Making the Modern World

Nier Fuerhand paraffin lantern (hurricane lamp) model Baby 275. Unused. Made in Germany. 1960s.

• Nier Fuerhand paraffin lantern, Germany, 1960s.

Coolidge x-ray tube.

• Coolidge X-ray tube, 1913-1923.

Large pear shaped x-ray tube of form originally used by Prof. Rontgen, manufactured in Germany about 1896. Inside of glass at end of tube eroded by bringing cathode rays to a focus with a magnet; on stand

• Early X-ray tube, c. 1896.

Rolls-Royce V.T.O. Test Bed, XJ 314, (Flying Bedstead), 1954

• The Rolls-Royce vertical take-off-thrust measuring rig, 1954.

Short S.C.1 VTOL Aircraft XG900. The Short SC 1 was the first British fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. It was designed as a test aircraft for the Rolls-Royce RB 108 vertical lift turbojet. The SC 1 did achieve vertical take-o

• Short SC 1 VTOL aircraft XG900, c 1950s.

The Sinclair ZX80 was the first computer made to appeal to the mass market. Sinclair Research Ltd of Cambridge developed it as a build-it-yourself programmable computer that was designed to connect to a television set or cassette recorder. It was sma

• Sinclair ZX80 microcomputer, 1980.

Fuller's spiral slide rule, no. 849, made by W.F. Stanley, with an instruction booklet, c.1880. The spiral slide rule was invented to increase the length of the scale, and hence the accuracy, of the conventional slide rule. The Fuller's instrument al

• George Fuller's spiral slide rule, no 849, c 1880.

A prototype for a clock mechanism intended to keep time for 10,000 years.

• First prototype of the 'Clock of the Long Now'

Metal ammoniaphone, for voice cultivation, in box, invented by Dr. Carter Moffat, manufactured by Medical Battery Co., London

• Ammoniaphone, 'for voice cultivation by chemical means', English, 1871-1900.

Six lancets, steel and tortoiseshell, by Weiss of London, in shagreen and silver case, 19th century, relic of Jenner

• Set of lancets, 19th century.