Historical Scientific Instruments

Collection of vintage scientific illustrations showcasing various inventions. Includes dirigible, telescopes, surveying tools, and a microphotographic camera, in detailed engravings.

Perpetual motion machine described in about 1664 by Ulrich von Cranach of Hamburg. Iron balls drive the water wheel that operates the Archimedean screw that raises the balls up again. Cranach claimed it would operate pumps for mines, and insisted that it stood in water. This would have increased ene
Perpetual motion machine described in about 1664 by Ulrich von Cranach of Hamburg. Iron balls drive the water wheel that operates the Archimedean screw that raises the balls up again. Cranach claimed it would operate pumps for mines, and insisted that it stood in water. This would have increased ene
91 assets in this story
4409-161769
Henry Giffard with his steam-powered motor on his dirigible balloon, 1852. Woodblock engraving from Louis Figuier's "Les Merveilles de la Science: Aerostats" (Marvels of Science: Air Balloons), Furne, Jouvet et Cie, Paris, 1868.
4409-20936319
Portable theodolite by Edward Troughton. Copperplate engraving by W. Lowry after an Illustration by J. Farey from Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary," London, 1816.
1746-1954
Perpetual motion machine described in about 1664 by Ulrich von Cranach of Hamburg. Iron balls drive the water wheel that operates the Archimedean screw that raises the balls up again. Cranach claimed it would operate pumps for mines, and insisted that it stood in water. This would have increased ene
1746-111906711
Illustration depicting a small equatorially mounted refracting telescope fitted with a spectroscope (M, P) used for studying solar spectra. Dated 19th century
1848-61847404
A microphotographic camera circa 1875, digitally restored reproduction of a 19th century original, exact original date unknown
1788-21798965
Refracting telescope at the Paris Observatory, France, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 1166, Volume XLVI, July 1, 1865.
1746-19625287
Projecting the image of the Sun through a refracting telescope on to a screen in order to study sunpots. From 'Rosa Ursina' by Christoph Scheiner (Bracciano, 1630). Engraving.
1525-28056360
Canon gun 6 inches for fortification, vintage engraved illustration. Industrial encyclopedia E.-O. Lami - 1875.
4408-6628
Tachymeter #3, Engineering - Surveryor's Instruments
1848-50247379
Agricultural machine, the McCormick mower, the illustration shows the ground plan, Historic, digitally restored reproduction of an original from the 19th century, exact original date not known
1746-29966766
An engraving depicting Rene Descartes' compound microscope with mirror for reflected light and condenser for transmitted light. Rene Descartes (1596-1650) a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. Dated 17th century
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Tympan said Faye, vintage engraving. Tympan said Faye, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1852. Copyright: xZoonar.com/PatrickxGuenettex 10673523
1746-29957631
Engraving depicting Sir Norman Lockyer observing the solar spectrum through multiple-prism spectroscope fitted to a refracting telescope. Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer (1836-1920) an English scientist and astronomer. Dated 19th century
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Watt's first design for an oscillating engine Date:
1746-19668408
Joseph Norman Lockyer (1836-1920) observing the solar spectrum through a multiple-prism spectroscope fitted in a refracting telescope. One of the discoverers of the gas Helium which he named.
4409-151176
Astronomical instruments: achromatic telescopes and dynameters. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J. Farey from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1820.
1848-50242978
Observational astronomy in the 19th century: Heliometer and observation chair, solar diameter, digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th-century model.
4220-20401996
Engraving of weighing scales invented by Mr Bate for weighing dollars not exceeding 72 lbs 2 oz troy. Date: 1845
1746-111945722
A woodcut engraving depicting an Archimedean Screw for raising water. Dated 18th century
1746-111928662
Engraving depicting Léon Foucault's silver-on-glass reflecting telescope. Léon Foucault (1819-1868) a French physicist best known for his demonstration of the Foucault pendulum, a device demonstrating the effect of the Earth's rotation. Dated 19th century
1746-29970961
A woodcut engraving depicting an Archimedean Screw for raising water. Dated 18th century
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Carnochan, orthopaedics apparatus
4408-6626
Tachymeter #1, Engineering - Surveryor's Instruments
1746-28992106
Illustration depicting a Surveyor's Quadrant. Dated 18th Century
1746-19625075
Mechanical crossbow on stand (euthytonon) attributed to Philo of Byzantium (active 150-100 BC). When arms CC wound back against skeins or sinews, the ends of ropes, here shown hanging down from ends of arms, were connected to hook, so holding arms back. Tension was increased by a ratchet, a large arrow was placed on front of arm and fired by releasing the rope. From 'Poliorceticon sive de machinis tormentis telis' by Justus Lipsius (Joost Lips) (Antwerp, 1605). Engraving.
6176-67061844
Flamsteed's equatorially mounted sextant fitted with telescope, 1725. Artist: Unknown
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Tachymeter #4, Engineering - Surveryor's Instruments
6176-66078420
Transmission of force by electricity. Experiences of Marcel Deprez, between Creil and Paris. View of the receiver at La Chapelle station, France. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1886
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astronomy, instruments, the 40 foot telescope of William Herschel, wood engraving, 19th century,
1746-19625074
Reconstruction of a Roman machine for shooting arrows wound up ready for the missile to be released. From 'Poliorceticon sive de machinis tormentis telis' by Justus Lipsius (Joost Lips) (Antwerp, 1605). Engraving.
