Machinery Collection

Horses pulling the plough
Two heavy horses, pull a farmers plough through a newly cut cornfield. Painting by Malcolm Greensmith

H. M. S. Pincher - Algerine-Class Fleet Minesweeper
H.M.S. Pincher (J294 - later M294) - Algerine-Class Fleet Minesweeper fitted with Turbine propulsion machinery - commissioned in 1943, built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Date: circa 1950s

T class Submarine
Inside a British submarine: complex details of the craft in which our underwater crews live and fight. A sectional view of a boat of the T class, showing how machinery, torpedoes

Heath Robinson Kitchen 3 of 4
Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by " The Sketch" in the Kitchen. A busy Kitchen, which is a typically Heath Robinson design, with a system of pulleys

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

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

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

Heath Robinson Drawing Room 2 of 4
Heath Robinson Does Away with Servants - Patent Applied for by " The Sketch" in the Drawing-Room. A family in the Drawing Room, which is a typically Heath Robinson design

On war Service for Thomas Oxley Ltd, Shiloh Wheel, Stanley Street, 1914
An elephant and two camels doing Government Work for Messrs.. Oxley Ltd of Sheffield. A load consisting of three heavy boilers is being drawn along with comparative ease

Coalmine pithead silhouetted at dusk, South Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

Ford tractor, Cls combine, wheat harvesting, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The Willesborough windmill, Ashford, Kent. Kentish smock mill. 1935

A team of working horses at work in the fields ploughing. Painting by Malcolm Greensmith Date: circa 1980

John Deere combine harvester, harvesting Barley (Hordeum vulgare) crop, filling trailer pulled by tractor with grain, England, july

The Engine Room at the Clement-Talbot Motor Works, London
The Engine Room at the Clement-Talbot Motor Works, Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington, London, alongside the Great Western Railway line and between Wormwood Scrubs

John Deere tractor pulling soil press, rolling seedbed in arable field, Kelso, Scottish Borders, Scotland, september

Blackfords printing works book-binding room, Truro, Cornwall. Early 1900s
The book-binding room at Oscar Blackfords printing works at the corner of Quay Street and Princes Street. The building was originally known as The Great House and built by the Gregor family

Mixing treated asbestos fibre, Heath Robinson machine
Efficient plant for the successful mixing of treated asbestos fibre with cement. A drawing done by William Heath Robinson for Turners Asbestos Cement Co

Patent double action grinder for asbestos by Heath Robinson
A patent double-action grinder for mashing asbestos fibre - a drawing done for Turners Asbestos Cement Co by William Heath Robinson, renowned for his machines and convoluted contraptions. Date: c.1925

Bryant and May Match Factory
Girls feeding a machine at the Bryant & May match factory, in Bow, East London, at the time a tax on matches was being discussed in the budget. Date: 1916

A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2, 1942
A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2 in the GWR Swindon Works, 1942. The man is wearing a blacksmiths apron

Fowlers Steam Engine
Fowlers patent engine and windlass for steam-ploughing

Poster, Ransomes Lawnmowers, sold by Broughton & Wilks, Banbury. circa 1900s

St Elizabeth of Hungary Spinning Wool for the Poor, 1901. Elizabeth (1207-1231) was the daughter of Andras II of Hungary. After the death in 1227 of her husband Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia

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

Cyclops Works, making Bessemer steel, 1916
Cammell Laird and Co. Ltd. (1903) evolved from: Johnson, Cammell and Co. (1837), later Charles Cammell and Co Ltd (1864) amalgamating with Laird Brothers of Birkenhead

Speedy Tractor
19th September 1946: Demonstrating a new Ferguson tractor and ploughshare, the latter can be raised from the drivers seat enabling the tractor to be driven along a road of speeds up to 30mph

Cross section of a steam thresher

Wringer, wet clothes dryer
Antique illustration of a wringer, wet clothes dryer

American M1 Abrams army tank with soldier in the hatch by machine gun

Cyclops Works, Sheffield BL22301_010
Cammell Lairds Cyclops Ordnance Steel Tyre and Spring Works in Grimesthorpe, Sheffield. Men at work in the fettling shop, with huge components for ships

