Idea Collection

A Decided Catch by William Heath Robinson
The Whitebait cycle, an ingenious contraption necessitated by the exorbitant charges for hire of boats at the seaside this season

Da Vincis crossbow. Late 19th Century reproduction of a page from a notebook written by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), showing his design for a giant crossbow. Published circa 1894-1904

Alien, artwork
Alien, computer artwork

Schematic view of George Stephensons locomotive The Rocket of 1829
STEPHENSONs ROCKET, 1829. Schematic view of George Stephensons locomotive " The Rocket" of 1829

Design for a flying machine wing operated by a spring
LEONARDO DA VINCI. Design for a flying machine wing operated by a spring

A cunning stroke by William Heath Robinson
A clever but unsportsmanlike contrivance to increase buoyance and prevent fatigue among Channel swimmers. A useful inflatable idea to help long-distance swimmers by the gadget king

BIG CHEESE
Cheese weighing 1000 pounds (lbs) given as a gift to King George III in 1793 from the Duchy of Chester. Presumably a Cheshire cheese? Two men stand by to give an idea of scale

Schematic view of the Stourbridge Lion, the first commercial locomotive in North America
THE STOURBRIDGE LION, 1829. Schematic view of the Stourbridge Lion, the first commercial locomotive in North America, imported from England by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company in 1829 for use in

Ending in Smoke by Heath Robinson
An ingenious smoke screen spreader for preventing embarrassing situations when the bathroom lock is out of order. Hilarious invention by the inimitable Heath Robinson allowing complete discretion for

St Rosa De Lima
SANTA ROSA DI LIMA displays a luminous glow - a phenomenon reported of many religious figures, and which may have given rise to the idea of the halo : or vice versa

SINGER SEWING MACHINE. Description of Isaac M. Singers sewing machine on the front page of the " Scientific American", 1 November 1851

King Henry VIII portrait - T-shirt / poster print design
King Henry VIII - T-shirt / poster print design HENRY VIII RETURN OF THE KING

Mabel Lucie Attwell - The Idea of Fairies

A lone Star Fighter pilot looks around the alien landscape after a crash landing
A lone Star Fighter pilot looks around the alien landscape, in which he was forced to make an emergency crash landing after his ship developed technical problems

BIFOCALS, 1760s. Benjamin Franklins sketch for bifocal eyeglasses, which he is credited with inventing

Planet Earth on human hands, breaking down and crumbling with fragments falling apart. Airbrush illustration

LOCOMOTIVE: ROCKET, 1829. George Stephensons Rocket, the winner of the Liverpool and Manchester Railways competiton of 1829. Engraving, American, 1881

McCORMICK HARVESTER. Demonstration of the horse-drawn harvester and binder invented by Cyrus Hall McCormick. Undated photograph

Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s
WATER WASTE PREVENTER. Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s

Spaceship to the Moon imagined in the 1870s
Projectile train to the moon, a suggested form of space travel, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

An Attractive Idea for Gents Wear
Do you realise that the equinoctial gales will soon be blowing in upon us? If so, do not forget to buy one of the new patent adjustable, magnetic hat guards, for use with any style and size of hat

STEAM TRICYCLE, 1888. Inventor Lucius D. Copeland demonstrating his steam tricycle, known as the Phaeton Moto-Cycle, outside the north entrance of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C

The Grand Idea, by H. M. Bateman
A humorous illustration showing the commotion caused by a jockey jumping through a hedge at Aintree rather than over it. Bateman (1887-1970)

Touch receptors

Thomas Wright, British astronomer
Thomas Wright (1711-86), British astronomer. Wright was born at Byers Green in northern England. In 1730 he set up a school at which he taught mathematics and navigation

R. M. S. Queen Mary, Hindenburg and Big Ben, 1936
Illustration of R.M.S. Queen Mary, shown with the airship Hindenberg and the Westminster clock tower Big Ben, in order to give a clear idea of the grand scale of the Cunard White Star Liner

Woman Bird Cage 1929

Gowns That Express Poetic Ideas
Purple and blue wigs to complete the colour-schemes of dresses: gowns that express poetic ideas. Costumes from the house of Madame Lucile

Fairies and Elves Feast
Feasting and fun among the fuchsias - fairies and elves are visited by butterflies, which gives you some idea how tiny they are !

