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Instruments & Innovation

889 items

This digital collection features selected scientific instruments, apparatus, and analytical tools from the Institute's museum as well as photographs, rare-book engravings, and illustrations depicting various types of equipment and machinery found in laboratories, manufacturing plants, and mechanical treatises. Inventions from book wheels to fireballs can be found here, alongside more modern innovations such as Gammacells and Geiger counters.

Start Over Department Library ✖ Format Image ✖ Subject Machinery ✖

Publications, Illustrations

Figure 14. Impregnating Machine [Gas mantle manufacture]
- Part of The Rare Earth Industry: Including the Manufacture of Incandescent Mantles, Pyrophoric Alloys, and Electrical Glow Lamps
- 1915
Figure 14 from the 1915 volume, The Rare Earth Industry depicting a machine (1/10 actual size) for saturating cotton and ramie webs with a solution of rare earth metals during the manufacture of gas mantles. The volume…
- Author Johnstone, Sydney J. (Sydney James), Russell, Alexander S. (Alexander Smith), b. 1888
- Publisher D. Appleton and Company
- Subject Rare earths, Rare earth industry, Incandescent gas-lighting, Scientific illustration, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Machinery
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 10. Collodion before Burning Off. Figure 11. Collodion after Burning Off. Figure 12. Washing Machine.
- Part of The Rare Earth Industry: Including the Manufacture of Incandescent Mantles, Pyrophoric Alloys, and Electrical Glow Lamps
- 1915
Figures 10 through 12 from the 1915 volume The Rare Earth Industry. Figures 10 and 11 are photomicrographs showing collodion fibers used in the manufacture of incandescent gas mantles before and after burning. The…
- Author Johnstone, Sydney J. (Sydney James), Russell, Alexander S. (Alexander Smith), b. 1888
- Publisher D. Appleton and Company
- Subject Rare earths, Rare earth industry, Radioactivity, Incandescent gas-lighting, Scientific illustration, Machinery, Collodion
Publications, Illustrations

Casting Plate-glass
- Part of Wonders of electricity and the elements, being a popular account of modern electrical and magnetic discoveries, magnetism and electric machines, the electric telegraph and the electric light, and the metal bases, salt, and acids
- 1870 – 1900
Illustration depicting the manufacture of plate glass, a form of glass traditionally made by casting and rolling and characterized by its excellent surface produced by grinding and polishing.
- Author Ward, Lock & Co.
- Subject Scientific illustration, Science--Study and teaching, Plate glass, Glass, Glass manufacture, Machinery
Publications, Illustrations

Soda-water Apparatus
- Part of Wonders of electricity and the elements, being a popular account of modern electrical and magnetic discoveries, magnetism and electric machines, the electric telegraph and the electric light, and the metal bases, salt, and acids
- 1870 – 1900
Illustration of an apparatus used to manufacture soda water.
- Author Ward, Lock & Co.
- Subject Scientific illustration, Science--Study and teaching, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Machinery, Carbonated beverages
Publications, Illustrations

Seltzer-water Manufactory
- Part of Wonders of electricity and the elements, being a popular account of modern electrical and magnetic discoveries, magnetism and electric machines, the electric telegraph and the electric light, and the metal bases, salt, and acids
- 1870 – 1900
Illustration depicting the manufacture of seltzer or soda water by use of a wheel to force gas into bottled water.
- Author Ward, Lock & Co.
- Subject Scientific apparatus and instruments, Scientific illustration, Science--Study and teaching, Carbonated beverages, Machinery, Selters water
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 21. Woodall-Moon Mantle Tester
- Part of The Rare Earth Industry: Including the Manufacture of Incandescent Mantles, Pyrophoric Alloys, and Electrical Glow Lamps
- 1915
Figure 21 from the 1915 volume The Rare Earth Industry depicting a machine used to test the durability of gas mantles, a component of incandescent gas lanterns. The volume details various industrial applications of rare…
- Author Johnstone, Sydney J. (Sydney James), Russell, Alexander S. (Alexander Smith), b. 1888
- Publisher D. Appleton and Company
- Subject Rare earths, Rare earth industry, Incandescent gas-lighting, Scientific illustration, Machinery, Lighting
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 18. Collodionising Bath
- Part of The Rare Earth Industry: Including the Manufacture of Incandescent Mantles, Pyrophoric Alloys, and Electrical Glow Lamps
- 1915
Figure 18 from the 1915 volume The Rare Earth Industry depicting a machine (1/16 actual size) for immersing mantles, a component of incandescent gas lanterns, in a collodion solution prior to transport. The volume…
- Author Johnstone, Sydney J. (Sydney James), Russell, Alexander S. (Alexander Smith), b. 1888
- Publisher D. Appleton and Company
- Subject Rare earths, Rare earth industry, Incandescent gas-lighting, Scientific illustration, Machinery, Lighting
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 17. Burning Off and Hardening Machine for Inverted Mantles
- Part of The Rare Earth Industry: Including the Manufacture of Incandescent Mantles, Pyrophoric Alloys, and Electrical Glow Lamps
- 1915
Figure 17 from the 1915 volume The Rare Earth Industry depicting a machine (1/14 actual size) for burning off and hardening inverted mantles, a component of incandescent gas lanterns. The volume details various…
- Author Johnstone, Sydney J. (Sydney James), Russell, Alexander S. (Alexander Smith), b. 1888
- Publisher D. Appleton and Company
- Subject Machinery, Incandescent gas-lighting, Scientific illustration, Lighting, Rare earth industry, Rare earths
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 132. A Crushing Mill used in Mexico
- Part of The playbook of metals : including personal narratives of visits to coal, lead, copper, and tin mines; with a large number of interesting experiments relating to alchemy and the chemistry of fifty metallic elements
- 1862
- Author Pepper, John Henry, 1821-1900
- Subject Mineral industries, Metals, Science--Study and teaching, Silver, Silver mines and mining, Machinery, Scientific illustration
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 20. Machine for Trimming Upright Mantles
- Part of The Rare Earth Industry: Including the Manufacture of Incandescent Mantles, Pyrophoric Alloys, and Electrical Glow Lamps
- 1915
Figure 20 from the 1915 volume The Rare Earth Industry depicting a machine for trimming upright mantles, a component of incandescent gas lanterns. The volume details various industrial applications of rare earths and…
- Author Johnstone, Sydney J. (Sydney James), Russell, Alexander S. (Alexander Smith), b. 1888
- Publisher D. Appleton and Company
- Subject Rare earths, Rare earth industry, Incandescent gas-lighting, Scientific illustration, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Lighting, Machinery
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 157: Screw-jack for breaking the iron gratings of a portcullis
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Can be operated by a single person, easily and with little noise.