Steel production, Barnsley BL22301_002
Cammell Laird & Co, Penistone. Men at work in Cammell Lairds bessemer department, producing steel from pig iron. One of a series of photographs of Cammell Laird works. Bedford Lemere. August 1913

Royal Wedding 1923 - Heath Robinson humour
A Great Grand Stand. A comfortable suggestion for viewing future Royal Weddings by William Heath Robinson. An onlooker manages to balance a cosy armchair on top of a lamp post complete with rice

Heavy shire horse pulls an old hay rake
A farmer and his heavy horse take a break from working to gather hay on a field. They stop to talk to another farmer and a young lady in white dress

Ending in Smoke by Heath Robinson
An ingenious smoke screen spreader for preventing embarrassing situations when the bathroom lock is out of order. Hilarious invention by the inimitable Heath Robinson allowing complete discretion for

Overtime at a Christmas cracker factory by William Heath Rob
Colour illustration by William Heath Robinson depicting one of his usual contraptions designed to solve the increase in demand for Christmas crackers during the forthcoming festive season

Harvesting barley with a combine harvester, Suffolk
Harvesting barley with a combine harvester on a farm in Suffolk, England

Tractor towing baler unloading drum bale, Wannock, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Close-up of a fairground engine, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Las Hilanderas, (The Spinners), 1657, (c1934). Artist: Diego Velasquez
Las Hilanderas, (The Spinners), 1657, (c1934). Traditionally, believed to depict women workers in the tapestry workshop of Santa Isabel, iconography suggests Ovids Fable of Arachne

Mill Workers - Spinning - Rochdale, Lancashire. Date: 1911

Mechanical digger

Road works at Swanley - widening the road. 1938

Littlehampton Agricultural Picture - about 1938
Tractor drawn plough. George Garland Collection West Sussex Record Office Ref. No. Garland N17133

Acfords Ltd printers, Industrial Estate, Sussex
Men working at Acfords Ltd printers, Industrial Estate, Sussex interior, 20 Mar 1957 Chichester Photographic Collection West Sussex Record Office Ref No: CPS0752-2

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

Caterpillar track steam engine by R. Hornsby & Sons
The first and original Caterpillar or walking engine made by R. Hornsby & Sons of Grantham. R. Hornsby & Sons grew into a major manufacturer of agricultural machinery, at their Spittle Gate Works

Trumpers Barbers - Mayfair, London
Barbershop in Central London - Mayfair. G F Trumper & Sons. An elaborate belt-driven machinery above the mirror drives a head massaging brush. Established 1875

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"Machinery: A Tapestry of Innovation and Efficiency" From the humble beginnings of horses pulling the plough to the marvels of modern technology, it has revolutionized our world. It encompasses a wide range of inventions that have shaped industries and transformed our daily lives. Take, for instance, the T class Submarine - a testament to human ingenuity in conquering the depths of the ocean. Its intricate mechanisms allow us to explore uncharted territories beneath the waves, unlocking secrets hidden from sight. In contrast, William Heath Robinson's whimsical creations like his Heath Robinson Kitchen or Pea Apparatus showcase a different side of machinery. These imaginative contraptions bring humor and creativity into everyday tasks, reminding us that even practicality can be infused with artistry. Robinson's works continue to captivate with pieces such as "A Decided Catch" and "Bound to Draw. " His intricate illustrations depict fantastical machines that blur reality and imagination, inviting viewers into a world where anything is possible. Meanwhile, in bustling workshops like The Engine Room at Clement-Talbot Motor Works in London or on wind-swept landscapes like The Willesborough Windmill in Ashford, Kent; machinery hums with purposeful energy. These industrial powerhouses are hubs where dreams become tangible through hard work and dedication. It also plays an essential role in agriculture – John Deere combine harvesters efficiently gather bountiful barley crops while Ford tractors tirelessly traverse fields during wheat harvesting season. These mechanical marvels ensure food security by maximizing productivity while minimizing labor-intensive processes. Yet amidst progress lies nostalgia - silhouettes of coalmine pitheads at dusk remind us of an era when these structures were symbols of industry and livelihood. They stand as reminders not only of past achievements but also serve as inspiration for future advancements yet to come. Whether it be ancient tools pulled by majestic horses or cutting-edge innovations shaping our present-day existence, the backbone of progress.