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Invention Collection

Background imageInvention Collection: Heath Robinson automated Dining Room without servants 1 of 4

Heath Robinson automated Dining Room without servants 1 of 4
Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by " The Sketch" in the Dining-Room

Background imageInvention Collection: A sound engineer testing a pair of prototype Nautilus speakers by Bowers and Wilkins

A sound engineer testing a pair of prototype Nautilus speakers by Bowers and Wilkins Nautilus speakers, developed by Bowers and Wilkins

Background imageInvention Collection: Pea Apparatus by William Heath Robinson

Pea Apparatus by William Heath Robinson
An interesting and elegant apparatus designed to overcome once for all the difficulties of conveying green peas to the mouth

Background imageInvention Collection: Ultra-Marine by William Heath Robinson

Ultra-Marine by William Heath Robinson
One of Margates new " Neversink" pleasure boats for keeping an even keel inthe roughest seas

Background imageInvention Collection: A Decided Catch by William Heath Robinson

A Decided Catch by William Heath Robinson
The Whitebait cycle, an ingenious contraption necessitated by the exorbitant charges for hire of boats at the seaside this season

Background imageInvention Collection: First Ferris wheel, Chicago Worlds Fair, 1893

First Ferris wheel, Chicago Worlds Fair, 1893
Ferris wheel -250 feet in diameter, 36 cars - at the Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Gutenbergs printing press, 1450s

Gutenbergs printing press, 1450s
Gutenberg and Fust with the first printing press, Germany, 1450s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Bound to Draw by William Heath Robinson

Bound to Draw by William Heath Robinson
Another well-thought-out experiment in dentistry from Heath Robinson, the Gadget King and mastermind behind endless convoluted contraptions and silly ideas. Date: 1927

Background imageInvention Collection: Rejected by the inventions board

Rejected by the inventions board

Background imageInvention Collection: A Swimming Stroke of Genius

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

Background imageInvention Collection: Acme Moustache Guard

Acme Moustache Guard
The Acme Moustache Guard. Solid comfort while eating. No use for napkins - does not interfere with use of mouth. Made of gold or silver plate. Everyone should have one!

Background imageInvention Collection: Schematic view of George Stephensons locomotive The Rocket of 1829

Schematic view of George Stephensons locomotive The Rocket of 1829
STEPHENSONs ROCKET, 1829. Schematic view of George Stephensons locomotive " The Rocket" of 1829

Background imageInvention Collection: DOLLY TUB

DOLLY TUB
A laundry worker using a dolly stock and tub to clean clothes, prior to the invention of the washing machine

Background imageInvention Collection: A cunning stroke by William Heath Robinson

A cunning stroke by William Heath Robinson
A clever but unsportsmanlike contrivance to increase buoyance and prevent fatigue among Channel swimmers

Background imageInvention Collection: The Subzeppmarinellin by Heath Robinson, WW1 cartoon

The Subzeppmarinellin by Heath Robinson, WW1 cartoon
The subzeppmarinellin for making sure of your enemy. All bases covered with this combined submarine and zeppelin from the imagination of William Heath Robinson during the First World War. Date: c.1916

Background imageInvention Collection: Crewe Station started service on 4 July 1837 with the opening of the Grand Junction Railway

Crewe Station started service on 4 July 1837 with the opening of the Grand Junction Railway

Background imageInvention Collection: Crewe Station started service on 4 July 1837 with the opening of the Grand Junction Railway

Crewe Station started service on 4 July 1837 with the opening of the Grand Junction Railway

Background imageInvention Collection: Schematic view of the Stourbridge Lion

Schematic view of the Stourbridge Lion
THE STOURBRIDGE LION, 1829

Background imageInvention Collection: Rejected by the inventions board

Rejected by the inventions board
" Rejected by the inventions board

Background imageInvention Collection: Use of an arquebusse, 16th century

Use of an arquebusse, 16th century
Spanish arquebusier, 1500s. Hand-colored 19th-century woodcut reproduction of an earlier illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Ending in Smoke by Heath Robinson

Ending in Smoke by Heath Robinson
An ingenious smoke screen spreader for preventing embarrassing situations when the bathroom lock is out of order

Background imageInvention Collection: Bridgewater Canal Map

Bridgewater Canal Map
Map showing the route of the proposed canal from Worsley to Manchester and thence to the Mersey, to be built by engineer James Brindley for the duke of Bridgewater

Background imageInvention Collection: Invention of the Cube Car

Invention of the Cube Car

Background imageInvention Collection: Bolts of electricity discharging in the lab of Nikola Tesla

