Tool Collection (#8)

Replica of Wimshurst machine (machine de Wimshurst), a generator. Invented by James Wimshurst, 1880s (object)
UIG5430099 Replica of Wimshurst machine (machine de Wimshurst), a generator. Invented by James Wimshurst, 1880s (object); Dorling Kindersley/UIG

Engraving depicting a meridian circle, used to determine altitude of celestial bodies, and a transit instrument
UIG5426386 Engraving depicting a meridian circle, used to determine altitude of celestial bodies, and a transit instrument, used for finding the celestial bodies crossing the meridian

Engraving depicting a nutcracker in which the fulcrum of the lever is at left. Dated 19th Century
UIG5426043 Engraving depicting a nutcracker in which the fulcrum of the lever is at left. Dated 19th Century; UIG

Engraving depicting the Hero of Alexandria's design for a pneumatic organ
UIG5425793 Engraving depicting the Hero of Alexandria's design for a pneumatic organ. This was essentially a small hand-pumped organ played by keys

Engraving depicting right-angled and parrot-nosed shears, 19th century
5309370 Engraving depicting right-angled and parrot-nosed shears, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting right-angled and parrot-nosed shears)

Medieval glassman's chair and tools (b/w photo)
8676068 Medieval glassman's chair and tools (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Medieval glassman's chair and tools)

Ice supplier, Little Italy, Clerkenwell, London (b/w photo)
8676178 Ice supplier, Little Italy, Clerkenwell, London (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ice supplier, Little Italy, Clerkenwell, London)

The School Room (colour litho)
8633173 The School Room (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The School Room)

Roadworks in Paris at night (colour litho)
8673206 Roadworks in Paris at night (colour litho) by Jeanniot, Pierre Georges (1848-1934); Private Collection; (add.info.: Roadworks in Paris at night)

Daniel JeanRichard, Swiss watchmaker, 18th Century (engraving)
8673023 Daniel JeanRichard, Swiss watchmaker, 18th Century (engraving) by Bachelin, Auguste (1830-90); Private Collection; (add.info.: Daniel JeanRichard, Swiss watchmaker examining a watch)

Boy getting his first haircut (b/w photo)
8672147 Boy getting his first haircut (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Boy getting his first haircut. A man cutting a boy's hair around a bowl)

Candidate taking the oath of an Entered Apprentice (engraving)
8673090 Candidate taking the oath of an Entered Apprentice (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Candidate taking the oath of an Entered Apprentice)

Medieval agricultural tools (engraving)
8672989 Medieval agricultural tools (engraving) by Swiss School, (19th Century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Medieval agricultural tools)

Initiation of the candidate as a Master Mason into the Third Degree (engraving)
8673109 Initiation of the candidate as a Master Mason into the Third Degree (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Mine (woodcut)
8672862 Mine (woodcut) by German School, (17th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mine. Illustration from Geschichte der Deutschen Kultur)

Groined arch, Guidepost, Guitar, Gunsmith, Gypsies, Hair-brush, Hairpin, Halberd, Halter, Hammer, Hammock
8650051 Groined arch, Guidepost, Guitar, Gunsmith, Gypsies, Hair-brush, Hairpin, Halberd, Halter, Hammer, Hammock, Hand-bell (engraving) by German School

Boussole marine ou compas de route avec son mode de suspension ordinaire (engraving)
8653356 Boussole marine ou compas de route avec son mode de suspension ordinaire (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Crushing rocks containing iron ore with hammers (woodcut)
8655517 Crushing rocks containing iron ore with hammers (woodcut) by German School, (16th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Crushing rocks containing iron ore with hammers)

Page from The Bible Emblem Anniversary Book (colour litho)
8630786 Page from The Bible Emblem Anniversary Book (colour litho) by Foster, William (1852-1924); Private Collection; (add.info)

Dungeon, Dalmatian, foxglove and wagoner's axe (chromolitho)
8677338 Dungeon, Dalmatian, foxglove and wagoner's axe (chromolitho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: D for dungeon, Dalmatian)

Fire-Fighting Appliances: Electric Fire-Engine, 1910 (colour litho)
8665655 Fire-Fighting Appliances: Electric Fire-Engine, 1910 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Electric Fire-Engine, 1910)

Fire-Fighting Appliances: Motor-Cycle and Side-Car with Manual Fire-Pump, 1910 (colour litho)
8665654 Fire-Fighting Appliances: Motor-Cycle and Side-Car with Manual Fire-Pump, 1910 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Fire-Fighting Appliances: "Metallic" Manual Fire-Engine for the Fiji Island (colour litho)
8665649 Fire-Fighting Appliances: "Metallic" Manual Fire-Engine for the Fiji Island (colour litho) by English School

Fire-Fighting Appliances: Horse Chemical Engine, 1899 (colour litho)
8665648 Fire-Fighting Appliances: Horse Chemical Engine, 1899 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Horse Chemical Engine, 1899)

Fire-Fighting Appliances: A Famous Fire-Engine, 1863 (colour litho)
8665640 Fire-Fighting Appliances: A Famous Fire-Engine, 1863 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Famous Fire-Engine, 1863)

A widow taking down telegraph wires put on her rooftop (engraving)
8664231 A widow taking down telegraph wires put on her rooftop (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: War on the wires)

Fire-Fighting Appliances: Automatic Spraying Helmet in use (colour litho)
8665667 Fire-Fighting Appliances: Automatic Spraying Helmet in use (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Automatic Spraying Helmet in use)

