Retorts Collection

Lambeth Gasworks, 19th century, engraving
530403 Lambeth Gasworks, 19th century, engraving; (add.info.: From Gustave Dore and Blanchard Jerrold London: A Pilgrimage, London, 1872)

General view of a gas works, showing retorts being charged,1835 (engraving)
530381 General view of a gas works, showing retorts being charged,1835 (engraving); (add.info.: From Charles Partington The British Cyclopaedia, London); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Retort House, Great Central Gas Works, Bow Common, London. It was here that Croll introduced the burning of
530387 Retort House, Great Central Gas Works, Bow Common, London. It was here that Croll introduced the burning of incandescent coke as fuel immediately it had be taken from retorts. 10% saving

Artificial Illumination (engraving)
5221755 Artificial Illumination (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Artificial Illumination)

The manufacture of gas (engraving)
582995 The manufacture of gas (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The manufacture of gas)

Gas works retort house, Horseferry Road, Westminster, London
Men at work in the retort house of the gas works at Horseferry Road, Westminster, London. The retort house contained the retorts (vessels) in which coal was heated to generate the gas

Soap and candles (engraving)
2792793 Soap and candles (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Soap and candles. Illustration for Chatterbox (1893)

The Manufacture of Gas, charging Retorts at the Beckton Gas-Works of the Chartered Gaslight and Coke Company (engraving)
1621622 The Manufacture of Gas, charging Retorts at the Beckton Gas-Works of the Chartered Gaslight and Coke Company (engraving) by Murray

Drawing the Retorts at the Great Gas Light Establishment, Brick Lane, London (engraving)
583974 Drawing the Retorts at the Great Gas Light Establishment, Brick Lane, London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Furnace, Retorts, Stills, and Distilling Appartus, as used by Chemists and Alchemists of the Sixteenth Century
1094652 Furnace, Retorts, Stills, and Distilling Appartus, as used by Chemists and Alchemists of the Sixteenth Century (engraving) by French School

Manufacture of Peat Charcoal (engraving)
1096890 Manufacture of Peat Charcoal (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Manufacture of Peat Charcoal)

Women making ceramic retorts. Date: 1902

Various images retorts distillers A-D E-H Print marked top right
Various images of retorts and distillers, A-D and E-H, Print marked top right: No 1, laboratory (tools, instruments, laboratory equipment, scientific research), pharmacy, pharmaceutics, Jan Luyken

Various images stoves retorts A-O Print marked upper right
Various images of stoves and retorts, A-O, Print marked upper right: Fol. 42, laboratory (tools, instruments, laboratory equipment, scientific research), pharmacy, pharmaceutics, Jan Luyken

Geber, Islamic Spanish alchemist
Geber (c.722-c.815), Islamic Spanish alchemist. Geber is a Latinised form. His full Arabic name is Jabir ibn Hayyan. Geber is sometimes known as the Father of Chemistry

Suffragette Old Man Paid to the Cause. A suffragette addresses a gathering of women. Speaker says, My old man paid 100 to the cause for every day I was in jail

Various retorts A-CC, Jan Luyken, Jan Claesz ten Hoorn, 1683

Various images of laboratory tools, Jan Luyken, Jan Claesz ten Hoorn, 1689

Recovery of gold from amalgum. 7) chamois leather bag for separating amalgum from excess mercury. 6) Operator with wooden pestel and mortar for purifying mercury with salt

Liverpool Gasworks
Sectional diagram of the Liverpool gasworks in 1861 which produced coal gas chiefly for domestic illumination. From the right

Chemistry equipment, early 19th century C013 / 5268
Chemical equipment. Early 19th-century artwork depicting a variety of devices and instruments used in chemistry experiments

Retorts and stills. Drawing from a Greek manuscript of alchemy. Drawing. FRANCE. Paris. National Library

Boys Tease Redhead 1924
Two boys tease a redheaded girl, calling her carrot-head: she retorts that her hair is auburn

Gas-Making in London
Drawing the Retorts at the Great Gas Light Establishment, Brick Lane, London : at this time the streets of London are lit by gas, so the demand is huge

Stoking the Retorts
A man with a long, heavy steel pole, stokes the retorts at a gasworks

Gas / Drawing Retorts / 1903
South Metropolitan Gas Company. An interior of a factory showing retorts being drawn by hand

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"Retorts: Illuminating the Past and Shaping the Future" In the realm of artificial illumination, they have played a pivotal role throughout history. From the early days of gas manufacture to modern advancements in chemistry and alchemy, these enigmatic vessels have left an indelible mark on society. Engravings depicting gas works retort houses in Westminster, London transport us back to a time when gas was king. The meticulous process of charging retorts at Beckton Gas-Works showcases the intricate craftsmanship required for this essential task. Meanwhile, at Great Gas Light Establishment in Brick Lane, London, we witness skilled workers drawing retorts with precision and expertise. Not limited to illuminating streets alone, retorts found their place in other industries as well. Engravings showcasing soap and candle production highlight how these versatile vessels were instrumental in creating everyday essentials. Similarly, images from centuries past reveal that chemists and alchemists relied on furnace-equipped laboratories adorned with retorts for their experiments. Even beyond industrial applications, women can be seen crafting ceramic retorts - a testament to their involvement across various fields. In another intriguing twist of history's tale lies the suffragette old man paid to support their cause; his connection to this captivating apparatus remains shrouded in mystery. Delving deeper into historical texts such as "The Architect's Surveyors and Engineers Compendium 1892, " we uncover valuable insights into how architects incorporated retort designs within buildings during that era. These lithographs provide glimpses into both practicality and aesthetics intertwined seamlessly. While retracing our steps through time, we encounter Geber - an Islamic Spanish alchemist who made significant contributions to chemical knowledge using his own version of a retort apparatus. His innovative spirit serves as inspiration for future generations seeking breakthroughs within scientific realms. Lastly but not leastly is peat charcoal manufacturing depicted vividly through engravings capturing its intricate processes.