Measure Collection (#17)

Hourglass, conceptual image
Hourglass. Conceptual image representing the passage of time

1697 Fossil sea urchin Clypheus from Plot
The Jurassic fossil sea urchin Clypheus ploti is shown on top of the engraving from 1697 where Robert Plot illustrates the species for the first time in his " Natural History of

Transit Instruments, Pais Observatory
Transit instruments were pivoted telescopes that allowed astronomers to time the passage of a star over the meridian (an imaginary line through the poles)

Flood control benchmark, UK
Flood control benchmark. UK Environment Agency Benchmark (EABM) positioned alongside a watercourse as part of the national Flood Control system

Flood monitor, UK
Flood monitor. River water level gauge located by a tributary of the Upper Thames river. This device uses a telemetry system to measure the height of the stream

Chemical weights
Assorted chemical weights. The different amount of each chemical represents a measurement known as the mole. One mole of any sample contains the same number of molecules or atoms

One mole of carbon. Carbon powder being weighed out on a balance. 12 grams of carbon is 1 mole. A mole is a chemical unit of measurement that shows the number of molecules or atoms present

Salt on scales, image 2 of 3. The scales, also known as a top pan balance, show that the salt has a mass of 5 grams. This is part of a sequence showing that dissolved solids retain thir mass

CLOTH MERCHANT. French manuscript illumination

Weighing cotton, India
Weighing cotton at Bombay for the English Market. A scribe with a parasol look on from above and makes notes

Cairo, Egypt - Sweet seller
A sweet seller in Cairo, Egypt. He uses a small set of hand scales to measure out a quantity of some delectable confectionary

Two engineers using a measurement device
Two engineers use a precise measuring device to correctly ascertain the width of a circular metal ring. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Measuring the current of a large electronic device
A man measures the current running through a large electronic device, possibly an early computer or exchange. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Life / Fashion, shorter skirts 1924
A young female dress maker holding a measure and a pair of scissors, kneels upon a foot stall. Skirts will be shorter this fall

A hospice for sick children
A group of nurses weigh the sickly children at a French hospice

Good measure by Merlin Enabnit
Blonde, voluptuous pin up girl by Merlin Enabnit (1903-1979) wearing a red swimming costume and holding a measuring tape. Enabnit was born in Des Moines, Iowa and was a successful commercial artist

Distribution of boots and clothing to poor children
These illustrations show the London Samaritan Societys distribution of boots and clothing to poor children as follows: 1) Waiting their turn 2) Trying them on 3) The Clothes Department 4

Customs Official checks the volume of wine in a barrel
A customs Official checks the level of wine in an imported barrel. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Hannan gold field Western Australia
A lock-up at Hannan gold field in West Australia, a temporary measure for locking up criminals pending their trial. The nearest prison to Hannan gold field was Fremantle on the coast near Perth

Measuring Rainfall
A man in a suit crouches down to measure rainfall on a London rooftop

4-GUINEA SUIT 1939
Tailored-to-measure by Montague Burton craftsmen

John Davies, Writer
JOHN DAVIES Poet and writing-master of Hereford : a delightful composition of cherubs, mermen and mermaids - with a skull for good measure

Nilometer / Cairo
Nilometer, Cairo. Used to measure the height of the Nile at flood. Also the site traditionally believed to be where Miriam discovered Moses

Switchboard operators wearing gas-masks
Photograph showing switchboard operators in Faraday Building, City, London, wearing special gas-masks with ear-phones and mouthpieces; a precautionary

Sphygmograph / 1881
Two types of sphygmograph being used on a patient to measure heart beat and pulse

At the Chemist / 1870
Unwell customers wait for the pharmacist to measure them out their medicine in this chemists shop

A theodolite, used for surveying

Rain guages on Hartside above Alston, Cumbria, UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Anti bacterial hand wash at the entrance to Carlisle hospital to help combat MRSA and other deseases
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

PHD scientist Ian Bartholomew using dye tracing techniques as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

PHD scientist Ian Bartholomew taking measurements as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier near
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

PHD scientist Ian Bartholomew using a theodolite to measure the speed of the Russelll Glacier near Kangerlussuag
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Figure shows scale of the trunk of giant sequoia tree in the Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, California, United States of America (U.S.A.), North America

Statue of Newton by Eduardo Paolozzi, the British Library, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Maupertuis in Lapland
PIERRE LOUIS MOREAU DE MAUPERTUIS (1698 - 1759) French mathematician and astronomer sent to Lapland by Louis XV to measure a degree of longitude

Weighing the Earth C1936
A gravity-measuring device which can measure the weight of the earth

Tailor Measuring / 1770
A tailor measures the length of a gentlemans coat with a tape measure while his colleagues sew; the cat is very interested in a plate of fish brought in by a boy

Sailor / Heaving the Lead
A sailor of the British navy heaves the lead to measure the depth of water in which the ship is sailing

Natural Sundial, Settle
At Settle, Yorkshire, Castleberg Rock provides a natural sun-dial; its passing shadow, until the 18th century, was used by the residents to measure time

C17 Sand Glass
The SAND GLASS, also known as CLEPSAMMIA, measures time by how long sand takes to filter from the upper bulb into the lower; different apertures measure different periods

Greek Hemicycle Dial
The GREEK HEMICYCLE DIAL is an early form of sundial, using the movement of a shadow to measure the passage of time

Shadow Timekeeper
The ancient Greeks are said to have used shadows to measure time, the length of a persons shadow, varying at different times of day, giving a rough indication as to the time

Sisters in Nursery C1890
Two sisters in a window seat in the nursery measure their doll for a new dress

At the Dressmaker 1895
A woman at the dressmakers stands in her chemise while the dressmaker takes some measurements

Ancient Dog Armour - 3
A dog in body armour, giving it a measure of protection against human weapons

Pedlar Selling Cloth
A travelling salesmen shows a young woman a bolt of patterned cloth. He has a yard stick ready to measure her order. A women in the background embroiders

Reading the Log - 3
On board a troop ship bound for the East, a log line is used to measure the speed of the ship in knots, an operation known as reading or heaving the log

Reading the Log - 2
Aboard a ship on the way to India a log line is used to measure her speed in knots, an operation known as reading or heaving the log

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Measure the depths of society's vices, as Hogarth did in Gin Lane and Beer Street. From drinking and intemperance to the bustling dressmakers workshop, every aspect has its own measure. Even on motorways, traffic cones guide us with precision. A household thermometer measures comfort or discomfort within our homes. Witness the strength of teamwork as a Douglas Dakota picks up a glider in Normandy during World War II - an extraordinary feat measured by courage and determination. Beware of speed cameras that measure our adherence to rules on the road. In Penzance, UK, old people find joy in measuring their skills through bowls, embracing leisurely competition. Bank notes tell stories of French alarmists while poor John Bull suffers the consequences. And let's not forget about simplicity; a cover design from Simplicity Sewing Book reminds us that sometimes less is more when it comes to measurement.