Bolts of electricity discharging in the lab of Nikola Tesla
Inventor and scientist Nikola Tesla in his lab while his magnifying transmitter high voltage generator produces bolts of electricity. December 1899

Background imageInvention Collection: Spectroscope (c. 1860) by Bunsen and Kirchhoff, published in 1880

Spectroscope (c. 1860) by Bunsen and Kirchhoff, published in 1880
Spectroscope by Robert Bunsen (German chemist, 1811 - 1899) and Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (German physicist, 1824 - 1884)

Background imageInvention Collection: Victorian inventions in The Engineer

Victorian inventions in The Engineer
A page of patented engineering and industrial inventions from The Engineer magazine, 1856. Date: 1856

Background imageInvention Collection: Robidas rotating house

Robidas rotating house
Maison tournante arienee or aerial rotating house, one of Albert Robidas futuristic visions of life in the 20th century

Background imageInvention Collection: Testing a new type of steering gear / W Heath Robinson

Testing a new type of steering gear / W Heath Robinson
Illustration by William Heath Robinson. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/Mary Evans Picture Library

Background imageInvention Collection: Bedroom boat-race practice

Bedroom boat-race practice
An enthusiastic " Blue" leaves nothing to chance and recreates rowing conditions with the help of three tin baths, some wheels and a pair of oars in his bedroom

Background imageInvention Collection: HMS Habbakuk in section

HMS Habbakuk in section
Illustration showing a cross section of the top secret design for HMS Habbakuk a giant aircraft-carrier built of ice and wood pulp, which was proposed as a secret weapon in the Second World War

Background imageInvention Collection: Hat Wireless 1930S

Hat Wireless 1930S
A man tunes into his hat radio!

Background imageInvention Collection: Gutenbergs printing press

Gutenbergs printing press
Gutenberg inspects the first sheet of his Bible, which has just come off the press

Background imageInvention Collection: SINGER SEWING MACHINE. Description of Isaac M

SINGER SEWING MACHINE. Description of Isaac M. Singers sewing machine on the front page of the " Scientific American", 1 November 1851

Background imageInvention Collection: Futuristic long distance airship

Futuristic long distance airship
A futuristic long distance airship held aloft by two long balloons, flying across the sea

Background imageInvention Collection: Eyeglasses for chickens patent, 1903 C024 / 3600

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

Background imageInvention Collection: Double bicycle patent, 1905 C024 / 3615

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

Background imageInvention Collection: Automaton at the Schoolboys Own Exhibition, 1929

Automaton at the Schoolboys Own Exhibition, 1929
A physiological robot at the Schoolboys Own Exhibition in London, 1929. Designed to show how organs of the body work, here three young visitors take great interest in its insides. Date: 1929

Background imageInvention Collection: Sir Francis Ronalds

Sir Francis Ronalds
Portrait of English inventor, Sir Francis Ronalds (1788-1873), inventor of the electric telegraph in 1816

Background imageInvention Collection: George Stephensons locomotive, the Rocket

George Stephensons locomotive, the Rocket, which won a prize given by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company

Background imageInvention Collection: LIGHTNING ROD UMBRELLA. Line engraving, French, 1873

LIGHTNING ROD UMBRELLA. Line engraving, French, 1873

Background imageInvention Collection: First sewing machine, 1846

First sewing machine, 1846
Elias Howes sewing machine, 1846. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Paternoster lift, usage and drive wheels, wood engravings, published 1888

Paternoster lift, usage and drive wheels, wood engravings, published 1888
Schematic representation of use, and the drive wheels of a paternoster lift. Created by Peter Hart (British engineer). Wood engravings, published in 1888

Background imageInvention Collection: Bailey Bridge and Rhine victory by G. H. Davis

Bailey Bridge and Rhine victory by G. H. Davis
The Bailey Bridge: the British weapon which hurdled Allied armies across the Rhine barrier during the Second World War

Background imageInvention Collection: BIFOCALS, 1760s. Benjamin Franklins sketch for bifocal eyeglasses, which he is

BIFOCALS, 1760s. Benjamin Franklins sketch for bifocal eyeglasses, which he is credited with inventing

Background imageInvention Collection: Working shaft in the Kilsby Tunnel 8 July 1937 The tunnel is located near the village

Working shaft in the Kilsby Tunnel 8 July 1937 The tunnel is located near the village of Kilsby in Northamptonshire and opened in 1838 as a part of the London and Birmingham Railway

