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Pulley Collection

Background imagePulley Collection: Drawing the cork, illustration by William Heath Robinson

Drawing the cork, illustration by William Heath Robinson
How to draw the cork when you can t find the corkscrew, illustration by William Heath Robinson. Credit must appear as: Courtesy of Mrs J. C

Background imagePulley Collection: WW2 defence, illustration by William Heath Robinson

WW2 defence, illustration by William Heath Robinson
Defence during WW2 -- Stout members of the sixth column dislodge an enemy machine gun post on the dome of St Paul s, illustration by William Heath Robinson. Credit must appear as: Courtesy of Mrs J

Background imagePulley Collection: W Heath Robinson - Opening the Wine Bottle

W Heath Robinson - Opening the Wine Bottle

Background imagePulley Collection: Portland Prison, Dorset

Portland Prison, Dorset - Stone cutting using a huge circular saw Date: 1912

Background imagePulley Collection: Vignette illustration, Railway Ribaldry by W Heath Robinson

Vignette illustration, Railway Ribaldry by W Heath Robinson -- An early and interesting type of signal. Date: 1935

Background imagePulley Collection: Construction of Blackfriars bridge, London

Construction of Blackfriars bridge, London
Builders involved in various tasks atop two huge arches under construction. One of the arches clearly shows the scaffolding required to form such a huge structure. Date: August 1764

Background imagePulley Collection: Tools of an Architect

Tools of an Architect
A plan for a neo-classical building is rested against the tools of the surveyors architects and builders who will construct this edifice

Background imagePulley Collection: Vauxhall Bridge that opened in 1906

Vauxhall Bridge that opened in 1906, replacing one built between 1809 and 1816

Background imagePulley Collection: How Tutankhamen's Coffin Lid was Raised

How Tutankhamen's Coffin Lid was Raised
Scene in the tomb of Tutankhamen before the sarcophagus lid of the fourth shrine was raised. Date: 1924

Background imagePulley Collection: Buttonmaker raising a weight on a pulley to stamp buttons

Buttonmaker raising a weight on a pulley to stamp buttons
Buttonmaker in apron raising a weight on a pulley to stamp a metal button. The workshop has a press, molds, hammers and buttons on a table

Background imagePulley Collection: W Heath Robinson - The Lullaby Bed

W Heath Robinson - The Lullaby Bed, to save getting out of bed to rock baby when he is troublesome at night

Background imagePulley Collection: Madrid, typographic establishment - Sucesores de Rivadeneyra

Madrid, typographic establishment - Sucesores de Rivadeneyra
Spain, Madrid. New typographic establishment of the Sucesores de Rivadeneyra, in the Paseo de San Vicente. Glazers and Minerva printing press. Engraving. La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana, 1882

Background imagePulley Collection: Barcelona. Sert Hermanos y Sola  textile factory

Barcelona. Sert Hermanos y Sola  textile factory
Spain, Catalonia, Barcelona. Sert Hermanos y SolA  textile factory. Yarn workshop interior. Illustration by Antonio Rigalt. Engraving by Capuz. La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana, 1882

Background imagePulley Collection: Barrel leveling, trussing and hooping machine 1875

Barrel leveling, trussing and hooping machine 1875
Two separate devices

Background imagePulley Collection: Raising the Great Bell for Westminster Clock-Tower 1858

Raising the Great Bell for Westminster Clock-Tower 1858
Officially known as the Great Bell but better known as Big Ben, the huge bell fifteen tons in weight was on its side with not a spare inch either end

Background imagePulley Collection: Conquest of Mexico

Conquest of Mexico
Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519-21). Construction of the Villa Rica of La Vera Cruz, with the help of the Totonac Indians. Detail

Background imagePulley Collection: Camouflage v Camouflage During Invasion Practice

Camouflage v Camouflage During Invasion Practice
William Heath Robinson has come up with a solution to save on man-power in the East Coast of England

Background imagePulley Collection: How to Make it Hard for the Invader!

