Materials Collection

Bakelite telephone. Dial telephone with bakelite casing. Bakelite, the first plastic to be used for widespread commercial purposes

Illustration of Hookes Law on elasticity of materials, showing stretching of a spring. Robert Hooke (1635-1703), English scientist and inventor, formulated his law in 1676

HMS Habbakuk with HMS Indefatigable, 1946
Illustration showing the top secret design for HMS Habbakuk (centre), a giant aircraft-carrier built of ice and wood pulp, which was proposed as a secret weapon in the Second World War

WW2 - Recycling cans to aid war effort in East Ham, London
WW2 - Recycling tin cans to aid the war effort in East Ham, London - April, 1940. Date: 1940

Advert for Gorringes fashion fabrics 1932
Advertisement for Gorringes pattern book containing viyella and visylka dress fabrics. 1932

German Diver Goes Down
A German diver goes down to the wreck of an Allied vessel, hoping to salvage useful items and materials

Marie Curie, caricature
Marie Curie. Caricature of the Polish chemist Marie Curie (1867-1934), holding a round bottomed flask. Curie is known for her pioneering early work with radioactivity

Damp-proofing in a house. Impermeable layer of tar-like material (diagonal black line) inserted in the bedding joint between two courses of brickwork in the wall of a house

Clifton Bridge Photo
Clifton suspension bridge over the Avon, linking Gloucester- shire and Somerset, opened 1864, is largely constructed from the materials of Londons former Hungerford Bridge

Kashmir, River Jhelum - woman paddles a wooden boat
Kashmir, River Jhelum - woman with two small children paddles a flat-bottomed wooden boat, or shikara Date: 1986

Catalogue cover, Horncastle & Son, General Furnishing & Builders Ironmongers, The Parade, Bedford Street, Royal Leamington Spa. circa late 19th century

Great Fire of Newcastle and Gateshead
A view over Newcastle (on the far side of the River Tyne) and Gateshead (in the foreground) during the great fire which killed more than 50 people and destroyed many buildings

Page from The Architect s, Surveyors and Engineers Compendium 1892 (engraving)
728218 Page from The Architect s, Surveyors and Engineers Compendium 1892 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Page from The Architect s)

Poster: Salvage Saves Shipping. Encouraging people to recycle materials rather than throw them away, to help with the War Effort. circa 1940s

Lecture on Stephen Grays discoveries in electricity
A lecture at the Charterhouse, London on Stephen Grays discoveries in electricity. In the early eighteenth century, Gray demonstrated that charges of electricity could be conducted by some materials

SEM of a hooks and loops fastener
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM)of a hooks and loops fastener. It is a two-sheet material that is used as a reversible fastener on clothing and fabrics

Some shorages and how they are dealt with 1918
Shortage of skins and hides in Scotland, using trousers for their bagpipes. Shortage of iron hoops for wine casks. Please note

Photographers Advert
Advert for William Parker, Pharmaceutical Chemist and dealer in all kinds of Photographic Materials

Early textile machines
3329958 Early textile machines; (add.info.: Medieval illustration depicting early textile machines. Dated 16th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Work table, 1891
3479028 Work table, 1891; (add.info.: Illustration advertising a Work Table that contains a range of crafting materials such as cotton, sewing needles, scissors and knitting needles)

A pulley and basket for raising building materials
5310276 A pulley and basket for raising building materials; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a pulley and basket for raising building materials to the roof level)

Flow #1
Tal Paz-Fridman

The interior of a warehouse, a French chiffonnier, where women workers are sorting materials into baskets
3473164 The interior of a warehouse, a French chiffonnier, where women workers are sorting materials into baskets, from L'Univers Illustre, pub

St Paul the Apostle who took Christian message to the Gentiles. In background is his conversion on road to Damascus
536714 St Paul the Apostle who took Christian message to the Gentiles. In background is his conversion on road to Damascus. At his feet are books and writing materials representing his Epistles

Goldspring ironworks near New York where the materials for the great gun for launching the space craft Columbiad were
538402 Goldspring ironworks near New York where the materials for the great gun for launching the space craft Columbiad were produced

A cottager spinning in her living room
5310277 A cottager spinning in her living room; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a cottager spinning in her living room. Dated 19th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Nitroglycerin processing plant, explosives factory, Val Bormida, near Cengio, North West Italy, 1888
538429 Nitroglycerin processing plant, explosives factory, Val Bormida, near Cengio, North West Italy, 1888. From La Nature, Paris, 1888

