Device Collection

Medieval urine wheel. Labelled in Latin, this 15th century diagram shows some of the possible colours of urine (outer edge of circle) to help doctors diagnose urine-related diseases

Ultra-Marine by William Heath Robinson
One of Margates new " Neversink" pleasure boats for keeping an even keel inthe roughest seas. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger

Curiosity rover, artwork
NASAs next Mars rover, the Curiosity Rover, will land at the foot of a layered mountain inside the planets Gale Crater. Launch is palneed for November/ December 2011

Rejected by the inventions board

A Swimming Stroke of Genius
A simple device by which a cross channel swim may be rendered both easy and pleasant- not to mention luxurious. Please note

Epicycles of Mercury and Venus, 1823 C017 / 8061
Epicycles of Mercury and Venus, 19th-century diagram. This geocentric (Earth-centred) model shows the orbits of Mercury and Venus as a series of epicycles (loops)

Tungsten carbide slip gauge blocks C016 / 2042
Tungsten carbide slip gauge blocks. These are used as a standard form of length measurement. They are precision ground (lapped) to a specific thickness and then stacked to create the required length

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

Standard electrical circuit symbols. Diagram of standard symbols used to represent electrical equipment in electrical circuit diagrams. The symbols are arranged in six rows of sets of three

Permanent Hair-Waving machine, 1928
Curls are attached by the flex to the chandelier-like electrical machine. This device was exhibited at the Hairdressers Annual Exhibion at the White City, 1928

Fusion research, tokamak device
Nuclear fusion research. Cutaway computer artwork of the planned ITER tokamak device. It will be the first full scale fusion device to produce energy at a level of an electricity-producing power

A glamorous female model with her trusty Goblin Teasmade
A stylish female model wakes up fresh-faced and ready now to face the day thanks to a few sips from a hearty brew prepared by her faithful bedside Goblin Teasmade. How Delicious! Date: 1960s

Printing press used by Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), U. S. statesman and scientist. Colored engraving

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

Mercury thermometer showing a room temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. The mercury thermometer works as mercury, a liquid metal, expands evenly as the temperature increases

Mars Exploration Rover on the surface of Mars, artwork. The first of two identical NASA rovers, Spirit, landed on Mars on 4 January 2004

Newtons telescope, historical artwork
Newtons telescope. Historical reproduction of a sketch by Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) of a reflecting telescope and its components

Gas mask. This device is to allow the user to breathe during a chemical gas attack, or in a smoke-filled building. The tube at lower left is for drinking liquids such as water

A simple device for removing a wart
Contrary to the title of this picture, a complicated and convoluted machine to help a sufferer remove a wart from his head

Camera Obscura 1817
CAMERA OBSCURA the various components of an observation hut or kiosk housing the device

Ufos / Reich Device
One of Wilhelm Reichs weather-influencing devices which also affect UFOs, and could perhaps destroy them

Distillation, 16th century woodcut
Distillation. Coloured 16th century woodcut depicting apparatus used for distillation. Two liquids to be distilled are being heated in large flasks (bottom left and right)

Eyeglasses for chickens patent, 1903 C024 / 3600
Eyeglasses for chickens patent, 1903. Artwork of a device designed by Andrew Jackson Jr. to protect the eyes of chickens from aggressive pecking by other chickens

Double bicycle patent, 1905 C024 / 3615
Double bicycle patent, 1905. Artwork of a double bicycle patent invented by Karl Lange. It was designed to perform a loop the loop stunts at circus performances

Gyroscope spinning on a piece of string
Gyroscope. Toy gyroscope spinning on a piece of string. A gyroscope is a heavy spinning disc mounted so that its axis is free to adopt any orientation

Circuit board

Electricity / Voltaic Pile
VOLTAIC PILE The first workable device for generating a consistent flow of electricity, invented in 1799 by Alessandro Volta

Nanorobots, artwork
Nanorobots, computer artwork. Nanotechnology is an area of science concerned with producing mechanical entities on the scale of nanometres (billionths of a metre)

Sohns Device
At Daytona Beach, Florida, American birdman CLEM SOHN leaves a plane at 4000 metres, and glides to 700 metres before opening his parachute

Drawing the cork, illustration by William Heath Robinson
How to draw the cork when you can t find the corkscrew, illustration by William Heath Robinson. Credit must appear as: Courtesy of Mrs J. C

OUDS: The Tempest at Worcester College, 1949
A midsummer diversion in an Oxford garden: the Oxford University Drama Societys production of Shakespeares The Tempest in the grounds of Worcester College, 1949

