Instruments & Innovation

Translucent green, glass round-bottomed vase with heavy rainbow luster throughout. Base of the vase is round and then attaches to a vertical tube in the center, top of the tube has an ornamental curved design that…

This device requires a relatively small amount of rope.

Mechanics: hand crank; bucket; flywheel.

Especially useful in the construction of large buildings.

Mechanics: hand crank; worm and worm gear; lantern and crown gear; rope drive; flywheel.

The man looking out of the grilled window in the background foreshadows the section on screw-jacks (Plates 154–167).

Mechanics: machine crank; inertia chain; lift pump; flap valve.

Complete structure can be rotated by rudder to catch optimal wind. Sails can be stopped and secured. Contains mechanism to lift grain sacks.

Mechanics: windmill (post mill); lantern and crown gear.

Mechanics: horizontal submerged waterwheel; horizontal crankshaft; lift pump; spur gear and lantern; lantern and crown gear; horizontal working beam; crank and connecting rod.

Mechanics: hand crank; swinging-vane rotary pump; spur gear and lantern; worm and worm gear; lantern and crown gear; flywheel; slotted-head screw.

Mechanics: horizontal spoked treadwheel; conical valve; worm and worm gear; lantern and crown gear; motion converter (rotating to linear).

Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; force pump; double interrupted crown gears and lantern gear; lantern and rack; lantern and crown gear; roller guides.

Mechanics: hand crank; horizontal crankshaft; lift pump; horizontal working beam; crank and connecting rod; flywheel.

Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; force pump; conical valve; double interrupted crown gears and lantern gear; spur gear and lantern; horizontal working beam.

Mechanics: hand crank; lantern and crown gear; chain drive; flywheel.

Mechanics: internal vertical treadwheel; chain of buckets; spur gear and lantern; roller shaft bearing.

Bridge composed of broad-bottomed boats, paddled via an internal crank, positioned with a rudder, and fastened together.

Monogrammed "JG" on rock at lower right.

Mechanics: horizontal crankshaft.

Entire machine rotates on a wheel in the base. Includes details of machine parts hidden within, pictured at right top and bottom.

Mechanics: hand crank; spur gear and lantern; worm and worm gear; ratchet; roller thrust…

Bridge sections composed of trapezoidal prisms are transported rolled up. Unrolled, the sections are connected together with hinges, and the bridge floats on the water.

Mechanics: winch; ratchet; projectile throwing…

Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; lift pump; grooved eccentric cam; horizontal working beam; roller guides.

The water is not enclosed within this device.

Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; noria; rocking troughs; interrupted lantern and racks; chain equalizer.

Mechanics: vertical crankshaft; bucket; lantern and crown gear; flywheel.

Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; force pump; interrupted lantern and racks; chain equalizer; roller guides.

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…

Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; swinging-vane rotary pump; spur gear and lantern; worm and worm gear; lantern and crown gear; slotted-head screw.

Mechanics: hand crank; chain of buckets.

Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; toroidal force pump; flap valve; double interrupted crown gears and lantern gear; lantern and crown gear; roller guides.

The book's title is set within an architectural frame embellished with antique ornamental motifs, weapons, armor, and symbols of warfare and siege.

This title page is a facsimile reproduction, hence the lower quality…