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Invention Collection

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: 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: 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: First sewing machine, 1846

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

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: 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: EVCW2A-00045

EVCW2A-00045
Frigate " Merrimac" before and after conversion into an iron-clad Confederate warship. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Steam engine of James Watt

Steam engine of James Watt
Schematic drawing of James Watts steam engine. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Cotton gin in use by African-American slaves in the South

Cotton gin in use by African-American slaves in the South
Slaves using Eli Whitneys cotton gin, invented in the 1790s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Use of a quadrant for navigation

Use of a quadrant for navigation
Sailor sighting on a star with a quadrant for navigation. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: BUSN2A-00019

BUSN2A-00019
Early electric car advertisement for the Babcock Electric Victoria Phaeton, 1907. Hand-colored halftone of a 20th-century printed newspaper ad

Background imageInvention Collection: Firestone tires ad, 1912

Firestone tires ad, 1912
Advertisement for Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, 1912. Hand-colored woodcut

Background imageInvention Collection: Huygens clock diagram

Huygens clock diagram
Side view of Huygenss clock, showing the pendulum mechanism, 1600s. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of an illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Morses telegraph

Morses telegraph
Diagrams of Morses telegraph apparatus, key, and register. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Walk-in-the-Water steamboat on Lake Erie, 1818

Walk-in-the-Water steamboat on Lake Erie, 1818
Lake Erie steamboat " Walk-in-the-Water, " 1818. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Railroad telegraph office, early 1900s

Railroad telegraph office, early 1900s
Telegraphers at a railway signal office, early 1900s. Hand-colored woodcut of an early 20th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: B&O Railroads Tom Thumb steam locomotive, 1830

B&O Railroads Tom Thumb steam locomotive, 1830
Passenger car pulled by Peter Coopers experimental locomotive " Tom Thumb" on the B&O Railroad, 1830. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Western Union office in New York City, 1870s

Western Union office in New York City, 1870s
Western Union Companys telegraph operations in New York City, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Busy telegraph office in New York City, 1860s

Busy telegraph office in New York City, 1860s
People sending wires at the American Telegraph Company office on Broadway at Liberty Street, New York City, 1860s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Leonardo da Vinci sketch for a siege machine

Leonardo da Vinci sketch for a siege machine
Military machine for firing arrows with a crossbow, designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Woodcut with a watercolor wash

Background imageInvention Collection: Leonardo da Vinci drawing of a canal dredge

Leonardo da Vinci drawing of a canal dredge
Leonardo da Vincis drawing of a device for excavating a canal. Woodcut reproduction with a watercolor wash

Background imageInvention Collection: Cannon lighting tool, 18th century

Cannon lighting tool, 18th century
Cannon lighting tool in history of artillery demonstration at Yorktown battlefield, Virginia. Digital photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: 19th-century artillery caisson

19th-century artillery caisson
Caisson from the 19th century, an artillery demonstration at Yorktown battlefield, Virginia. Digital photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: Portuguese swivel gun, 17th century

Portuguese swivel gun, 17th century
Portuguese swivel gun from the 1600s, an artillery demonstration at Yorktown battlefield, Virginia. Digital photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: Brass swivel gun, often used as naval artillery, 1700s

Brass swivel gun, often used as naval artillery, 1700s
Brass swivel gun from the French and Indian War, in artillery demonstration at Yorktown battlefield, Virginia. Digital photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: Latin grammar page from Gutenbergs press

Latin grammar page from Gutenbergs press
Page of the " Grammaire Latine" by Donatus, published by Gutenberg. Woodcut with a watercolor wash

Background imageInvention Collection: Printing the Gutenberg Bible, 1453

Printing the Gutenberg Bible, 1453
The first proof sheet from Gutenbergs press, 1453. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Steam plow on a Dakota farm, 1890s

Steam plow on a Dakota farm, 1890s
Farmer using a steam plow in the Dakotas, 1890s. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Westinghouse light bulb ad, 1886

Westinghouse light bulb ad, 1886
Westinghouse Electric Companys 16 candle-power incandescent lamp, advertisement, 1886. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: New Orleans docks under electric lights, 1880s

New Orleans docks under electric lights, 1880s
Levee at night illuminated for the first time with electric lights, New Orleans, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Coney Island beach lit by electric light, 1880s

Coney Island beach lit by electric light, 1880s
Swimming by electric light at Coney Island, New York, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Winton automobile of 1905

Winton automobile of 1905
Advertisement for the Winton automobile, 4-cylinder model, with price list, 1905. Hand-colored halftone

Background imageInvention Collection: BUSN2A-00239

BUSN2A-00239
Ad for a Pope-Toledo automobile, 1907. Printed color illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: BUSN2A-00244

BUSN2A-00244
Family riding in a steam-powered White Company automobile, 1907. Hand-colored printed halftone of a photograph in a White Company advertisement

Background imageInvention Collection: PSCI2A-00090

PSCI2A-00090
Robert Fulton sitting at his easel, with his autograph. Hand-colored engraving of a painting

Background imageInvention Collection: Fultons steamboat Clermont on the Hudson River

Fultons steamboat Clermont on the Hudson River
First voyage of Fultons steamboat " Clermont" on the Hudson River, 1807. Hand-colored halftone reproductioin of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Telegraph office at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, 1870s

Telegraph office at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, 1870s
Telegraph office at Sandy Hook on the New Jersey shore, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Edisons telegraph, 1870s

Edisons telegraph, 1870s
Thomas Edisons electro-motograph, a telegraph, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Wilbur Wright giving flying lessons in France

Wilbur Wright giving flying lessons in France
Wilber Wright with pupil M. Cassandier in a Wright airplane. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: Joseph Henrys electromagnetic telegraph, 1832

Joseph Henrys electromagnetic telegraph, 1832
Joseph Henrys signal telegraph apparatus, the first electromagnetic telegraph, 1832. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imageInvention Collection: Edison phonography ad, 1901

Edison phonography ad, 1901
Advertisement for Edison phonographs and records, National Phonograph Co. 1901. Hand-colored woodcut

Background imageInvention Collection: Telegraph in operation, 1860s artifact

Telegraph in operation, 1860s artifact
Civil War field telegraph sending-key in working order, living history demonstration, Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee. Digital photograph

Background imageInvention Collection: Surveyors level, 18th century

Surveyors level, 18th century
Surveyors level from the 1700s, displayed during a reenactment at Yorktown Battlefield, Colonial National Park. Digital photograph



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