Water Powered Collection

Hoover Dam on the Colorado River forming the border between Arizona and Nevada, United States of America, North America

A water-powered flour mill
5312086 A water-powered flour mill; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a water-powered flour mill. Dated 17th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Diagram depicting a multiple Archimedean screws powered by a water wheel
5308164 Diagram depicting a multiple Archimedean screws powered by a water wheel.; (add.info.: Diagram depicting a multiple Archimedean screws powered by a water wheel being used to raise water)

Arkwright's water frame spinning machine, 1878
3480201 Arkwright's water frame spinning machine, 1878; (add.info.: Diagram of Arkwright's water frame; 1878. The water frame is the name given to a water-powered spinning frame which was an)

A woodcut engraving depicting the draining of a mine that uses a series of suction pumps powered by a water wheel
5310952 A woodcut engraving depicting the draining of a mine that uses a series of suction pumps powered by a water wheel, 16th century; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Taylor's silk mill, 1860
3480177 Taylor's silk mill, 1860; (add.info.: Taylor's (formerly LOMBE's) silk mill, Derby. This was the first water-powered textile mill to be built in England (ca 1720)

Diagram of Arkwright's water frame, 1878
3480203 Diagram of Arkwright's water frame, 1878; (add.info.: Diagram of Arkwright's water frame, 1878. The water frame is the name given to a water-powered spinning frame which was an easy)

Arkwright's water frame spinning machine, 1850
3480200 Arkwright's water frame spinning machine, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting Arkwright's water frame spinning machine; on display at the Patents Museum; South Kensington;)

Arkwright's water frame spinning machine, 1878
3480202 Arkwright's water frame spinning machine, 1878; (add.info.: Diagram of Arkwright's water frame; 1878. The water frame is the name given to a water-powered spinning frame which was an)

An engraving depicting Segur's water turbine or vortex wheel, 19th century
5311262 An engraving depicting Segur's water turbine or vortex wheel, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1895); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting the waterworks at old London Bridge, powered by the current, built by Peter Morice in 1582
5310954 An engraving depicting the waterworks at old London Bridge, powered by the current, built by Peter Morice in 1582, rebuilt by George Sorocold circa 1702 and finally demolished in 1822

An engraving depicting the waterworks at old London Bridge, powered by the current, built by Peter Morice in 1582
5310953 An engraving depicting the waterworks at old London Bridge, powered by the current, built by Peter Morice in 1582, rebuilt by George Sorocold circa 1702 and finally demolished in 1822

Woodcut depicts the early process of paper making
1578324 Woodcut depicts the early process of paper making; (add.info.: Woodcut depicts the early process of paper making. The raw materials would be placed in a trough to be macerated by hammers)

Cross-section of a flour mill powered by a water wheel
5310102 Cross-section of a flour mill powered by a water wheel; (add.info.: Cross-section of a flour mill powered by a water wheel)

A pair of bellows worked alternately to give continuous draught
5310185 A pair of bellows worked alternately to give continuous draught; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a pair of bellows worked alternately to give continuous draught)

USA, Rhode Island, Pawtucket, Slater Mill Historic Site, first water-powered cotton spinning mill in North America, built 1793

The Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a water-powered funicular railway joining the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth on the rugged coast of North Devon Date: circa 1910s

A water-powered crushing or milling machine, 1607 (engraving)
810249 A water-powered crushing or milling machine, 1607 (engraving) by Zonca, Vittorio (1568-1602); Private Collection; (add.info.: From Nuovo Teatro di Macchine Ed Edifici pub)

"The Elephant Clock"from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical
3615926 " The Elephant Clock" from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari, 1315 (ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper) by Islamic School

Figure CXXXIII, a windmill with a rudder, from The Diverse
XJF465110 Figure CXXXIII, a windmill with a rudder, from The Diverse and Artifactitious Machines of Captain Agostino Ramelli engraved by Leonard Gaultier, published 1588 (engraving) by Gaultier

Bird song musical tree, published c. 1670 (engraving) (b / w photo)
STC171959 Bird song musical tree, published c.1670 (engraving) (b/w photo) by Swiss School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Water-powered milling machine, 1607 (engraving)
810247 Water-powered milling machine, 1607 (engraving) by Zonca, Vittorio (1568-1602); Private Collection; (add.info.: From Nuovo Teatro di Macchine Ed Edifici pub)

Mills on Blackstone River, 1872. Creator: William Hamilton Gibson
Mills on Blackstone River, 1872. Industrial buildings in Rhode Island, USA. The first successful water-powered cotton mill in America was opened at Pawtucket Falls in 1790

