Mechanisms Collection

Antikythera mechanism, artwork C017 / 7190
Antikythera mechanism, artwork. This early form of mechanical calculator was found circa 1900 in a 1st-century BC Roman shipwreck

Pascals calculator, 17th Century artwork
Pascals calculator. Historical artwork showing the mechanism inside a 17th Century mechanical device used to perform mathematical calculations

Solar eclipse, 18th century artwork
Solar eclipse. 18th century diagram showing the principles behind solar eclipses. Figure I shows difference in appearance between total (B) and annular (A) eclipses

Clock Mechanisms
A variety of clocks: an electric clock, a water clock, a sun dial, clock movements and pendulums

Examples of various hand-gun firing mechanisms, c.1880 (engraving)
535880 Examples of various hand-gun firing mechanisms, c.1880 (engraving); (add.info.: Examples of various hand-gun firing mechanisms)

Pianola advert
An advert for the pianola. It is a player piano is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via programmed music recorded

When the Sleeper Wakes (litho)
1051697 When the Sleeper Wakes (litho) by Lanos, Henri (1859-1929); Private Collection; (add.info.: When the Sleeper Wakes)

Tsar Nicholas I inaugurating the semaphore telegraph line between Moscow
2619087 Tsar Nicholas I inaugurating the semaphore telegraph line between Moscow and Warsaw in 1833, using a modification of Claude Chappes semaphore system, from Les Merveilles de la Science

A Victorian two day marine chronometer with Hartnup balance, c
5858180 A Victorian two day marine chronometer with Hartnup balance, c.1870 (mounted in mahogany & brass) by Frodsham, Charles (1810-71); Private Collection; (add.info.: Charles Frodsham, London)

An exhibit of safety devices at the American Institute of Social Service, New York
MNY380915 An exhibit of safety devices at the American Institute of Social Service, New York, 1906-07 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942)

Fol. 20r from Paris Manuscript B, 1488-90 (pen & ink on paper)
XJF308778 Fol. 20r from Paris Manuscript B, 1488-90 (pen & ink on paper) by Vinci, Leonardo da (1452-1519); Bibliotheque de l Institut de France, Paris, France; Italian, out of copyright

Horse-driven hydraulic pulley mechanism for moving goods between land and water
810250 Horse-driven hydraulic pulley mechanism for moving goods between land and water, 1607 (engraving) by Zonca, Vittorio (1568-1602); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Astronomical Clock in Strasbourg Cathedral, 1621 (engraving and letterpress)
696727 The Astronomical Clock in Strasbourg Cathedral, 1621 (engraving and letterpress) by Brun, Isaac (1596- c.1657); Private Collection; (add.info)

Exhibit of the Museum of Safety Appliances of the American Institute of Social Service
MNY380917 Exhibit of the Museum of Safety Appliances of the American Institute of Social Service, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942)

Men at an exhibit of safety devices at the American Institute of Social Service, New York
MNY380913 Men at an exhibit of safety devices at the American Institute of Social Service, New York, 1906-07 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942)

A mechanical equipment room at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co
MNY380862 A mechanical equipment room at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. at 23rd Street and Madison Avenue, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942)

Hartnup balance from a Victorian two day marine chronometer, c
5858179 Hartnup balance from a Victorian two day marine chronometer, c.1870 (mounted in mahogany & brass) by Frodsham, Charles (1810-71); Private Collection; (add.info.: Charles Frodsham, London)

A Victorian two day marine chronometer with Hartnup balance, c
5858181 A Victorian two day marine chronometer with Hartnup balance, c.1870 (mounted in mahogany & brass) by Frodsham, Charles (1810-71); Private Collection; (add.info.: Charles Frodsham, London)

MISCELLANEOUS LOCKS
A selection of lock systems and mechanisms. Date: 1797

WATER WHEEL MECHANISMS
Diagrams to show how different designs of water wheel work Date: 1819

MICROMETERS
A micrometer and its mechanisms, designed for measuring very small distances, objects or angles Date: 1810

CLOCKWORK MECHANISMS
Various clockwork mechanisms Date: circa 1810

Old Father Time and The Times (Le Temps) Newspaper, as well as other time-keeping mechanisms including an hourglass and a sundial. Date: circa 1890s

Edificij et machine Martini Francesco di Giorgio
Edificij et machine, Martini, Francesco di Giorgio, 1439-1501, brown ink and wash, ca. 1475-ca. 1480, The volume comprises 103 drawings by Francesco di Giorgio Martini and his assistants

Types Of Machine Guns And Their Mechanisms Just Prior To The First World War. From Enciclopedia Ilustrada Segu

Four Different Remontoire Escapement Systems By Four Different Clock Makers Identified In The Picture. De Lafon, Massey, Mendham, Prior

Eight Different Escapement Systems By Eight Different Clock Makers Identified In The Picture. Berthoud, Smeaton, De Bethune, Amant, Harrison, Cumming, Mudge, Peter Le Roy

