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Instruments & Innovation

921 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.

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Current results range from 1 to 2018

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  • [Missing]29

  • Machinery526
  • Scientific apparatus and instruments264
  • Employees239
  • Corporations149
  • Chemical industry129
more Subject »

  • Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600196
  • Hercules Incorporated88
  • Dow Chemical Company80
  • Schwänder, Johann Georg52
  • Brawe, Hermann51
more Creator »

  • Photographs429
  • Engravings301
  • Rare books297
  • Catalogs97
  • Scientific apparatus and instruments65
more Genre »

  • Image810
  • Text126
  • Physical Object74
  • Sound6

  • wood (plant material)35
  • metal25
  • plastic (material)20
  • glass (material)17
  • Glass9
more Medium »

  • France--Paris198
  • Illinois--Chicago69
  • Germany--Osnabrück52
  • England--London38
  • Michigan--Midland38
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  • English127
  • German75
  • Latin24
  • French1
  • Italian1

  • Copyright Free805
  • Public Domain Mark 1.0496
  • No Known Copyright309
  • Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License74
  • In Copyright24
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  • Archives438
  • Library397
  • Museum80
  • Center for Oral History6
Previous 1 - 25 of 921 Next
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  • Vessels (Containers), Glassware

    Roman glass round bottom vase

    • 1 – 200

    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…

    • Subject Glass, Glassware, Roman, Glass blowing and working, Glassware
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 29: Device for raising water from a river, pond, or lake by river or canal current

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Pumping machinery, Reciprocating pumps, Water-power, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 52: Single-person-operated device for drawing water from a well

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Pumping machinery, Wells, Rotary pumps, Machinery, Hand pumps
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 27: Device for raising water from a low place by river or canal current

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Pumping machinery, Reciprocating pumps, Water-power, Machinery
  • 3 items
    Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 147: Bridge for crossing a city or fortress water moat

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    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…

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Movable bridges, Military bridges, Bridges, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 167: Screw-jack for bending or breaking the iron gratings protecting a city wall or canal

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Can be operated by a single person, easily and with little noise. The device depicted here is also illustrated on Plate 166.

    Mechanics: hand crank; worm and worm gear; double toggle linkage.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Jackscrews, Machinery
  • 3 items
    Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 143: Bridge for crossing a city or fortress moat

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Accordion folded bridge sections can be quickly and unexpectedly rolled out and brought up to the wall.

    Mechanics: capstan bars; hand crank; worm and worm gear; lantern and rack; roller guides.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Movable bridges, Military bridges, Bridges, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 56: Single-person-operated device for drawing water from a well or cistern

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    This device uses a paternoster pump, named for its resemblance to a rosary. Also known as a "rag and chain" pump or a "rubber bucket chain" pump.

    Mechanics: hand crank; paternoster chain pump; flywheel.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Pumping machinery, Cisterns, Wells, Machinery, Hand pumps
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 126: Grain mill powered by two men

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Mills and mill-work, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 87: Single-person-operated device for drawing water from a cistern

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Cisterns, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 119: Grain mill powered by channel current

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Millstone can be raised or lowered by a wedge. This mill grinds and sifts flour at same time.

    Mechanics: overshot waterwheel; lantern and crown gear.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Water-power, Mills and mill-work, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 122: Grain mill powered by horse

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Millstone can be raised or lowered by wedges.

    Mechanics: horse whim; spur gear and lantern; lantern and crown gear.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Mills and mill-work, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 45: Device for raising water from a canal, river, or spring

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; noria; Archimedean screw; angle crown gears; lantern and crown gear.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Water-power, Water-wheels, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 38: Device for raising water from a spring by channel current

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Mechanics: overshot waterwheel; sliding-vane rotary pump.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Pumping machinery, Water-power, Rotary pumps, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 74: Single-person-operated device for drawing water from a well

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Wells, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 123: Grain mill powered by single person

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Mechanics: inclined treadwheel; lantern and crown gear.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Mills and mill-work, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 175: Crane for lifting and turning heavy weights

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Machine sits on four casters.

    Mechanics: capstan bars; hand crank; worm and worm gear; lewis.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Cranes, derricks, etc., Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 133: Windmill

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    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.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Wind power, Windmills, Machinery, Mills and mill-work
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 131: Grain mill powered by alternate counterweights, initially raised by two men

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Mechanics: winch; falling weight; spur gear and lantern; lantern and crown gear; ratchet.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Mills and mill-work, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 59: Single-person-operated device for drawing water from a well

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Pumping machinery, Reciprocating pumps, Wells, Machinery, Hand pumps
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 41: Device for raising water from a river

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Mechanics: undershot waterwheel; noria; spur gear and lantern.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Water-power, Water-wheels, Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 9: Device for raising water from a low place by river current

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Pumping machinery, Reciprocating pumps, Water-power, Machinery
  • 3 items
    Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 180: Machine for moving heavy weights

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

    Mechanics: hand crank; Spur gears; worm and worm gear; lantern and crown gear.

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Machinery
  • Rare books, Engravings

    Plate 4: Device for raising water from a river

    • Part of Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli
    • 1588

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

    • Author Ramelli, Agostino, 1531-approximately 1600
    • Subject Pumping machinery, Reciprocating pumps, Water-power, 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
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