How to Make it Hard for the Invader!
British Home Front are using a makeshift contraption to pinch a screwdriver making it impossible for the Germans to assemble an air-borne tank. Date: 1940

Background imagePulley Collection: Sepulchres of the kings of Judah, 1800s

Sepulchres of the kings of Judah, 1800s. Sepolcri dei Re di Giuda

Background imagePulley Collection: Plans and views of lock gates in operation

Plans and views of lock gates in operation on canals, 18th century, England. Copperplate engraving by Mutlow from John Mason Goods Pantologia, a New Encyclopedia, G. Kearsley, London, 1813

Background imagePulley Collection: Winches, pulleys and other machinery, early 19th century

Winches, pulleys and other machinery, early 19th century. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J

Background imagePulley Collection: Fire escape, painters easel and indigo mills

Fire escape, painters easel and indigo mills
Daniel Maseres original suspension pulley and fire escape machine simplified by Mr. Forster, painters easel and indigo mills. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J

Background imagePulley Collection: Dramatic machinery for a theatre

Dramatic machinery for a theatre set

Background imagePulley Collection: A worker using mechanical power to press paper in a mill

A worker using mechanical power to press paper in a mill. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts, Phillips, London, 1818

Background imagePulley Collection: Metropolitan Extension under construction 1864

Metropolitan Extension under construction 1864
Metropolitan Extension Railway under construction at Smithfield, London. 1864

Background imagePulley Collection: Pulley Bridge, Ashar Creek, Basra, Iraq, WW1

Pulley Bridge, Ashar Creek, Basra, Iraq, WW1
Pulley Bridge, Ashar Creek, Basra, Iraq, during the First World War. circa 1916

Background imagePulley Collection: Coal-whippers

Coal-whippers
Coal been brought from the mines was transported by ship to London docks to be sold, illustration showing a gang of coal-whippers on board bringing the coal up from below deck using pulley system

Background imagePulley Collection: PULLEYS

PULLEYS Date: 18th century

Background imagePulley Collection: WAREHOUSE IN LONDON / DORE

WAREHOUSE IN LONDON / DORE
Working in the warehouses at Pickle Herring Street, London. Date: 1870

Background imagePulley Collection: River Severn ferry sisters - 3

River Severn ferry sisters - 3
Sisters Annie James, 76, and Kath Evans, 72, on the passenger ferry which crosses the River Severn at Hampton Loade, Shropshire

Background imagePulley Collection: River Severn ferry sisters - 2

River Severn ferry sisters - 2
Sisters Annie James, 76, and Kath Evans, 72, on the passenger ferry which crosses the River Severn at Hampton Loade, Shropshire

Background imagePulley Collection: River Severn ferry sisters - 1

River Severn ferry sisters - 1
Sisters Annie James, 76, and Kath Evans, 72, on the passenger ferry which crosses the River Severn at Hampton Loade, Shropshire

Background imagePulley Collection: Russian Royal Princess escaping on the HMS Marlborough

Russian Royal Princess escaping on the HMS Marlborough
A number of surviving members of the Russian royal family escaped the country at the end of World War I (after the Revolution) from Yalta

Background imagePulley Collection: Testing teeth, illustration by William Heath Robinson

Testing teeth, illustration by William Heath Robinson
Testing artificial teeth in a modern tooth works, illustration by William Heath Robinson. Credit must appear as: Courtesy of Mrs J. C. Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/Mary Evans Picture Library Date: 1947

Background imagePulley Collection: Archer with two-pulley winch crossbow

Archer with two-pulley winch crossbow.. Chromolithograph from Jakob Heinrich von Hefner-Altenecks Costumes, Artworks and Appliances from the Middle Ages to the 17th Century, Frankfurt, 1889

Background imagePulley Collection: Cartoon, Giving him his place in the sun, WW1

Cartoon, Giving him his place in the sun, WW1
Cartoon, Giving him his place in the sun, showing British, French, Belgian, Russian and Japanese allies working together with a giant magnifying glass to set fire to Kaiser Wilhelms jacket

Background imagePulley Collection: Young cabin boy sailor sorting out ropes

Young cabin boy sailor sorting out ropes
Young cabin boy sailor tidies up the ropes on the deck of a large ship. Date: circa 1890s

Background imagePulley Collection: Laying of the Foundation Stone for a Religious School

Laying of the Foundation Stone for a Religious School. Date: circa 1910

Background imagePulley Collection: Divers with underwater house off the coast of Malta

Divers with underwater house off the coast of Malta
Divers attempt to anchor an Underwater House to the seabed, some 50 feet deep, in Paradise Bay, off the coast of Malta

Background imagePulley Collection: Diver with underwater house off the coast of Malta

Diver with underwater house off the coast of Malta
Diver attempts to anchor an Underwater House to the seabed, some 50 feet deep, in Paradise Bay, off the coast of Malta

Background imagePulley Collection: Spain. Barcelona. Bishops street with Ardiacas House, roma

Spain. Barcelona. Bishops street with Ardiacas House, roma
Barcelona. Bishops street with Ardiacas House, roman towers of Praetoria Gate and arch of New Square (Plaza Nueva). Engraving, 19th century. Drawing of G. Mosteyrin. Colored

Background imagePulley Collection: Spain. Barcelona. Praetoria Gate. New Square (Plaza Nueva)

Spain. Barcelona. Praetoria Gate. New Square (Plaza Nueva)
Barcelona. Praetoria Gate. New Square (Plaza Nueva). Engraving, 19th century. Drawing of G. Mosteyrin. Colored. Museum of City History. Barcelona. Spain

Background imagePulley Collection: Pulley. Late 19th century. Museum of History and Navigation

Pulley. Late 19th century. Museum of History and Navigation
A traditional pulley. Double. Wood. Used in sailing ships. Late 19th century. Museum of History and Navigation. Riga. Latvia

Background imagePulley Collection: Jesus asks a Samaritan woman of Sychar for water from Jacob

Jesus asks a Samaritan woman of Sychar for water from Jacobs Well. Codex of Predis (1476). Royal Library. Turin. Italy

Background imagePulley Collection: Construction of a castle in a medieval village. England

Construction of a castle in a medieval village. England
England. Construction of a castle in a medieval village. 15th century. Cantherbury Psalter. National Library. Paris. France

Background imagePulley Collection: Advert for A. Attwood & Co. lifts and hoists 1889

Advert for A. Attwood & Co. lifts and hoists 1889
Patentees and manufactures of self-sustaining lifts and hoists. 1889

Background imagePulley Collection: Man and woman exercising

Man and woman exercising, using weights and pulley rope. Date: 1917

Background imagePulley Collection: The Fine Art of Making a War-Film by Heath Robinson, WW1

The Fine Art of Making a War-Film by Heath Robinson, WW1
Preparing the Popular Film of a Taube soaring over Rheims Cathedral

Background imagePulley Collection: Gardening equipment, circa 1800

Gardening equipment, circa 1800.. Handcolored copperplate engraving from James Maddocks The Florists Directory, London, John Harding, 1810

Background imagePulley Collection: Artillery mule on Italian frontier

Artillery mule on Italian frontier
On the Italian frontier, an artillery mule is lowered on to a ledge in the Alps. The mules were used by the Italian Alpine artillery to carry gun parts on their backs across the mountainous terrain

Background imagePulley Collection: Complex 16th Century Pulley System

Complex 16th Century Pulley System
A complex and technical design of a 16th century pulley system. Date: 1588

Background imagePulley Collection: Industrial Machine - Pulley system

Industrial Machine - Pulley system
Illustration of a 1588 Industrial Machine made up of a pulley system designed for heavy lifting. Date: 1588

Background imagePulley Collection: Woman pushing box across river

Woman pushing box across river
A woman pushing a box suspended by ropes across a river

Background imagePulley Collection: Woman pushing box ferry across river

Woman pushing box ferry across river
A woman pushing a box ferry suspended by ropes across a river. Date: circa 1920s

Background imagePulley Collection: Japan - Women drawing water from a well

Japan - Women drawing water from a well Date: circa 1906

Background imagePulley Collection: A well at Estremoz, Portugal

A well at Estremoz, Portugal Date: circa 1910

Background imagePulley Collection: Whirling arm for testing aerofoils

Whirling arm for testing aerofoils, rotated by a weight and cord over a pulley. 1804. From Cayleys original notebook

Background imagePulley Collection: Spain (1884). Fombuena Mill. Engraving

Spain (1884). Fombuena Mill. Engraving

Background imagePulley Collection: Industrial Revolution (19th c. ). Factiry powered

Industrial Revolution (19th c. ). Factiry powered
Industrial Revolution (19th c.). Factiry powered by steam energy. Engraving

Background imagePulley Collection: Jugend front cover, woman at a well

Jugend front cover, woman at a well
Front cover design for Jugend magazine, depicting a woman in Italian renaissance costume, leaning against an ornately carved well. Date: 1898

Background imagePulley Collection: LCC-LFB Serious warehouse roof fire

LCC-LFB Serious warehouse roof fire
A serious fire develops at a warehouse whilst the flat roof of the warehouse is being re-pitched with hot bitumen

Background imagePulley Collection: Fixing the Propeller - Hamburg-America Line

Fixing the Propeller - Hamburg-America Line
Fixing the Propeller for a vessel of the Hamburg-America Line, Germanys largest shipping company at this time. Date: circa 1910s

Background imagePulley Collection: Saved

Saved. Woman being rescued from stormy sea. Date 1887, c1888

Background imagePulley Collection: Michaelangelos Well - Cerosa, Florence

Michaelangelos Well - Cerosa, Florence
Cerosa Monastery - Florence, Italy. The working well curb designed by Michaelangelo being attended by monks in the courtyard (surrounded by cloisters) Date: 1903

Background imagePulley Collection: SKI PULLEY

SKI PULLEY
A ski pulley. Date: 1960s

Background imagePulley Collection: Roberts and Coppocks Improvement in Looms for Weaving

Roberts and Coppocks Improvement in Looms for Weaving
Technical drawing of an invention, patented in 1855, by Roberts and Coppock, consisting of an improved arrangement of parts for letting the yarn off the warp beam in a weaving loom

Background imagePulley Collection: Steam Whipping Engine by J. Scott Russell and Co

Steam Whipping Engine by J. Scott Russell and Co
Technical drawing depicting a patent Steam Whipping Machine constructed by Messrs. J. Scott Russell and Co. of Millwall and used to load and discharge cargo on screw collier ships. Date: 1856

Background imagePulley Collection: Comfort braces / W H Robinson

Comfort braces / W H Robinson
The all new comfort braces allowing for all possible movements and prevent that sinking feeling

Background imagePulley Collection: Bound To Draw

Bound To Draw
Another well thought out experiment in self dentistry. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the Estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/ILN/Mary Evans

Background imagePulley Collection: Accustomising oneself to the vagaries of our climate

Accustomising oneself to the vagaries of our climate in a medically approved glass cabinet. Illustration by William Heath Robinson

Background imagePulley Collection: For discouragement of the cocktail habit

For discouragement of the cocktail habit
Illustration by William Heath Robinson. Please note: Credit must appear as (c) Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/Mary Evans Picture Library

Background imagePulley Collection: Learning to avoid obstacles / W H Robinson

Learning to avoid obstacles / W H Robinson
Illustration by William Heath Robinson. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/Mary Evans Picture Library

Background imagePulley Collection: Sidi-bou-Medine, Algeria - The Koubba Wells

Sidi-bou-Medine, Algeria - The Koubba Wells
A superb photograph of a man and a young boy at the Wells of Koubba at Sidi bou Medine, Algeria. The gentleman (right) is possibly the Well operator?

Background imagePulley Collection: Moving hay on a pulley system - Hardanger, Western Norway

Moving hay on a pulley system - Hardanger, Western Norway
West Norway - Hardanger. Moving a large bundle of hay up and down a steep slope on an elaborate and rather remarkable string and pulley system

Background imagePulley Collection: Laying Railway Tracks

Laying Railway Tracks
Three construction workers guide a large rail into position. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Background imagePulley Collection: Welding an aluminium roof - Liquid Methane tank

Welding an aluminium roof - Liquid Methane tank
A welder seam welds the aluminium roof of a large domed liquid methane tank at Canvey Island. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Background imagePulley Collection: Locomotive construction in a large railway shed

Locomotive construction in a large railway shed
A steam locomotive is moved across a large shed by means of a large crane arm with pulleys and chains

Background imagePulley Collection: Manchester Ship Canal - Creating a new dock

Manchester Ship Canal - Creating a new dock
Workmen operate a temporary pulley-based device used in the process of the construction of a new dock for the Manchester Ship Canal

Background imagePulley Collection: Tunisia - Carthage - Excavation of a Sarcophagus

Tunisia - Carthage - Excavation of a Sarcophagus
The excavation of a Sarcophagus from a funeral pit / burial ground at the site of ancient Carthage, Tunisia

Background imagePulley Collection: Building Operations 1882

Building Operations 1882
Men build a house while two children play on a seesaw

Background imagePulley Collection: Pantomime fairies flying across the stage

Pantomime fairies flying across the stage, supported by wires from above

Background imagePulley Collection: Science / Rumford / Munich

Science / Rumford / Munich
Count Rumford inspects the cannon production at the military arsenal in Munich. Rumford was interested in the new processes of metallic milling

Background imagePulley Collection: Button Maker 1827

Button Maker 1827
Making metal buttons using a pulley with a weight which is released to stamp the buttons before they are shanked with a solder and polished by women

Background imagePulley Collection: Folkestone / Fish Market

Folkestone / Fish Market
Folkestone, Kent: the fish market



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