Background imageInvention Collection: First Atlantic crossing by steamship, 1819

First Atlantic crossing by steamship, 1819
American paddlewheeler " Savannah, " the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, 1819. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Gutenberg Bible page

Gutenberg Bible page
Page of the Gutenburg Bible. Color lithograph reproduction of the document

Background imageInvention Collection: Louis Braille - inventor of system of raised-point writing

Louis Braille - inventor of system of raised-point writing
Louis Braille (1809-1852) - French inventor of system of raised-point writing for the blind. Date: circa 1850

Background imageInvention Collection: What every golfer wants by William Heath Robinson

What every golfer wants by William Heath Robinson. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/ILN/Mary Evans Date: 1921

Background imageInvention Collection: THOMAS EDISON (1847-1931). American inventor

THOMAS EDISON (1847-1931). American inventor. With his Edison Effect lamps in his West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory. Photograph, 1915, digitally colored by Granger, NYC

Background imageInvention Collection: LOCOMOTIVE: ROCKET, 1829. George Stephensons Rocket, the winner of the Liverpool

LOCOMOTIVE: ROCKET, 1829. George Stephensons Rocket, the winner of the Liverpool and Manchester Railways competiton of 1829. Engraving, American, 1881

Background imageInvention Collection: McCORMICK HARVESTER. Demonstration of the horse-drawn harvester and binder invented

McCORMICK HARVESTER. Demonstration of the horse-drawn harvester and binder invented by Cyrus Hall McCormick. Undated photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s

Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s
WATER WASTE PREVENTER. Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s

Background imageInvention Collection: James Watt, caricature C015 / 6706

James Watt, caricature C015 / 6706
James Watt (1736-1819). Caricature of the Scottish engineer and inventor James Watt. Watt made numerous practical improvements to the steam engine of his day

Background imageInvention Collection: FRANKLIN: FIREPLACE, 1745. Diagram by Benjamin Franklin

FRANKLIN: FIREPLACE, 1745. Diagram by Benjamin Franklin, of his Pennsylvanian fireplace, 1745

Background imageInvention Collection: King Alfred the Great of England

King Alfred the Great of England
Statue of King Alfred the Great of England (born 849, ruled 871-899)

Background imageInvention Collection: Spaceship to the Moon imagined in the 1870s

Spaceship to the Moon imagined in the 1870s
Projectile train to the moon, a suggested form of space travel, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Telegraph poles following the transcontinental railroad

Telegraph poles following the transcontinental railroad
Linemen stringing telegraph wire beside the transcontinental railroad on the Great Plains, 1860s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Telegraph key, 1860s

Telegraph key, 1860s
Civil War telegraph sending-key in working order, living history demonstration, Shiloh National Battlefield, Tennessee. Digital photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: 19th-century Gatling gun

19th-century Gatling gun
Gatling-gun from the late 1800s, an artillery demonstration at Yorktown battlefield, Virginia. Digital photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: Wright airplane over a French farm

Wright airplane over a French farm
A Wright airplane over a hayfield in France, 1908, flown by Wilbur Wright and a pupil. Printed halftone reproduction of a photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: An Attractive Idea for Gents Wear

An Attractive Idea for Gents Wear
Do you realise that the equinoctial gales will soon be blowing in upon us? If so, do not forget to buy one of the new patent adjustable, magnetic hat guards, for use with any style and size of hat

Background imageInvention Collection: Lessons by Post by William Heath Robinson

Lessons by Post by William Heath Robinson
The new Heath Robinson Swimming Post, which is acquiring such popularity at our most fashionable resorts

Background imageInvention Collection: Cold Comfort by W. Heath Robinson

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

Background imageInvention Collection: The Harley-Scope Mine-Detector by William Heath Robinson

The Harley-Scope Mine-Detector by William Heath Robinson
A crackpot invention dreamed up Heath Robinson, allowing a British machine to suspend a stethoscope wearing doctor over the ground, in an attempt to locate the snug dug outs of the German enemy

Background imageInvention Collection: Johannes Gutenberg, German goldsmith and printer

Johannes Gutenberg, German goldsmith and printer
Johannes Gutenberg (Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg), German goldsmith and printer. He invented mechanical movable type and thereby began a revolution in book printing

Background imageInvention Collection: Maskelyne & Cooks automaton, Psycho

Maskelyne & Cooks automaton, Psycho
Maskelyne & Cooks thought-reading, whist playing automaton, Psycho, as demonstrated at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London