1788-21791028
Hot air balloon with sail designed by Francesco Lana de Terzi, France, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 405, Volume XVI, November 29-December 6, 1850.
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Astronomy: a large refracting telescope. Engraving.
1746-28999641
Engraving depicting the interior of the United States Naval Observatory, Washington, one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce Positioning, Navigation and Timing for the United States Navy and the United States Department of Défense. Dated 19th Century
1746-29014314
Illustration depicting a dwarf semaphore signal and split switch on an American railroad. Dated 19th century
1746-111354881
Engraving depicting a Campbell-Stokes recorder, a kind of sunshine recorder, invented by John Francis Campbell and later modified by Sir George Gabriel Stokes. John Francis Campbell (1821-1885) a Scottish author and scholar. Sir George Stokes, 1st Baronet (1819-1903) an Irish physicist and mathematician. Dated 19th century
4409-150064
Sir WIlliam Herschel's telescope or the Great Forty-Foot telescope built between 1785 and 1789 at Observatory House in Slough, England. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Bertuch's "Bilderbuch fur Kinder" (Picture Book for Children), Weimar, 1798. Friedrich Johann Bertuch (1747-1822) was a German publisher and man of arts most famous for his 12-volume encyclopedia for children illustrated with 1,200 engraved plates on natural history, science, costume, mythology, etc., published from 1790-1830.
1746-29999705
Illustration showing that less effort is needed to rotate a body using epicyclic motion. from Robert Fludd 'Utriusque cosmi historia Oppenheim', 1617-19.
1525-27885111
Machine mater of Rochefort, vintage engraved illustration. Magasin Pittoresque 1842.
1035-21071891
London, England: c. 1920 An astronomical model for higher education in the New County Hall in Westminster showing the motions of the earth, moon and sun.
6145-45770579
Illustration for 'The Labor of Mars' by Allain Manesson Mallet. View of a city on a water (Antwerp). Above, as on a canvas, a floor plan for part of a fortress, fort or reinforcement. In the top right of the number 37 (= the number of the page in the book to which the illustration is placed).
1788-21798970
Foucault telescope at the Paris observatory, France, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 1166, Volume XLVI, July 1, 1865.
6145-46789005
Interior of the observatory on the Bolwerk Zonnenburg in Utrecht: some antique astronomical instruments.
1848-49174048
The observatory of the Kaiser Wilhelm University in Strasbourg, France. Interior of the dome with the refractor, digital improved reproduction from a publication of the year 1880, The observatory of the Kaiser Wilhelm University in Strasbourg, France. Interior of the dome with the refractor, digital improved reproduction from a publication of the year 1880
6176-67041124
Telescope from Selenographia, 1647 (1956). Artist: Unknown
1060-1670
EARLY ASTRONOMER OBSERVING HEAVENS THROUGH INSTRUMENT.
4220-21861886
A sailor uses a 'Jacob's Staff' to calculate the angle between a star and the horizon Date: 17th century
1746-19632839
Hevelius observing through refracting telescope on stand fitted with quadrant and plumb-bob so altitude of object observed could be noted. From Johannes Hevelius 'Selenographia' Gedani (Gdansk/Danzig) 1647.
1746-19631125
First model of Hiram Maxim's machine gun. From 'Der Stein der Weisen', Leipzig, c1895. Engraving
1746-29961396
An engraving depicting an imaginative reconstruction of Ptolemy of Alexandria in his observatory. Claudius Ptolemy (d. 160 AD) Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet. Dated 19th century
6145-59331368
Telescopen van Buron op de Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations van 1851 in Londen, C.M. Ferrier & F. von Martens (attributed to), 1851 photograph London photographic support salted paper print telescope London
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Astronomy: a large telescope, at Greenwich Observatory. Coloured wood engraving.
4220-20401993
Engraving of fine weighing scales for bars of silver, with a bar of silver on one side of the scales and the weights on the other. The balance was invented by Mr Bate for weighing silver in bars from 50 lbs to 80 lbs troy. Date: 1845
6176-67062157
'The Great Equatorial Telescope in the Dome, Greenwich Observatory', (c1878). Creator: Unknown.
1746-28999490
Engraving depicting Japanese jugglers using the centre of gravity to keep the acrobat from falling. Dated 19th Century
6145-46713263
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.Zeiss-icon Timeloupe for 16 mm film. For more info see: Bäckström, Helmer. Photographic manual. Other revised edition. Nature and Culture. Stockholm. 1948. p. 1374.
1746-28993381
Illustration depicting Begbie's heliograph. Dated 19th Century
1889-60424907
Astronomical instruments. Telescopes, chiefly reflecting.
6176-66086046
Hydraulic motor from A Zschiesche. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1883
1788-21945348
La Ferte-Vidame pyramid, geodetic observatory for creating a topographical map of France, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 605, Volume XXIV, September 30, 1854.