I must bring you heavy tidings (diary, October 5), 1805-1808. Creator: Christiaan Andriessen
I must bring you heavy tidings (diary, October 5), 1805-1808

Self Portrait of the Painter and his Family, 1594. Creator: Jacob Willemsz. Delff the Younger
Self Portrait of the Painter and his Family, 1594. Willem Jacobsz Delff, Jacob Willemsz Delff, Rochus Delff, Cornelis Jacobsz Delff, Maria Joachimsdr Nagel

Seated basket weaver with standing boy, 1874-1925. Creator: Jan Veth
Seated basket weaver with standing boy, 1874-1925

Self-Portrait, 1838. Creator: Johan Hendrick Louis Meijer
Self-Portrait, 1838

An Antique Artist, c.1628-c.1636. Creator: Johannes Swinderen
An Antique Artist, c.1628-c.1636. Other Title(s): Self portrait? in Oriental Dress. Attributed to Johannes van Swinderen

Regg's (i.e. Riggs) Library, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. between 1900 and 1906. Creator: Unknown
Regg's (i.e. Riggs) Library, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. between 1900 and 1906

The Harlem from High Bridge, New York, c1905. Creator: Unknown
The Harlem from High Bridge, New York, c1905

Self-Portrait, 1621. Creator: Abraham de Vries
Self-Portrait, 1621

Travel views of Morocco, 1904. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Travel views of Morocco, 1904

Travel views of Japan and Korea, 1908. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Travel views of Japan and Korea, 1908

Les paysagistes. Le premier copie la nature, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Les paysagistes. Le premier copie la nature, 19th century. The artists sketched by Daumier - Landscapers. The first copies nature, the second copies the first

Lantern, 1935/1942. Creator: William Schmidt
Lantern, 1935/1942

Hand Lantern, c. 1939. Creator: Lazar Rubinstein
Hand Lantern, c. 1939

Square Lantern, c. 1939. Creator: Lazar Rubinstein
Square Lantern, c. 1939

Hand Lantern, c. 1938. Creator: Lazar Rubinstein
Hand Lantern, c. 1938

Candle Lantern, c. 1939. Creator: Jack Williamson
Candle Lantern, c. 1939

Lantern, c. 1939. Creator: Esther Williams
Lantern, c. 1939

Glass Butter Mold, c. 1938. Creator: Donald Williams
Glass Butter Mold, c. 1938

Hurricane Shade and Candlestick, c. 1937. Creator: Henry Meyers
Hurricane Shade and Candlestick, c. 1937

Crimping Wheel, c. 1939. Creator: John Wilkes
Crimping Wheel, c. 1939

Dueling Pistol, c. 1937. Creator: Richard Whitaker
Dueling Pistol, c. 1937

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Exploring the Enduring Legacy of Materials: From Bakelite Telephones to Gorringes Fashion Fabrics" Delving into the past, we uncover a vintage treasure - a Bakelite telephone that revolutionized communication in its time. Witnessing history unfold, HMS Habbakuk sails alongside HMS Indefatigable in 1946, showcasing the strength and resilience used during wartime. In East Ham, London during World War II, recycling cans became an act of patriotism as they aided the war effort and demonstrated how materials could be repurposed for a greater cause. Hookes Law springs to life through an illustration depicting the elasticity of materials; it reveals how stretching a spring can unlock its potential energy. Step back in time with an enchanting advert from 1932 featuring Gorringes fashion fabrics, highlighting their exquisite quality and timeless appeal. Dive deep into adventure as a German diver fearlessly explores unknown depths using specialized materials designed for underwater exploration. Celebrating Marie Curie's groundbreaking contributions to science, her caricature immortalizes her pioneering work on radioactive materials that forever changed our understanding of physics and medicine. A page from The Architect's Surveyors and Engineers Compendium (1892) showcases intricate engravings detailing various construction techniques utilizing different building materials such as stone, wood, and metal. Discovering innovative solutions for damp-proofing houses unveils how modern technology has advanced over time to protect structures against moisture damage using cutting-edge material applications. Marvel at Clifton Bridge's majestic beauty captured in a stunning photograph; this architectural marvel stands tall thanks to durable construction materials that have stood the test of time. Journey along Kashmir's River Jhelum where tradition meets craftsmanship - witness a woman gracefully paddling a wooden boat crafted from locally sourced timber; showcasing nature's bounty transformed into functional materials.