Asbestos Collection

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

Crysotile asbestos
Scanning electron micrograph of 5-Fold symmetry in crysotile asbestos. Magnification on the 5 x4 transparency = X 600, 000

The Asbestos Mines at Pano Amiantos, Cyprus
Pano Amiantos a village in the Limassol District of Greek Cyprus, located 7 km southwest of Kyperounta. Formerly the village was the site of a large asbestos mine

Tremolite asbestos from France
Tremolite (calcium magnesium silicate hydroxide) is a mineral from the Amphibole group, it is commonly used for industrial purposes

Turner's Asbestos Cement Advertisement
A humorous advertisement illustration for Turner's Asbestos Cement Co. showing a quarry scene both above and below ground

Elo Asbestos Panels Advertisement
An advertisement for Elo Asbestos Panels Ltd. the photographs showcase an entrance hall and stairway that have been given the Elo treatment, with fireproof, damp and rotproof panelling

Advert, James Wotherspoon & Sons, Glasgow, Scotland
Advert for James Wotherspoon & Sons, Asbestos, Rubber and Canvas Hose Manufacturers, Glasgow, Scotland. 1905

Advert for H. W Johns, asbestos materials for roofing 1875
Company based in New York, advertising asbestos roofing, used in roof coating, cement, paint, boiling felt and steam packing. 1875

In the bombing aftermath of World War II, the debris is cleared away by men in asbestos suits and now the men with the plungers can get to work. Date: 1939-1945

Firefighter putting on his asbestos suit in England during the air raids of World War II Date: 1939-1945

Minerals and crystals including kyanite, asbestos and andalusite.. Chromolithograph from Dr. Adolph Kenngotts Mineralogy section in Gotthilf Heinrich von Schuberts Natural History, Schreiber, Munich

American protective asbestos suit, WW2
A protective asbestos suit used by the American Army, Air Force and Fire Service (front view), 8 September 1944. Date: 1944

LCC London Fire Brigade asbestos protective suit
Carried on emergency tenders (ETs) an asbestos suit allowed a firefighter to approach a serious fire at close quarters for the purpose of closing down a control valve or a similar task

Advert for Arden Hills & Co new patent gas fires 1888
Patent asbestos gas fires by Arden Hill s, tiled hearth and brass rail, pattern, no sheet-iron parts, large fire front, hook at back, new burner, fall-down trivet

Asbestos logo from Asbestos company letterhead
Asbestos logo from the letterhead of Asbestos Cement Building Products Ltd, Asbestos House, Southwark Street, London SE1. 1920

Letterhead, Asbestos Cement Building Products Ltd, Asbestos House, Southwark Street, London SE1. 1920

Advert for Arden Hills & Co gas fires 1884
Asbestos gas fires by Arden Hills with ornamental surround. Date: 1884

Trade catalogue for irons 1911
Trade catalogue for Harrords department store, showing a selection of irons. Date: 1911

Installing Fireproof slabs on the roof of Chelsea Town Hall
Installing Mack Fireproof slabs on iron purlins on the roof of Chelsea New Town Hall, London. Date: 1907

Tiger s-eye and Hawk s-eye
Formed when blue crocidolite asbestos is replaced by quartz. Hawk s-eye retains the original colour while tiger s-eye contains a residue of iron oxide

Asbestos
Geometric asbestos crystals. Asbestos is a dangerous, fibrous amphibole mineral

Plate 4a from Histoire naturelle? (1789)
Plate 4a Mineralogie, [unfinished] from Histoire naturelle: ou, Exposition des morceaux, les mieux choisis pour servir? (1789) by by Swebach Desfontaines

Asbestos purse
Benjamin Franklins Asbestos purse. A crudely plaited purse made from tremolite asbestos. From the Hans Sloane collection. Asbestos is formed of microscopically fibrous crystals

LCC-LFB - A lowered theatre safety curtain
A safety curtain is a fire safety precaution used in large proscenium arch theatres. It is usually a heavy fibreglass or iron curtain located immediately behind the proscenium arch

Cyprus poster
Empire Marketing Board 1927-1933 poster, Cyprus camel train carrying trade goods Date: 1927-1933

Shock absorbers in action
An artistic photograph of a train suspension system in action, absorbing the shock of the wheel on a rail when in motion. A photograph used in an advertisement for Rocksil rock wool - used

Heat-resistant asbestos
A photograph taken for a commercial client, demonstrating the heat-resisting properties of Asbestos, long before the modern dangers of the material were recognised. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

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