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Instruments & Innovation

295 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 Genre Engravings ✖

44 items
Catalogs, Rare books, Engravings

Descriptive Catalogue of Chemical Apparatus, Chemicals and Pure Reagents
- 1846
- Creator Of Work Kent, Edward N.
- Printer Sackett, Israel, 1809-1880
- Subject Scientific apparatus and instruments, Chemicals, Chemical tests and reagents, Chemical apparatus
Engravings

Plate XI: The Calorimeter of Lavoisier and La Place.
- 1801-Mar-10
Hand-colored engraving by J. Pass after the drawing by Henry Lascelles for the section on "Chemistry." From Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature,…
- Artist Lascelles, Henry
- Engraver Paas, John, 1790-1832
- Publisher Wilkes, John, of Milland House, Sussex
- Subject Chemical laboratories--Equipment and supplies, Chemical apparatus
Engravings

Plate X: 1. New Steelyards for weighing Gasses. 2. Apparatus for the Combustion of the Diamond.
- 1801-Mar-02
Hand-colored engraving by J. Pass after the drawing by Henry Lascelles for the section on "Chemistry." From Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature,…
- Artist Lascelles, Henry
- Engraver Paas, John, 1790-1832
- Publisher Wilkes, John, of Milland House, Sussex
- Subject Chemical laboratories--Equipment and supplies, Chemical apparatus
Engravings

Plate IX: 1. New Gazometer of the Philosophical Society of London. 2 to 4. DeVigne's Apparatus for saturating Water with Gas. 5 and 6. Apparatus for freezing Mercury.
- 1801-Mar-09
Hand-colored engraving by J. Pass after the drawing by Henry Lascelles for the section on "Chemistry." From Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature,…
- Artist Lascelles, Henry
- Engraver Paas, John, 1790-1832
- Publisher Wilkes, John, of Milland House, Sussex
- Subject Chemical laboratories--Equipment and supplies, Chemical apparatus
Engravings

Plate VIII: 1. Machine for the Combustion of Phosphorus. 2 to 6. The Mercurial Gazometer. 7. Guyton's Eudiometer.
- 1801-Feb-10
Hand-colored engraving by J. Pass after the drawing by Henry Lascelles for the section on "Chemistry." From Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature,…
- Artist Lascelles, Henry
- Engraver Paas, John, 1790-1832
- Publisher Wilkes, John, of Milland House, Sussex
- Subject Chemical laboratories--Equipment and supplies, Chemical apparatus
Engravings

Plate V: The Modern Chemical Apparatus. No.5
- 1800-Dec-22
Hand-colored engraving by J. Pass after the drawing by Henry Lascelles for the section on "Chemistry." From Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature,…
- Artist Lascelles, Henry
- Engraver Paas, John, 1790-1832
- Publisher Wilkes, John, of Milland House, Sussex
- Subject Chemical laboratories--Equipment and supplies, Chemical apparatus
Engravings

Plate III: The Modern Chemical Apparatus. No.3
- 1800-Dec-01
Hand-colored engraving by J. Pass after the drawing by Henry Lascelles for the section on "Chemistry." From Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature,…
- Artist Lascelles, Henry
- Engraver Paas, John, 1790-1832
- Publisher Wilkes, John, of Milland House, Sussex
- Subject Chemical laboratories--Equipment and supplies, Chemical apparatus
Engravings

Plate II: The Modern Chemical Apparatus. No.2
- 1800-Nov-20
Hand-colored engraving by J. Pass after the drawing by Henry Lascelles for the section on "Chemistry." From Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature,…
- Artist Lascelles, Henry
- Engraver Paas, John, 1790-1832
- Publisher Wilkes, John, of Milland House, Sussex
- Subject Chemical laboratories--Equipment and supplies, Chemical apparatus
Engravings

Plate I: The Modern Chemical Apparatus. No.1
- 1800-Nov-15
Hand-colored engraving by J. Pass after the drawing by Henry Lascelles for the section on "Chemistry." From Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature,…
- Artist Lascelles, Henry
- Engraver Paas, John, 1790-1832
- Publisher Wilkes, John, of Milland House, Sussex
- Subject Chemical laboratories--Equipment and supplies, Chemical apparatus
Rare books, Engravings

Plate I: Retorts, alembics, aludels, distillation apparatus, etc.
- Part of A Dictionary of Chemistry, Vol. III
- 1777
- Author Macquer, Pierre Joseph, 1718-1784
- Contributor Keir, James, 1735-1820
- Engraver Westwood
- Publisher Elmsley, Peter, 1736-1802, Cadell, T. (Thomas), 1742-1802
- Subject Chemistry--Dictionaries, Chemical apparatus
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
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 39: Petard
- Part of Vollenkommene Unterweisung, wie Raketen, Feuer- Wasser- Sturm-Kugeln, Granaten, Pech-Sturm-Kräntze, und allerhand Lust und Ernsthaffte Feuer-wercke zubereiten
- 1660
Fig. 89: Diagram of the proportions of a large petard.
- Engraver Brawe, Hermann
- Publisher Schwänder, Johann Georg
- Subject Ordnance, Explosives, Artillery
Rare books, Engravings

Plate 32: Grenade to be shot from a kartouwe
- Part of Vollenkommene Unterweisung, wie Raketen, Feuer- Wasser- Sturm-Kugeln, Granaten, Pech-Sturm-Kräntze, und allerhand Lust und Ernsthaffte Feuer-wercke zubereiten
- 1660
- Engraver Brawe, Hermann
- Publisher Schwänder, Johann Georg
- Subject Ordnance, Grenades, Explosives, Artillery
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

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