The first cotton mill at Cromford, Derbyshire, and Richard Arkwrights house, 1836. Arkwright (1732-1792) was the inventor of textile manufacturing machinery which included the first practical means

Greenfield Brass Mill near Holywell, Flintshire, Wales, 1792. Artist: WC Wilson
Greenfield Brass Mill near Holywell, Flintshire, Wales, 1792. Illustration showing industrialisation in the rural landscape

Engraving depicting James Watts steam engine. James Watt (1736-1819) a Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist. Dated 19th century

Verona, Italy - the main scene shows the Castel Vecchio Bridge (Scaliger Bridge) and the inset shows the unique floating boat mills of Verona, the last one of which stopped working in 1929

Sir Richard Arkwright, 1789-90 (oil on canvas)
BAL72369 Sir Richard Arkwright, 1789-90 (oil on canvas) by Wright of Derby, Joseph (1734-97); 241.3x152. cm; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Boat with Automata, illustration from Book of Knowledge of Mechanical Devices
XIR207292 Boat with Automata, illustration from Book of Knowledge of Mechanical Devices by Al-Djazari, 1206 (vellum) by Islamic School, (13th century); Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul

De Kaap goldfields, Transvaal, South Africa. Water-powered stamping mill for crushing gold-bearing quartz ore, Moodies Farms, near Brereton. Engraving from The Illustrated London News, 1887

Richard Arkwright (1732-1792), English inventor and industrialist, born at Preston in Lancashire. Inventor in 1769 of the spinning frame (water frame)

Mechanical Devices and Principles C017 / 3459
Plate from 18th century encyclopedia showing illustrations of various mechanical principles and devices, and diagrams of mechanical forces

Timber saw, artwork
Timber saw. Computer artwork of a timber saw that is powered by a watermill (not seen). The watermill drives the wheel at top, which moves the saw in the horizontal plane

Wool scouring machine, artwork
Wool scouring machine. Computer artwork of a wool scouring machine that is powered by a watermill (not seen). Scouring removes grease and dirt from the wool

Horizontal water wheels powering a mill

Water wheel powering a machine for making cloth
Water powered machinery. Water wheel (at left) powering machinery used to make cloth. The wheel powers the machinery through a shaft which has cams on it

Water wheel powering a hammer and bellows
Water powered forge. Water wheel (at right) powering a hammer (at lower centre) and bellows (at centre left) in a forge. The wheel is connected to the hammer and bellows by a crank system

Water wheel powering bellows at a furnace
Water power. Water wheel (at lower centre) powering bellows which are blowing air into furnaces. The wheel is connected to the bellows through a series of crankshafts

Saltburn cliff lift. This lift links Saltburn Pier to the town centre, reaching a maximum height of 36.58 metres and a distance of 63.09 metres

Steam-powered musical garden ornament. Historical artwork of a 17th Century garden ornament that uses the suns heat to boil water and generate steam

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Water has long been a powerful force, harnessed by humans to drive innovation and progress. From the mighty Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, forming a border between two states, to the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway that relies on water for its operation, we witness the incredible potential of water power. In Pawtucket, Rhode Island, at the Slater Mill Historic Site, history was made as the first water-powered cotton mill revolutionized textile production. A glimpse into the past reveals a water-powered crushing or milling machine in an engraving from 1607. The ingenuity of mankind is further showcased in "The Elephant Clock" from a Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanicals - an intricate creation powered by water. From windmills with rudders depicted in Figure CXXXIII of The Diverse to Arkwright's Cotton Mills captured on canvas in the 1790s, we see how water power shaped industries across time. Even art found inspiration in this natural resource; a bird song musical tree published around 1670 showcases nature's harmony through engravings. As technology advanced, so did our ability to harness water power efficiently. Another engraving from 1607 depicts a groundbreaking invention - a water-powered milling machine that transformed various industries. Fast forward to 1872 when William Hamilton Gibson immortalized mills along Blackstone River through his lens - capturing both their beauty and functionality. Finally, we find ourselves at Cromford in Derbyshire where Richard Arkwright's house stands alongside the first cotton mill built there. This image from 1836 serves as a testament to how one man's vision propelled an entire industry forward using nothing but the sheer force of flowing waters. Throughout history and across continents like USA and England (Derbyshire), humanity has recognized that within every drop lies immense potential waiting to be unleashed. Water power continues to shape our world today – driving us towards new frontiers while reminding us of the remarkable achievements powered by this elemental force.