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"An instrument illustrating the expansive force of steam generated in a closed vessel, and escaping through a narrow aperture, said to have been invented by Hero of Alexandria in the second century B.C. "-Whitney, 1902

Aeolipile

"An instrument illustrating the expansive force of steam generated in a closed vessel, and escaping…

Archimedean screw, gravity principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Archimedean Screw

Archimedean screw, gravity principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion…

Device for transferring water up from a lower body.

Archimedean Screw

Device for transferring water up from a lower body.

A firearm design where a sliding charger is positioned under the barrel, allowing for faster reloading times.

Fire Arm

A firearm design where a sliding charger is positioned under the barrel, allowing for faster reloading…

Buoyancy chambers, hydrostatic principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Buoyancy Chambers

Buoyancy chambers, hydrostatic principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion…

Felt Comptometer computing machine.

Felt Comptometer

Felt Comptometer computing machine.

Tredwell of Boston invented the first power press. The type is raised to meet the platen.

First Power Press

Tredwell of Boston invented the first power press. The type is raised to meet the platen.

Invented by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin is a machine that quickly separates the cotton from the seeds.

Cotton Gin

Invented by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin is a machine that quickly separates the cotton from the seeds.

The guillotine was a decapitating execution device invented by Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, remembered for its use in the French Revolution.

Guillotine

The guillotine was a decapitating execution device invented by Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, remembered for…

Gutenberg's press. Screw presses down platen on the type.

Gutenberg Press

Gutenberg's press. Screw presses down platen on the type.

A flying machine invented by William Henson in the mid-19th century. Although numerous attempts were made to fly the machine, all were unsuccessful.

Henson's Flying Machine

A flying machine invented by William Henson in the mid-19th century. Although numerous attempts were…

A design improvement when creating hydrocarbon gas.

Machine for Hydrocarbon Gas

A design improvement when creating hydrocarbon gas.

Leibnitz computing machine.

Leibnitz Computing Machine

Leibnitz computing machine.

"Edison's first lamp with a filament of bamboo fibre." -Bodmer, 1917

Edison's First Light Bulb

"Edison's first lamp with a filament of bamboo fibre." -Bodmer, 1917

Liquids of varying densities. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Liquids of Varying Densities

Liquids of varying densities. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Magnetic attraction on inclined plane. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Magnetic Attraction

Magnetic attraction on inclined plane. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion…

Magnetic pendulum, rotating field principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Magnetic Pendulum

Magnetic pendulum, rotating field principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion…

"The sailors' chance of life appears but small, / Between the sea and that high rocky wall, / But, full of hope, they look along the shores, / And find some cordage with some broken oars; / Of broken twigs they find a scanty stock, / Of these a ladder's made to climb the rock."—Barber, 1857

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

"The sailors' chance of life appears but small, / Between the sea and that high rocky wall, / But, full…

Overbalancing wheel, gravity principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Overbalancing Wheel

Overbalancing wheel, gravity principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion…

Pascal computing machine.

Pascal Computing Machine

Pascal computing machine.

Arkright's water-frame wheel, the first power spinning-wheel.

Power Spinning Wheel

Arkright's water-frame wheel, the first power spinning-wheel.

George Clymer improved upon Gutenberg's press by making it out of iron therefore reducing the force required.

Columbian Press

George Clymer improved upon Gutenberg's press by making it out of iron therefore reducing the force…

"Double cylinder press, 1835-1900. These presses were built up to 1900 and this picture shows the latest design brought out about 1882." -Hill, 1921

Double Cylinder Press

"Double cylinder press, 1835-1900. These presses were built up to 1900 and this picture shows the latest…

"Single large cylinder press, 1832-1900." -Hill, 1921

Single Large Cylinder Press

"Single large cylinder press, 1832-1900." -Hill, 1921

"Single small cylinder press, 1835-1900." -Hill, 1921

Single Small Cylinder Press

"Single small cylinder press, 1835-1900." -Hill, 1921

The hand printing press was invented by Peter Smith and manufactured by Robert Hoe in 1822.

Hand Press

The hand printing press was invented by Peter Smith and manufactured by Robert Hoe in 1822.

"Isaac Adam's bed and platen press, 1830." -Hill, 1921

Adams' Platen Printing Press

"Isaac Adam's bed and platen press, 1830." -Hill, 1921

"Treadwell's wooden-frame bed and platen power press, 1822." -Hill, 1921

Treadwell's Platen Printing Press

"Treadwell's wooden-frame bed and platen power press, 1822." -Hill, 1921

Charles Stanhope improved upon Gutenberg's press by making it out of cast iron therefore reducing the force required and increasing the printed area.

Stanhope Press

Charles Stanhope improved upon Gutenberg's press by making it out of cast iron therefore reducing the…

George Stephenson's locomotive, 'the rocket' was a great innovation towards the development of railroad engines.

The Rocket

George Stephenson's locomotive, 'the rocket' was a great innovation towards the development of railroad…

Sponge plan, capillary principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

Sponge Plan

Sponge plan, capillary principle. Illustration of an unsuccessful scheme for a perpetual-motion device.

An early invention of the airplane, created by John Stringfellow in the mid-19th century.

Stringfellow's Flying Machine

An early invention of the airplane, created by John Stringfellow in the mid-19th century.

This steam valve design features revolving cup valves which are able to cut off steam at any given revolution inside an engine.

Steam Valve

This steam valve design features revolving cup valves which are able to cut off steam at any given revolution…