Fire-Fighting Appliances: "Piano" Type Fire-Engine, 1880 (colour litho)
8665658 Fire-Fighting Appliances: "Piano" Type Fire-Engine, 1880 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Piano" Type Fire-Engine, 1880)

Fire-Fighting Appliances: Hand Force-Pump, 1883 (colour litho)
8665645 Fire-Fighting Appliances: Hand Force-Pump, 1883 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hand Force-Pump, 1883)

Cutting and polishing diamonds in Amsterdam (litho)
8663720 Cutting and polishing diamonds in Amsterdam (litho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cutting and polishing diamonds in a workshop in Amsterdam)

Indian poojah to tools (engraving)
8658501 Indian poojah to tools (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Indian poojah to tools)

8622663

Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho)
8669514 Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho)
8669510 Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

A Blacksmith working at his forge (watercolour)
8835607 A Blacksmith working at his forge (watercolour) by Gibbs, John B. (active 1888-1918); Bourne Gallery, Reigate, Surrey, UK; (add.info.: JOHN B. GIBBS (British)

Outils de la maconnerie : bijoux d'officiers d'une loge. Illustration tiree du "Dictionnaire
AIS5374040 Outils de la maconnerie : bijoux d'officiers d'une loge. Illustration tiree du "Dictionnaire encyclopedique de la Franc maconnerie" 19eme siecle. Centro Loyola

Copper Tools of the Harappans from Haryana, Punjab, India
8725386 Copper Tools of the Harappans from Haryana, Punjab, India by Prehistoric; Private Collection; (add.info.: Copper Tools of the Harappans from Haryana, Punjab, India); © Dinodia Photo

Steam Engine Makers Society, 1884 (hand coloured engraving on paper)
7485259 Steam Engine Makers Society, 1884 (hand coloured engraving on paper) by Morton, William (b.1826); 49x34 cm; Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford, Shropshire

In the spinning room. A scene from the Middle Ages, 1909 (engraving)
1000963 In the spinning room. A scene from the Middle Ages, 1909 (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs)

Sextant reputed to have been used on James Cook's third voyage to the Pacific (1776-1780), c.1770 (brass)
7295421 Sextant reputed to have been used on James Cook's third voyage to the Pacific (1776-1780), c.1770 (brass) by Ramsden, Jesse (1735-1800); 42.5x44.5x9.5 cm; National Maritime Museum

Station Pointer, c.1875 (brass, silver, wood)
7295415 Station Pointer, c.1875 (brass, silver, wood) by British School, (19th century); 22.8x30.4 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Mrs. Bryan and her Children, 1797 (engraving)
7340002 Mrs. Bryan and her Children, 1797 (engraving) by Shelley, Samuel (1750-1808); 29x13 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Captain Henry Osborn (1697-1771), 1743-44 (oil on canvas)
7338007 Captain Henry Osborn (1697-1771), 1743-44 (oil on canvas) by Arnulphy, Claude (1697-1786); 91.5x71 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Taking a Lunar Distance Illustration from Dunkins Night Sky, c.1869 (print)
7337581 Taking a Lunar Distance Illustration from Dunkins Night Sky, c.1869 (print) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 30x37.7 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Unknown Artist)

Architects with a scale model of a Vauban's Fortress, 17th century (engraving)
8698440 Architects with a scale model of a Vauban's Fortress, 17th century (engraving); (add.info.: Art. Architecture. Architects with a scale model of a Vauban's Fortress)

Greenwood and Kinder's wood-mortising machine, from "The National Encyclopaedia
6428140 Greenwood and Kinder's wood-mortising machine, from "The National Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge", published c. 1890 (engraving); Photo © Ken Welsh

Musicians at a summer resort, historic wood engraving, about 1897
UIG5414465 Musicians at a summer resort, historic wood engraving, about 1897; UIG

Italian street singers, historical wood engraving, about 1897
UIG5414448 Italian street singers, historical wood engraving, about 1897; UIG

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"Tools: Unveiling the Artistry of Craftsmanship Through Time" From shoeing horses in 1844 to coopers meticulously crafting wooden barrels, tools have played an integral role in shaping our world. In Edwin Henry Landseer's masterpiece from 1938, we witness the dedication and skill of these craftsmen. Blacksmiths, with their trusty tools from 1875, forge iron into magnificent creations that withstand the test of time. Meanwhile, miners toil away at the coalface in South Wales, relying on their specialized tools for a hard day's work. In Norfolk a98_13558, we catch a glimpse of a blacksmith expertly wielding his hammer outside his fiery forge. The Welsh women road builders demonstrate their strength and determination as they construct pathways through South Wales using simple yet effective tools. But it is not just practicality that defines these tools; artistry can be found even in unexpected places. A set of glass eyeballs reminds us of the intricate craftsmanship required to create prosthetics that restore sight and confidence. Leon-Maxime Faivre's "Deux meres (Two Mothers)" transports us to 1888 when mothers relied on various tools to care for their children - nurturing love being one such tool essential for raising future generations. Traveling back further in time, we encounter medieval goldsmiths diligently working on exquisite pieces that adorn royalty and nobility alike. Gold Lunulae and Axehead discovered in St Merryn, Cornwall provide evidence of early Bronze Age craftsmanship at its finest. Lastly, Aleksandr Gerasimov's portrayal captures Lenin during the tumultuous period around 1930-1939 when political ideologies were reshaping nations. Here too lies another kind - ideas wielded by influential figures who shape history itself. Through these glimpses into different eras and tradesmen at work with their respective tools, we come to appreciate how these humble objects have shaped our past and continue to shape our present.