Mechanics: wrenches.
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Jackscrews, Machinery
3 items
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 195: Bridge for crossing a river or moat
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Bridge composed of a boat, with extensible end sections that can be rolled out if the boat is not as long as the water is wide; additionally, the doubled-over end sections can also be unfolded for extra length.
…
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Movable bridges, Military bridges, Bridges, Machinery
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 194: Device for setting the aim of artillery
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
A set of two ruled frames is used along with plumb lines and a quadrant to record in daylight the aim of canons to be shot at night. The frames and plumb lines are then used again to aim the canon accurately in the dark…
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Quadrants (Astronomical instruments), Machinery
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 193: Ballista
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Composed of three large crossbows. Uses tension to launch arrows, pyrotechnic projectiles, and balls of rock, lead, and iron to defend a city or fortress.

Mechanics: hand crank; spur gear and lantern.
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Ballista, Machinery, Engines of war
3 items
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 192: Ballista
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Uses tension to launch arrows, pyrotechnic projectiles, balls, and rocks to defend a city or fortress.

Mechanics: roller thrust bearing; projectile throwing engine; trigger.
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Ballista, Machinery, Engines of war
3 items
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 191: Moveable counterweight trebuchet
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
For launching rocks and fireballs to defend a city or fortress.

Mechanics: hand crank; worm and worm gear; spur gear and recessed face gear; projectile throwing engine.
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Engines of war, Catapult, Machinery
3 items
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 190: Counterweight trebuchet
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
For filling ditches and moats with barrels, bales, sacks, and debris, and for defending a city or fortress.

Mechanics: winch; trigger.
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Engines of war, Catapult, Machinery
3 items
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 189: Machine for moving artillery in steep and mountainous places
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Machinery
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 188: Book wheel
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Allows user to consult a large number of books without moving or requiring a large table or amount of space. Purportedly useful to those who suffer from gout.

Mechanics: spur gears; epicyclic gear train.
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Books and reading, Machinery
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 187: Vase decorated with chirping birds
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Powered by concealed bellows or a person blowing into a pipe feeding into the base of the vase. Cross-section shows inner system, which relies on changes in air and water pressure to force air through hidden flutes to…
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Hydraulic machinery, Birdsongs--Recording and reproducing, Fountains, Amusements, Pneumatic machinery, Machinery
3 items
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 186: Fountain with chirping birds shown in elevation and cross-section
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Decorated with birds that pipe out song. Can be constructed at various scales and made fixed or portable. Inner system relies on changes in air and water pressure to keep the water circulating and the air moving through…
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Hydraulic machinery, Birdsongs--Recording and reproducing, Fountains, Amusements, Pneumatic machinery, Machinery
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 185: Portable fountain
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Cross-section shows inner system, which is identical to that used for the fountain on Plate 184. Syphon action in the descending, snake-shaped pipes starts the water-flow, and inner system relies on changes in air and…
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Hydraulic machinery, Fountains, Pneumatic machinery, Machinery
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 184: Fountain
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Pipes outwardly decorated like serpents spew water from the large vase into the basin. Can be fed by a distant natural spring or a hidden tank, provided either is at the same height as the fountain's vase. The inner…
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Hydraulic machinery, Fountains, Pneumatic machinery, Machinery
3 items
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 183: Machine for moving heavy weights
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Includes another view of the machine's gearing in the background.

Mechanics: capstan bars; worm and worm gear; rope drive.
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Machinery
3 items
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 182: Machine for moving heavy weights
- Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
- 1588
Includes another view of the machine's gearing in the background.

Mechanics: hand crank; spur gear and lantern; worm and worm gear; angle crown gears.
- Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
- Subject Machinery

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