Inside Of A Clock

Timepieces

Ferris Wheel And Other Rides, Derry, Ireland

Water flow mechanisms, artwork C016 / 4311
Water flow mechanisms. Artwork of a range of water flow devices, including a water wheel (centre), an Archimedean screw (lower left), and a garden pavilion with fountains (right)

Active Drifting Mines by G. H. Davis
A diagram displaying the failures of disarming devices on mines used by the Germans and the British during the Second World War

Colin Brookes-Smith table tilting research
Colin Brookes-Smiths table designed for the detection of UMA (unconscious muscular action) in table tilting. The table surface has been removed to reveal the mechanisms underneath

Illustration, electric sewing machine

Gun Mechanisms
1st August 1866: Firing mechanisms for the Prussian needle gun, top, and Sniders converted Enfield, bottom. Nature & Art - pub. 1866 (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Examples of various hand-gun firing mechanisms. Top to bottom: Matchlock, Wheel lock arquebus, Snaphaunce Fowling-piece, Flint Fowling piece, Percussion Fowling-piece or scent bottle lock of c1807

Tractor diesel pump mechanism, Northamptonshire, England, March

Antikythera mechanism, artwork C016 / 9689
Antikythera mechanism, artwork. Side view (centre) and rear and front views (either side) of the antikythera mechanism, an early form of mechanical calculator found circa 1900 in a 1st-century BC

Antikythera mechanism, artwork C017 / 7188
Antikythera mechanism, artwork. Side view (centre) and rear and front views (either side) of the antikythera mechanism, an early form of mechanical calculator found circa 1900 in a 1st-century BC

Hookes telescopes, 17th century
Hookes telescopes. 17th-century engraving with labelled diagrams showing telescope equipment and mechanisms described by English scientist Robert Hooke (1635-1703)

Hookes Law lecture diagram, 1678
Hookes Law lecture diagram. 17th-century engraving with labelled diagrams showing the spring balance experiment described by English scientist Robert Hooke (1635-1703) for his lecture on springs

Astronomical instruments, 17th century
Astronomical instruments. 17th-century diagrams showing various instruments used in astronomy, including a quadrant and a universal joint

Hookes universal joint, 17th century
Hookes universal joint. 17th-century engraving with labelled diagrams showing the components that made up the universal joint devised by English scientist Robert Hooke (1635-1703)

Loading Mechanism Parts
Components of the loading mechanisms of 18th century rifles & pistols. Date: Circa 1760

Pistols & Rifles 18th C
Rifles & pistols from the 18th century : details of loading mechanisms. Date: Circa 1760

Bone reabsorption, SEM
Bone reabsorption. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of reabsorption of bone by an osteoclast. The osteoclast is partially seen at upper left

Rheumatoid arthritis mechanism, artwork
Rheumatoid arthritis mechanism. Artwork showing various aspects of rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammation of the joints due to attack by the bodys own immune system

19th Century military submarine, artwork
19th Century military submarine. Historical artwork showing the workings of an early 19th Century American military submarine designed by the American Engineer Robert Fulton (1765-1815)

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"Unveiling the Wonders of Mechanisms: A Journey Through Time" Step into a world where ancient marvels and intricate contraptions intertwine, as we explore the captivating realm of mechanisms. Our first stop takes us back to ancient Greece, where the enigmatic Antikythera mechanism astounds with its astronomical calculations and celestial predictions. Marvel at the precision and ingenuity behind this 2nd-century BC masterpiece. Next, we delve into the 17th century, encountering Pascal's calculator – an artwork that revolutionized mathematics by enabling complex computations. Witness how this mechanical wonder paved the way for modern-day calculators, forever changing our approach to numbers. As we move forward in time, an 18th-century artwork captures a breathtaking solar eclipse. Behold nature's spectacle immortalized through artistry while contemplating early attempts to understand celestial phenomena using rudimentary mechanisms. Clock mechanisms come alive before our eyes as their intricate gears tick away relentlessly. From grandiose tower clocks to delicate pocket watches, these ingenious devices have kept society on schedule throughout history. The enchanting notes emanating from a pianola transport us to an era when music filled homes effortlessly. Vintage advertisements beckon us closer, enticing us with promises of musical bliss at our fingertips—a testament to how mechanisms brought melodies into every household. In another corner of history lies Tsar Nicholas I inaugurating Moscow's semaphore telegraph line—an event that marked a turning point in communication technology. Witness firsthand how simple yet effective systems transformed long-distance messaging forever. A Victorian two-day marine chronometer adorned with Hartnup balance showcases precision engineering at its finest—guiding sailors across treacherous seas while ensuring accurate navigation amidst tumultuous waves. Safety takes center stage as we explore an exhibit highlighting innovative safety devices showcased at the American Institute of Social Service in New York. Discover groundbreaking inventions designed to protect lives and enhance well-being during industrial revolutions.