6145-55960701
Fig. XXXI. Anemomylos, sive alata mola. Anemomylos, feu, alata, vel ventosa mola.. Bockler, Georg Andreas. Prints, Drawings, Design drawings. 1662. Rare Book Division. Mechanical engineering, Machinery, Mills and mill-work, Windmills, Gearing
6145-42768827
Cavalese.7x in dashboard Complich.Doppelfern tube with attached F.M. 15.7x double remote tube, angle mirror pipe. .
6145-59702487
Different models of Heipalen, Gommarus Wouters (Possible), After Cornelis Meijer, 1696 print Rome paper etching ramming, driving piles (~ building activities)
1788-22058786
The gondola of the hot air balloon used for the Salomon August Andree expedition to the North Pole, illustration from L'Illustration, No 2790, August 15, 1896.
6145-29288805
Astronomy: a terrestrial globe, with a device for projecting the shadow of the moon. Engraving before 1764.
1788-21787007
The astronomers Alexis Hanski, W Pedinzew and M Ernst studying intermercurial planets, Alcosebre, Spain, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXII, No 37, September 10, 1905.
1746-28983008
Illustration depicting Mårten Triewald's diving bell. Mårten Triewald (1691-1747) a Swedish merchant, engineer and armature physicist. Dated 18th Century
4409-26146
TELESCOPE OF GALILEO GALILEI - 17th CENTURY. Location: MUSEO DE HISTORIA DE LA CIENCIA. Florenz. ITALIA.
1899-20225978
Alexander Graham Bell Experimenting.
6145-52753015
Photograph of a bellows camera mounted on a tripod, captured by Ferdinand Ritter von Staudenheim on albumin paper in 1894.
4220-4989
Million volt X-ray tube; developed by Metropolitan Vickers; installed in St. Bartholomew's Hospital
1746-29967217
An engraving depicting a cross-section of an artesian well in Passy, France. Dated 19th century
1746-21120418
Artist's conception of radar beam pattern of Radio Set SCR-584, a mobile radar unit. Army Air Forces. Dated 1945
6176-66090749
On the coast. Buoys, semaphores and beacons. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1899
4435-11927
Newton, Sir Isaac (1642-1727). English mathematician, physicist and astronomer. Newton's telescope (1668). UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. London. The Science Museum.
1848-19256111
Auslegen des Fischtorpedo von Giovanni Luppis und Robert Whitehead, digital restaurierte Reproduktion einer Originalvorlage aus dem 19. Jahrhundert
4220-21872378
MAREY'S PHOTOGRAPHIC GUN in use Date: 1882
6145-29255175
Section and elevation of a wheel used by the Chinese for raising water. Engraving by W. Skelton, 1796.
4435-2551
Schiaparelli in Brera Astronomical Observatory. 1900. Engraving. ITALY. LOMBARDY. Milan. Civica Raccolta delle Stampe 'Achille Bertarelli' (Achille Bertarelli collection of prints).
1525-26790282
14th Century Leonardo da Vinci engineering drawing
1746-111930032
Illustration showing early tailless glider or Flying Bird, proposed by de Sanderval in 1895
1746-28997309
Engraving depicting the use of a cross-staff used to measure altitudes of celestial objects. Dated 19th Century
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Fabra Observatory, Barcelona, 1916. The illustrious astronomer, Mr. José Comas y Sola, explaining the scientific apparatus of that center to the guests at the events celebrating the V anniversary of the Astronomical Society of Spain and America, of which is president.
4409-17397399
Onager. It was an imperial Roman torsion powered siege engine. Engraving. Museo Militar, 1883. Later colouration.
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Trebuchet, or French trebuchet, military machine for casting stones. Soldiers in chainmail and tunics firing projectiles at a castle. Siege engine used in medieval warfare. Woodcut after an ivory carving from Sir John Froissart's Chronicles of England, France, Spain and the Adjoining Countries, from the Latter Part of the Reign of Edward II to the Coronation of Henry IV, George Routledge, London, 1868.
7222-71316275
Russia, St Petersburg. Instruments of astronomy, in the observatory of the Kunstkamera Museum. St Petersburg, Russia.
1746-19701205
Illustration depicting American miners working. Created by Kurz and Alison Art Studio. Dated 1899
1746-28999639
Engraving depicting an astronomer and his assistant observing Mercury, Venus and Jupiter from a roof top observatory in Paris. Dated 20th Century
6145-52055447
Forest Mensuration - Instruments. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History
1848-61712178
Historical illustration from the 19th Century, representation of various shells
1746-29972060
Herbert George Ponting with a cinematograph in Antarctica, January 1912. Herbert George Ponting, FRGS (21 March 1870 - 7 February 1935) was a professional photographer. He is best known as the expedition photographer and cinematographer for Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova Expedition to the Ross Sea and South Pole (1910-1913). In this role, he captured some of the most enduring images of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.
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A technical illustration by an anonymous artist showing the original Otto Motor by Langen & Wolf in Vienna and Budapest, depicting oil pressure before 1903.