Background imageInvention Collection: Advert, Royles Patent Self-Pouring Teapots

Advert, Royles Patent Self-Pouring Teapots
Advertisement for Royles Patent Self-Pouring Teapots, October 1888. 1888

Background imageInvention Collection: Mr R. J. White, leader of an Isle of Wight ARP rescue party

Mr R. J. White, leader of an Isle of Wight ARP rescue party
Mr R.J. White, leader of an Isle of Wight ARP rescue party, has invented three pieces of apparatus to improve the manipulation of stretchers to prevent further injury to the patient

Background imageInvention Collection: The Enfield Electric Car Road Test by Sunday Mirror reporter Roy Spicer

The Enfield Electric Car Road Test by Sunday Mirror reporter Roy Spicer. Roy shows us the electric workings at the back of the electric car. Picture taken 27th June 1975

Background imageInvention Collection: The Electric Car. A new unusually quiet little motor car can be seen going

The Electric Car. A new unusually quiet little motor car can be seen going through its paces around London

Background imageInvention Collection: Leonardesque model. Trench-digging machine. Model. Technolog

Leonardesque model. Trench-digging machine. Model. Technolog
Leonardesque model. Trench-digging machine. Drawing of a digger for excavating trenches or channels. Manuscript L, sheet 76v, 1497-1502. Model. The science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci

Background imageInvention Collection: A very early type of railway signal by W Heath Robinson

A very early type of railway signal by W Heath Robinson
A very early type of railway signal now rarely to be seen - an example from Railway Ribaldry, drawn by William Heath Robinson and commissioned by the Great Western Railway to mark their centenary

Background imageInvention Collection: GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (1864-1943). American botanist, chemist, and educator

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (1864-1943). American botanist, chemist, and educator. Lithograph by Richard Brent, c1940

Background imageInvention Collection: ROBERT GODDARD (1882-1945). American physicist

ROBERT GODDARD (1882-1945). American physicist. Goddards first successful launching of a liquid-fuel rocket at Auburn, Massachusetts, 16 March 1926

Background imageInvention Collection: STEAM TRICYCLE, 1888. Inventor Lucius D. Copeland demonstrating his steam tricycle

STEAM TRICYCLE, 1888. Inventor Lucius D. Copeland demonstrating his steam tricycle, known as the Phaeton Moto-Cycle, outside the north entrance of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C

Background imageInvention Collection: China. Han Dynasty (206 aC-220 BC). Invention

China. Han Dynasty (206 aC-220 BC). Invention

Background imageInvention Collection: Invention of the compass, Ancient China

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

Background imageInvention Collection: Honeymoon taxi / W H Robinson

Honeymoon taxi / W H Robinson
The best man need no longer grovel under back axles to attach boots and horseshoes etc

Background imageInvention Collection: Futuristic underwater croquet

Futuristic underwater croquet. The players are all wearing diving helmets with oxygen packs on their backs



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EDITORS COMMENTS

"Invention: A Journey Through Time and Imagination" Step into the whimsical world of William Heath Robinson, a mastermind artist who brought fantastical contraptions to life through his intricate illustrations. From his famous "Heath Robinson automated Dining Room without servants" to the peculiar "Pea Apparatus, " each creation is a testament to human ingenuity and creativity. Innovation knows no bounds, as showcased in Robinson's masterpiece, "Ultra-Marine. " This mind-boggling invention transports us underwater, revealing an enchanting realm where imagination reigns supreme. It reminds us that they are not limited by reality but can transcend it entirely. Travel back in time with the revolutionary Gutenberg printing press of the 1450s. This groundbreaking invention revolutionized communication forever, paving the way for knowledge dissemination on an unprecedented scale. The power of words became accessible to all—a true turning point in history. As we marvel at these extraordinary creations, let us not forget those that were met with skepticism or rejection. Like "Rejected by the inventions board, " which serves as a reminder that even geniuses face setbacks along their journey towards progress. Sometimes it takes persistence and unwavering belief for brilliance to be recognized. The first Ferris wheel at Chicago World's Fair in 1893 stands tall as a symbol of innovation and entertainment. Its towering structure offered breathtaking views while captivating hearts worldwide—an iconic invention that continues to inspire awe today. Transportation leaps forward with Crewe Station's grand opening on July 4th, 1837—the birthplace of railway travel excellence. This engineering feat connected people like never before, shrinking distances and fostering new opportunities across nations—a testament to mankind's ability to conquer vast landscapes through sheer determination. From ancient times comes the arquebusse—its use marking a pivotal moment in warfare technology during the 16th century.

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