Caricature of future travel
3847140 Caricature of future travel by Heath, William (1795-1840); (add.info.: Caricature of future travel March of intellect, 1829 by William Heath (1795-1840)

ABRAHAM DARBY (1678-1717). English ironmaster. Darby at his forge and the discovery of cast iron. Etching, English, 19th century

German aeronautical engineer. One of Otto Lilenthals early glider flights. Photograph, c1895
OTTO LILIENTHAL (1848-1896). German aeronautical engineer. One of Otto Lilenthals early glider flights. Photograph, c1895

Thomas Saverys atmospheric steam engine for pumping water
SAVERY STEAM ENGINE, 1698. Thomas Saverys atmospheric steam engine for pumping water

Young lady paying calls by personal airship among a maze of telegraph and telephone wires. Robidas idea of world in 1953. From A Robida Le Vingtieme Siecle Paris 1883

Spine with workers, spine repair F007 / 9907
Conceptual computer artwork depicting a spine being repaired

Figureheads, May 1890
Engravings of ships figureheads from Ancient Etruscan and Roman times through to the 18th century, from The Graphic, 17th May 1890

An old instrument with sights for roughly marking the positions of the celestial bodies before the invention of
ASTROLABE. An old instrument with sights for roughly marking the positions of the celestial bodies before the invention of the sextant. Line engraving

Inside the Heart
No man knoweth the secrets of the heart - but these interior views give you some idea... Date: late 19th century

Finnish Canal
A steamboat negotiates a series of locks on the Saima Canal, near Palli. The figures give some idea of the size of the construction

An idea for an early helicopter
3732881 An idea for an early helicopter; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an idea for an early helicopter. Dated 18th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

St Augustine of Hippo (350-430), 19th century (engraving)
531885 St Augustine of Hippo (350-430), 19th century (engraving); (add.info.: one of great Fathers of early Christian church. Converted 386, bishop of Hippo 396)

Young lady paying calls by personal airship among a maze of telegraph and telephone wires
531689 Young lady paying calls by personal airship among a maze of telegraph and telephone wires. Robida's idea of world in 1953

An idea for a sailing balloon
3732703 An idea for a sailing balloon; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an idea for a sailing balloon. Dated 18th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Francesco Lana de Terzi's idea for a flying boat
5308096 Francesco Lana de Terzi's idea for a flying boat.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Francesco Lana de Terzi's idea for a flying boat)

President McKinley dressed in a long cape, 1897
1576830 President McKinley dressed in a long cape, 1897; (add.info.: Wrapped up in his pet idea' President McKinley wearing a long cape labelled "Protection Monomania")

An idea for a sailing balloon
3732702 An idea for a sailing balloon; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an idea for a sailing balloon. Dated 18th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Courting by telephone across Paris. 1883 (engraving from From A Robida Le Vingtieme Siecle Paris)
541371 Courting by telephone across Paris. 1883 (engraving from From A Robida Le Vingtieme Siecle Paris); (add.info.: Robida's idea of one of the results of the invention of the telephone)

Idea for a helicopter, presented to the Academie des Sciences in 1784 by Launoy and Bienvenu (engraving)
5616614 Idea for a helicopter, presented to the Academie des Sciences in 1784 by Launoy and Bienvenu (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG.

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"Unleashing the Extraterrestrial Imagination: Exploring the Idea through Artwork" Embark on a whimsical journey through the realm of ideas, where creativity knows no bounds. Just like an alien from another planet, ideas have the power to captivate and inspire us in ways we never thought possible. Step into the fantastical world of William Heath Robinson's "A Decided Catch, " where contraptions and inventions take center stage. Marvel at Da Vinci's crossbow design, a testament to his genius that transcends time. And behold George Stephenson's groundbreaking locomotive, "The Rocket, " which revolutionized transportation as we know it. But let your imagination soar even higher with designs for flying machines operated by springs - a glimpse into mankind's eternal quest for flight. Witness William Heath Robinson's cunning stroke in creating intricate mechanisms that defy logic yet ignite our curiosity. In this captivating collection, you'll also find yourself immersed in smoke-filled scenes brought to life by Heath Robinson himself. These illustrations remind us that sometimes great ideas emerge from chaos and uncertainty. As you delve deeper into this exploration of ideas, encounter St Rosa De Lima - a symbol of divine inspiration guiding us towards enlightenment. Feel inspired by Isaac M. 's description of the revolutionary Singer Sewing Machine, forever changing how garments are created. And who could forget King Henry VIII? His portrait transformed into an iconic T-shirt or poster print design serves as a reminder that even historical figures can become symbols of innovation and rebellion against conventionality. Finally, witness history being made with the schematic view of the Stourbridge Lion - North America's first commercial locomotive imported from England in 1829. This engraving represents not only progress but also embodies how one they are spark an entire industry. To conclude this extraordinary journey through artistry and invention, immerse yourself in Mabel Lucie Attwell's enchanting depiction of fairies - reminding us that the most magical ideas often come from the realms of our imagination.