertz's oscillator and reflecting metal sheets to show outward and return paths of electromagnetic (radio) waves. Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894) a German physicist who first conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves theorised by James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light. Dated 20th century

Rumford's calorimeter used to determine amount of heat produced by combustion. Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (1753-1814) Anglo-American scientist.

Engraving depicting the condenser of James Watt's steam engine. James Watt (1736-1819) a Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist. Dated 19th century

EDISON's balance for testing the magnetic property of metals in order to discover whether or not they would be suitable for use in dynamos.

Dyeing: dyers' and fullers' mills for extracting plant dyes. Coloured engraving by J. Pass.

Electricity: a large electro-static generator, on an isolating frame ?. Engraving.

Illustration eines verbesserten Butterfasses mit verbesserter Handhabung, aus Amerika um 1870, Historisch, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Ori...

An engraving depicting a device for punching tickets with the time and distance, so that fares were charged adequately on public transport. Designed by W. J. Curtis of Holloway, London. Dated 19th century

Preparation of hydrogen sulfide, vintage engraving. Preparation of hydrogen sulfide, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1857. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10673910

Haselwander impeller electric motor, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1892.

Industrial kWh meter recorder, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1912.

Balancing press, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1906.

Engraving depicting a milk condensing apparatus using a 10 ft 6in cast iron vacuum pan (B). The dome (B) is connected by vapour pipe (C ) to catcher (D) which is divided into two by an apron (D) to prevent boiling over. Vapour is led from catcher via a pipe to the condenser (E). Dated 19th Century

Tragbares Transitinstrument mit einem Teleskop mit gefaltetem optischen Pfad. Veröffentlichung der Meyers Enzyklopädie Tragbares Transitinstrument mit einem Teleskop mit gefaltetem optischen Pfad. Veröffentlichung der Meyers Enzyklopädie LicenseRF Copyright: xZoonar.com/SergeyxKohlx 23160451

Theodolite, produced by La Filotecnica of Salmoiraghi, Milan, Italy, illustration from L'Industria, Rivista tecnica ed economica illustrata, Milan, 1892.

Engraving depicting a mechanical catapult wound up by a winch (right). When the rope was released, the weight (upper right) pulled the arm swiftly downwards, projecting the barrel (perhaps containing Greek Fire) at the enemy. Dated 17th century

Spectroscopic Apparatus, Steel engraving, 1869

Electricity: J. Cuthbertson's electro-static generator, batteries, etc. Engraving, 1804, by W. Lowry.

Electric pyrometer, vintage engraving. Electric pyrometer, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1869. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10678438

Steam engine, the safety engine by Dietrich, around 1885, historical, digitally improved reproduction of a model from the 19th century.

An engraving depicting an electric chronograph. The record was traced on a drum of blackened paper. Dated 19th century

Holtz electrostatic influence machine, an electrostatic induction generator that converted mechanical work into electrostatic energy / Influenzelektrisiermaschine oder Elektrophormaschine von der Firma Holtz, historical, digital improved reproduction of an original from the 19th century / digitale Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert,.

Machine beaten with lotz, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1857.

of 4