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Please Note: Not all of the objects on this website are on display at the museum.
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STRAND ULTRA VIOLET EXPERIMENTAL OUTFIT 1950', 1950's The box provides Ultra Violet sensitive paint that can be put onto items including body and face (no warnings are given as to its safety) when the lamp provided is switched on and used to illuminate the subject the paint glows brightly. As expected. Six colours are provided as well as some face cream. A1586 |
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SHARP MZ 100 PC, 1980's An early example of a Personal Computer. It used a domestic television as a display. The program was supplied on a cassette tape run on an internal tape player. A0954 |
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PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATOR TI59 AND PC-100c PRINTER, 1970's The TI-59 was an early programmable calculator, manufactured by Texas Instruments from 1977. It was the successor to the TI SR-52, quadrupling the number of "program steps" of storage, and adding "ROM Program Modules" (an insert-able ROM chip, capable of holding 5000 program steps.) It was one of the first LED calculators. Also available for the TI-59 was a thermal printer (the PC100C); the calculator was mounted on top of the printer. It could print out a hard copy of the calculator's program, where the instructions were listed with the same alphanumeric mnemonics as the keys , not just the numeric key codes. View 1 comment about this objectA1459 |
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HEWLETT PACKARD POCKET PC, 1970's Pocket sized personal computer, supplied by Zengrange Ltd Leeds, England A1024 |
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EPSON HX20 LAPTOP COMPUTER, 1982 The Epson HX-20 (also known as the HC-20) is generally regarded as the first laptop computer, announced in November 1981, although first sold widely in 1983. Full-size keyboard, an LCD screen, printer, tape storage device, built-in rechargeable batteries. Microsoft BASIC is also included in ROM. Price in 1982 US$795. CPU=Two Hitachi 6301 @ 0.614MHz. Ram 16K, 32K max A1385 |
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AMSTRAD PC9512 COMPUTER, 1991 Replaced the PC8152. which in turn superseded the PCW8256 (Personal Computer Word Processor). Released in 1985. The company Amstrad was launched by Alan Sugar in 1968. A1562 |
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COMMODORE PET 8296 DISK DRIVE AND PRINTER, 1984 The last of the Pet series this one made in western Germany in 1984 The final version of what could be thought of as the "classic" PET was the PET 4000 series. A0937 |
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SINCLAIR ZX81 PERSONAL COMPUTER, 1981 Successor to Sinclair's ZX80, 1.5 million units were sold before it was discontinued. Programs and data were loaded and saved onto audiotape cassettes; The ZX81 could be bought by mail order in kit form or pre-assembled. It came with 1 Kb of on-board memory, QWERTY keyboard layout, and an optional a 16 Kb RAM pack shown in the picture. The owner supplied a TV and cassette recorder. A1524 |
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SINCLAIR SPECTRUM PERSONNAL COMPUTER, 1982 The original ZX Spectrum with rubber keyboard, being small in size and with a rainbow motif. Originally released in 1982 with 16 KB of RAM for £125 Sterling or with 48 KB for £175; these prices were later reduced to £99 and £129 respectively. Owners of the 16 KB model could purchase an internal 32 KB RAM upgrade. Shown with printer, Micro drive, tape-loop cartridge storage device, and an Interface, with RS232 port, the owner provided a colour TV and Cassette recorder, for program storage. A1523 |
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URANIUM GLASS CANDLESTICK, 1930's The term uranium glass, to the collector, will always be associated with that oily, yellow-green, transparent medium known as Vaseline glass. A1454 |
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ELECTRIC TRAVELLING IRON, 1930's Electric Travelling Iron, the first design that became very popular. A0352 |
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VOLTA ELECTRIC IRON, 1930's Early Volta electric Iron. A1212 |
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ELECTRIC IRON, 1930's Early Electric Iron. A1213 |
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SERVANTS CALL BOX, 1930's Servants call system on demonstration board, flaps on the indicator panel (annunciator) moves from side to side when called as the bell rings, and are marked to indicate caller. A1166 |
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HOOVER 750, 1930's First Hoover with famous 'beats-as-it-sweeps -as-it-cleans' motor-driven agitator/brush unit, also the first with a polished aluminium body, it replaced the Hoover model 541. It has a switch integral with the black steel handle and an orange triangular badge. Replaced by 1930 Hoover model 725 with snap-action handle and orange motor band. Basis for standard large Hoover upright until 1936 and continuing in modified form up to 1939. A1160 |
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STYLOPHONE, 1967 The Stylophone is a miniature stylus operated synthesizer invented in 1967 by Brian Jarvis. It consists of a metal keyboard played by touching it with a stylus. Three million Stylophone's were sold, mostly as children's toys, Rolf Harris appeared for several years as the Stylophone's advertising spokesman in the United Kingdom. The Stylophone was available in three variants: standard, bass and treble, the standard one being by far the most common. View 1 comment about this objectA1287 |
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'LITBADGE' AN ILLUMINATED BADGE, 1937 An illuminated badge to celebrate the coronation of George VI in 1937. A1261 |
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PIFCO ELECTRIC TIE PRESS, 1955 Slide the tie down the blade and plug the unit in. A1262 |
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PIFCO ELECTRIC TROUSER PRESS, 1950's A press for the seams of trousers. Once heated the blades are opened and sandwiched over the crease then moved along the length of the legs. A1266 |
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BAKELITE ELECTRIC WATER BOTTLE, 1943 Although shaped like a standard rubber hot water bottle, no water is needed. Just slip into the bed and plug in. A1242 |
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OZONE AIR FAN AND GENERATOR, 1930's Ozone generator with an electric fan mounted on the top. A1211 |
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TWO BED WARMERS, 1940's One made of porcelain one made of Bakelite, simply electric water bottles (without the water), no regulation and fairly low power. Sold before electric blankets were available. A1171 |
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FULLY AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CLOTHES BRUSH, 1950's Gadgets like this were common after the War, this claimed to clean clothes on the wearer better than an ordinary brush. A1170 |
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LAZY DAISY BELL & CALL BUTTON, 1940's Used as a portable housemaid calling system. View 1 comment about this objectA0118 |
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STEWARD 'STICK' VACUUM CLEANER, 1936 A small vacuum cleaner dated 1936 A1158 |
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BUSTLER (STICK) VACUUM CLEANER, 1930 The 'stick' upright cleaner was a popular format in the 20's and 30's. It was cheaper and lighter, though lower-powered, that larger cleaners. The 'Bustler' was a popular British model which was available well into the 1950s. A1159 |
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ULTRAZONE OZONE GENERATOR, 1922 Devices generating high levels of ozone, some of which use ionization, are used to sanitize and deodorize uninhabited buildings, rooms, ductwork, woodsheds, boats and other vehicles. A1200 |
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ELECTRIC FIRE, 1908 One of the very first electric fires. The lamps were made by Osram. With spare lamp. The Spare is made by Robertson. View 1 comment about this objectA0917 |
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TRICITY 'SUN RAY' LAMP HEATER, 1927 An electric fire that depended on the Infra-red output of a special light bulb. A1267 |
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ELECTRIC BOWL FIRE, 1930's Electric fire used between the Wars and afterwards, operating from 240-250 volt AC mains. A1240 |