Accredited Museum

Please Note: Not all of the objects on this website are on display at the museum.

Help us to identify these objects. Some of our donations are so unusual that we have no idea of their identity, purpose or operation. Maybe you are familiar with some of the objects or can tell us, from their description, how they work

AN ILLUMINATING MAGNIFIER?

On top of a battery box is a magnifying glass and a hook, which is possibly for suspending a fob watch. The lead and push switch may not be original.

Do you recognize this object?

Bruce Hammond Collection

A MEDICAL INSTRUMENT?

The object is about 1 foot (30 cms) long. The tube has space for a number of batteries and has a mechanism at the 'spatula' end presumably for stimulating the spatula in some way.

It looks like the object has a medical purpose, but exactly what?

Bruce Hammond Collection

AN OPTICAL INSTRUMENT?

On first sight we thought this was a camera. However the lens hinges up, the 'iris' is a sliding plate with three square apertures with their sizes engraved on the plate and there is a light bulb which fits between the lens and the IRIS when the lens is hinged up.

On the side of the box is the a nameplate which reads 'J.R.Gill 81 Cheapside'.


Bruce Hammond Collection

WHAT'S MISSING FROM THIS CAMERA?

With a ground glass plate at the hidden end this object is almost certainly some form of camera. However the lens shown is not the original. The iris is possibly for holding a variety of lenses.

A BUOY?

This object is a total mystery to us. It is about 1 foot (30 cms) long. It is a hollow sealed brass object and has what appears to be a tyre valve at the hidden end.Possibly a demonstration device for a vacuum, as with Otto Von Guerickes expriment in Magdeburg 1670.

A LAUNDMASTER

From its name we are fairly sure its connected with laundry. Google is no help to us on this one. The handled appliance plugs into the cream box which is connected to the electricity supply. There is a flat circular plate on the underside of the appliance which looks as though it might vibrate. The plate is surrounded by a rim which suggests the appliance rests on top of a round container.

A label attached by a previous collector said 'similar to Vibrasonic'.

Its not that old, 1940's or 50's maybe. Perhaps you remember you or your parents using one of these and can tell us about it.

Bruce Hammond Collection

FIELD TELEPHONE

One for the experts. Apart from it being a field telephone we know nothing about this item.

SOMETHING SOUND RELATED?

This case with a handle has a box of electronics inside, together with HT and LT batteries. The grill appears to hide a loudspeaker. There is a rotary control on the side of the box and a single socket.

Together with the case is what appears to be a headphone and also what appears to be a throat microphone.

The assembled parts make little sense to us, what do you think?

Bruce Hammond Collection