Cranking Collection

Experiments made with Stevens's Bread-making Machine at Marylebone Workhouse, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Experiments made with Stevens's Bread-making Machine at Marylebone Workhouse, 1858. Mr. Stevens, the inventor of the A B C bread-making machine, is a practical baker

Casting a Monster Cylinder, at Messrs. Scott Russell and Co.'s Building-Yard, Millwall, 1854. Creator: Unknown
Casting a Monster Cylinder, at Messrs. Scott Russell and Co.'s Building-Yard, Millwall, 1854. Metalworking in London during the Crimean War....the casting of the last of the four largest

The Motor Picture Book, Just a Sharp Turn Date: 1930

An allegory relating to the fortunes of the Turks, ca. 1692. A winged figure probably representing Time stands on a fallen Turk while sharpening a blade on a wheel inscribed with the continents that

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

Triompho di Fortuna, January 1526. Creator: Unknown
Triompho di Fortuna, January 1526

The General Post-Office; Letter-bag hoist, 1844. Creator: Unknown
The General Post-Office; Letter-bag hoist, 1844. Worker at the main post office at St Martins Le Grand in London, using a hoist: for raising bags of letters into the Ship Letter-office above

Wedgwood at work, (c1880). Artist: Butterworth and Heath
Wedgwood at work, (c1880). Ceramics pioneer Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) in his workshop. A print from Great Industries of Great Britain, Volume I, published by Cassell Petter and Galpin, (London)

Reproducing Speech, 1878. Artist: C A Keetels
Reproducing Speech, 1878. Demonstration of the Edison phonograph in New York. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven, published by Harper & Brothers, (New York)

Panhard et Levassor car on a postcard -- driving by the riverside. Date: 1892

Benz car on a postcard -- the driver stops to ask the way. Date: 1914

Isotta Fraschini car on a postcard -- stopping on a mountain road. Date: 1908

Stiff by H. M. Bateman, WW1 cartoon
Hilarious sequential cartoon by H. M. Bateman showing a French soldier unable to move the crank on the front of an officers car

Cranking Up
September 1913: A tram driver cranking up at the start of his days run. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

De Dion Bouton motor car, Crickhowell, Powys, Mid Wales
A proud family with their 1903-4 De Dion Bouton motor car, registration AJ 232, in a back yard in Crickhowell, Powys, Mid Wales

Cranking up the engine
A very little girl beams as she has a photograph taken while turning the crank handle of a very large car

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"Cranking: A Journey Through Time and Technology" Step back in time to the 1870s, where the rhythmic sound of a wine press echoed through vineyards, symbolizing hard work and dedication. Just like cranking the handle of a wine press, life often requires us to put in effort and perseverance to achieve success. In "The Motor Picture Book, " we witness the excitement that comes with just a sharp turn of a crank. It reminds us that sometimes all it takes is one small action to set great things into motion. An allegory from 1692 draws parallels between cranking and the fortunes of the Turks. Just as they faced challenges and uncertainties, we too encounter obstacles along our journey. But by turning the metaphorical crank, we can overcome adversity and shape our own destinies. Tsar Nicholas I inaugurating the semaphore telegraph line between Moscow signifies how technology advanced through cranks. The simple act of rotating gears revolutionized communication, connecting people across vast distances. In January 1526's "Triompho di Fortuna, " an unknown creator captures fortune's ever-changing nature. Like turning a crank, luck can shift unexpectedly – propelling some forward while leaving others behind. It serves as a reminder to embrace both triumphs and setbacks on our path towards success. The General Post-Office letter-bag hoist from 1844 showcases another application for cranking technology. As letters ascended towards their destinations, this mechanism exemplified how innovation simplified everyday tasks – making lives easier one turn at a time. Witnessing Wedgwood at work in c1880 transports us into an era when craftsmanship thrived alongside mechanical advancements. Cranking became synonymous with progress as artisans utilized tools powered by human effort to create exquisite works of art. Reproducing speech in 1878 showcased how even language could be captured through cranks - transforming words into tangible records for future generations to hear.