Atomic bomb explosion

Micrometer screw gauge. This is an instrument used to accurately measure small distances. Here it is being used to measure the thickness of a piece of wire (upper left)

Fingerprint scanner, artwork
Fingerprint scanner, computer artwork

Cold Comfort by W. Heath Robinson
An elegant device now in use in many seaside boarding houses to obviate the rather indelicate act of blowing on ones food to cool it

New Banting Bed for Reducing the Figure
The New Banting Bed for Reducing the Figure. Cartoon by William Heath Robinson

World War II B25 bomber attacks Japanese ship
World War II vintage photograph - B25 bomber attacks Japanese ship in China Sea

Cork swimming suit patent, 1882 C024 / 3602
Cork swimming suit patent, 1882. Artwork of a device designed by Paschal Plant. This clothing item consisted of mesh or netted fabric with cork applied to the surface

IUD contraceptive and sperm cells. Computer artwork of an intrauterine device (IUD, red and white, centre) in a womans uterus, surrounded by sperm cells (white, not to scale)

Invention of the compass, Ancient China
Invention of the compass in Ancient China. These early compasses consisted of a magnetised needle floating in a bowl of water

Dr. Merryweathers Tempest Prognosticator
Featured in the Great Exhibition of 1851, Dr. Merryweather of Whitbys Tempest Prognosticator was designed to warn of approaching storms

Bus Conductor
The bus conductor punches the tickets of his passengers, using the ingenious device which issues the right ticket for the individual requirements of each and all

Portrait of a tattooed woman, c. 1905 (Sepia Photo)
1073947 Portrait of a tattooed woman, c.1905 (Sepia Photo); Private Collection; (add.info.: The model is thought to be the wife of Charles Wagner who registered the patent for the tattoo machine in)

American barrel organ with inside mechanism, wood engravings, published 1888
American barrel organ with punched tape technique - Automatic musical instrument from the 19th century. Right side: The inside mechanism. Wood engravings, published in 1888

Kendal, Cumbria - Nether Bridge over the River Kent. Date: 1910

Diving apparatus patent, 1880 C024 / 3604
Diving apparatus patent, 1880. Artwork of a metal diving suit designed by Stephen M. Tasker. It was designed to withstand the pressure of diving in water while articulated joints allowed the wearer

Fire-escape patent, 1879 C024 / 3605
Fire-escape patent, 1879. Artwork of a fire escape device designed by Benjamin Oppenheimer. The parachute is attached by harness to the persons head while thick rubber soled shoes were worn to

Ladder gripping attachment patent, 1913 C024 / 3612
Ladder gripping attachment patent, 1913. Artwork showing a device invented by Edmond Dennis that allows two people to climb at opposite ends of a ladder suspended in mid-air.The shoe attachment grips

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"Unveiling the Ingenious Device: A Journey through Time and Innovation" Step into a world where creativity knows no bounds, as we explore the fascinating realm of devices throughout history. From the bizarre to the brilliant, these captivating contraptions have shaped our lives in unimaginable ways. Delve into the depths of medieval ingenuity with the peculiar "Medieval Urine Wheel, " an unconventional invention that harnessed human waste for practical purposes. Witness William Heath Robinson's whimsical imagination come to life in his masterpiece "Ultra-Marine, " showcasing a fantastical device that defies logic. Marvel at mankind's relentless pursuit of knowledge as you encounter Curiosity rover, not just a scientific marvel but also an artwork in its own right. Yet, even brilliance can face rejection, as evidenced by those unfortunate creations deemed unworthy by the inventions board. Prepare to be astounded by moments of sheer genius like "A Swimming Stroke of Genius, " where innovation meets athleticism to create unparalleled grace. Discover precision engineering with Tungsten Carbide Slip Gauge Blocks C016/2042 - small yet mighty tools that revolutionized measurement accuracy. Journey back in time and witness celestial mechanics unfold before your eyes with "Epicycles of Mercury and Venus. " Marvel at how William Heath Robinson ingeniously solves everyday problems with his cunning strokes of brilliance. Unlock the secrets behind electrical circuits using standard symbols that have become universal language for engineers worldwide. Step into a vintage salon and experience glamour from yesteryears with the Permanent Hair-Waving Machine from 1928 – an early glimpse into beauty technology. Embark on a quest for limitless energy through fusion research, exploring tokamak devices designed to harness nuclear power safely and sustainably. Finally, witness distillation's ancient artistry depicted in a mesmerizing 16th-century woodcut – revealing humanity's thirst for knowledge since time immemorial.