Collection: Museum of Technology, The History of Gadgets and Gizmos

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The museum was established to advance the education of the public in all aspects of technology, in the period from the early to mid nineteenth century to around the 1980’s. This period in history is known as the “Electronic Revolution”.

  The collection traces the progress of electronic and engineered artefacts including: telegraphy, telephony, audio, military & civil communications, warfare, photography, scientific and electrical domestic equipment.

  The collections currently cover the following subject areas with the aim of showing the wide range of technology developed during the period, how some aspects of technology have developed during the period, and how military and non-military technology is related:

  • Civil Communications
    • Telegraphy (special collection)
    • Telephony (special collection)
  • Domestic and Office
    • Wireless & Television
    • Gramophones
    • Wire Recorders
    • Tape Recorders
    • Typewriters
    • Flexowriters
    • Electrical Domestic Home Equipment
    • Office Equipment
    • Photography
    • Victorian Magic Lanterns
    • Film Projectors
  • Military
    • Military Communications (special collection)
    • Military projectiles (shells) and Grenades
    • Weapons (special collection)
    • Militaria (general)
    • Trench Art
    • Military uniforms and kit
    • Military Vehicles
  • Scientific, Measurement & Test Equipment and Components
  • Galvanometers
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Scientific Equipment
  • Vacuum Tubes, capacitors, inductors (special collection)
  • Vehicle Products
    • Electrical components and equipment
  • Medical Equipment
    • Medical Induction Coils

  The following collections are particularly strong:

  • A collection showing the development of British Rifles. The collection spans from the earliest Brown Bess Musket to the Lee Enfield rifle; this collection has very few gaps. The Baker Rifle Musket is a very important first rifled weapon; we do not have an original.
  • A large selection of Valves, Bulbs, and X-ray tubes. We have one Geissler tube that can be demonstrated, it brings a wow factor to all the visitors who see it. We would like to expand the collection of Geissler Tubes.
  • Post 1900 is strong but the museum has poor collection of Pre 1900 Telegraphy that it would like to significantly increase.
  • The collection of military communications has a number of gaps. We would like to expand very early communications particularly WW1 wireless sets.
  • We have one of Major John Brown’s B2 Spy Sets, (in a suitcase), which relates to espionage in the 2nd World War.
  • The story of the development of the telephone is almost complete. We have the very earliest example of Bells Telephone (Repro) right up to a computer styled screen telephone.

  One of the strengths of the museum is the wide range of electromechanical and electronic technology on display. The Museum is always interested in acquiring unusual and interesting artefacts that will add to this eclectic collection of 19th & 20th Century technology. It is also the policy of the Museum to demonstrate as many working items as is possible, this adds to the enjoyment of all our visitors, both young and old.

  While we have a few examples to show the range of technology, it is not the policy of the museum to extensively collect in the following areas:

  • Post WW2 domestic radios, radiograms and televisions
  • Test Equipment
  • Post WW2 Office Equipment
  • Modern Domestic Appliances

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC