Scientific Instruments
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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Early Iver Johnson Propeller Bicycle
Located in Peekskill, NY
I'm always on the hunt for something unusual and items I have never see before. I'm not a true expert but love collecting early transportation... That can include automotive, aviation, motorcycle or bicycle related objects. This falls into a number of these categories. When I found this prop powered bicycle I needed to do some research. The bicycle Is an Iver Johnson...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel
Dental Phantom Head Model with Rubber Head Mask
Located in Southbury, CT
This delightfully macabre 1960s dental school practice head -known as a dental phantom head- was created by the Colombia Dentoform Corp of New York...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum
Large Impressive 1800s Kalidoscope
Located in Peekskill, NY
This scope is unsigned and was acquired from a European collector. It could be American but I'm guessing its not. The eyepiece and turning mechanism are brass. The tube is canvas wra...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Fruitwood
Large 19th Century Hourglass
Located in Firenze, IT
Shipping policy No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included).
A large 19th century hour glass, o...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood
Carl Aubock Mid-Century Hour Glass, Sand Timer, Horn, Brass, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and rare modernist hour glass / sand clock / egg timer from the 1950s. Designed and executed by Carl Aubock, Vienna / Austria. A decorative piece, made of light shiny cow...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Nautical Double Gauge Bubble Clinometer on Teak Back Plate by Conn. Valley Ind.
Located in Nantucket, MA
A double gauge bubble clinometer with precision glass tubing and nickel face mounted on a teak back plate. These tilt gauges were used on vessels to measure the angular slant of the ...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Chrome
Splendid Gustavian Brass Compass with Sundial, Late 18th Century Sweden
Located in Knivsta, SE
Splendid Gustavian Brass Compass with Sundial, Late 18th Century Sweden. By Swedish 18th century clockmaker Johan Elfgren (1720-1801) from Gagnef in the Swedish county of Dalecarlia ...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
Nikon 20 x 120 WW11 Naval/Marine Binoculars
By Nikon
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
Chromed metal and brass Nikon 20x120 WW11 Naval Binoculars. Set on an original Zeiss 1960's military, re-polished metal stand.
20x magnification with...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Art Deco Nudy Lady Thermometer
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Celluloid nude lady Art Deco thermometer.
Category
20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Seldom Seen Authentic Exploding Skull, Medical, After Claude Beauchêne
By Claude Beauchene
Located in Buffalo, NY
Authentic Exploding Skull
Originally created by Edmé François Chauvot de Beauchêne (ca.1780-1830), a French anatomist and
surgeon, developed this disarticulation method to comprehensively show all the
cranial bones and their connections.
The exploded skull...
Category
Early 20th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
French Made Solid Brass Marine Barometer
Located in Norwell, MA
Highly polished solid brass nautical barometer by WM Senter & Co. WM Senter and Company was in business from 1869 to 1888 at 51 Exchange St in Portl...
Category
1880s American Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Louis Xvi Style Carved Wood Paint and Parcel Gilt Barometer
Located in Nashville, TN
A pretty and highly decorative barometer of banjo form, marked ‘Palladio’ and Italy . Hand carved with leaves , ropes , fruit and flutes .
The case probably having distressed fini...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XVI Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Art Deco Kodak Compur Model Six-20 Folding Camera c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An Art Deco Kodak Compur Model Six-20 Folding Camera with a leather wrapped body, chrome accents and flip out view finder. Black and silver Art Deco design on both sides
Show...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Chrome, Metal
Art Deco Table or Desk Top Brass Mounted 7" Double Convex Magnifying Glass
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Art Deco desk/table top adjustable magnifying glass. A 7" diameter double convex lens in an open topped brass frame suspended between two vertical posts rising from a stepped two-tie...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage Pan Am Pan American World Airways Advertising Wall Barometer, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
A round and large mid-century wall-mounted barometer / weather station from the airline PAA Pan American World Airways. Dated around the 1960s. A high-quality product, made in Weste...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Set Of Three Irish Bronze Measures For The County Of Wicklow
Located in Essex, MA
The imperial gallon with handles and the imperial 1/2 gallon and the imperial quart without handles .Cylindrical form. Inscribed 'The County Of Wicklow' 1826. This is a partial nest.
Category
Mid-19th Century Irish Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Neoclassical Apothecary Jars by Maison A Collin Porcelaines & Cristaux
By Old Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Neoclassical Apothecary Jars by Maison A Collin Porcelaines & Cristaux
France, Circa 1870s
Signed : Maison A Collin Porcelaines & Cristaux a Collin paris 90 Rue de Rivoli
W...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Porcelain
Art Deco Kodak Junior Six-20 Bimat Folding Camera c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An Art Deco Kodak Compur Model Six-20 Folding Camera with a leather wrapped body, chrome accents and flip out view finder. Black and silver Art Deco design on both sides
Show...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Antique Hawk-Eye Shutter Model 2A Folding Camera c.1910
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A Hawk-Eye Shutter Model 2A folding camera with a leather wrapped body and chrome and brass accents.
Shown with life size hand.
CREATOR Eastman Kodak Co.
DATE OF MAN...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Vest Pocket Hawkeye Folding Camera c.1924-1935
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
The Vest Pocket Hawkeye Model B folding camera with a leather wrapped body and chrome accents.
Shown with life size hand.
CREATOR Eastman Kodak Co.
DATE OF MANUFACTU...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Antique Iron Worker Hand Forged Vintage Tools Set of 9
Located in National City, CA
collection handmade Iron Blacksmithing Tools- Set of 9 Antique Iron Worker Tools
forging metal
circa early 1900s
tool total 9
25 the longest x 3 the widest x 3 diameter
unrestored...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron, Metal
19th Century Victorian Weighing Scales By J White & Son, c.1880
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century Victorian grocers scales consist of a cast iron base with a ridged brass column supporting a cast iron balancing arm from which white glazed stoneware plate is s...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
Large Antique Kodak Folding No. 3A Camera with Mahogany Inlay c.1910
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A large Eastman Kodak No. 3A folding camera with red bellows and Mahogany inlay. The body is wrapped in leather with chrome and brass accents. The camera folds to 2.5 inches. ...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Chrome, Metal, Brass
1918s Small Brass Magnetic Pocket Compass Signed Negretti & Zambra Antique Tool
Located in Milan, IT
Small pocket and travel compass made of chromed brass, supplied to British army officier during the First World War. Compass in the shape of a pocket watch, equipped with a lid with snap closure with release button inside the ring, the instrument consisting of a magnetized needle free to rotate on a horizontal plane marking the direction of magnetic North. Signed Negretti & Zambra London.
Compass card with 8 winds. Diameter 4.5 cm - 1.7 inches, thickness 1.2 cm - 0.3 inches. Very goof condition, fully functional.
Enrico (Henry) Negretti (Como 1817 - London 1879), emigrated to London in 1829, where he attended the London Mechanics Institute, at the same time starting an apprenticeship in a laboratory of precision optical instruments. In 1859 he joined Joseph Zambra (1822-1897), a manufacturer of scientific instruments, and they established the Negretti & Zambra Ltd, with numerous branches in London, and soon they had a good reputation both at home and abroad because of the excellence of their products. In the early years of the company, they limited production to meteorological instruments, or, as they defined them, "philosophical instruments". About in 1857 Negretti & Zambra were commissioned by the British government to investigate about the temperature of the sea along the coasts, to clarify which influence the temperature had on migration and habits of fishes and which were the seasons and temperatures more suitable for fishing. For these investigations, the Negretti & Zambra realized for the Admiral Fitzroy...
Category
1910s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
1802 Hurtin Minute Surveyor's Compass
Located in Placerville, CA
Christian Hurtin was a master engraver, and his compasses exhibit a unique look that demonstrate Hurtin's exceptional engraving skills and the time he invested in each compass. Hur...
Category
Early 19th Century American American Colonial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Oscar Hanks Bow Compass - Circa Early 1840s - Known Owner
Located in Placerville, CA
The wonderful 1840s surveying bow compass offered here is a uniquely designed and patented American instrument. Julius Hanks designed and patented this compass in the early 1830s, w...
Category
1840s American Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Circa 1700 LaMotte Surveyors Theodolite
Located in Placerville, CA
This is a BEAUTIFUL LaMotte Theodolite. The engraving is fantastic.
Dating this instrument is an educated guess. I found two reference points, An old French Publication indicates th...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
19th Century Botanic Model by Robert Brendel - Panicula (panicle)
Located in Berghuelen, DE
19th Century Botanic Model by Robert Brendel - Panicula (panicle)
A great antique botanical model manufactured by the famous Robert Brendel manufactory for botanicals models around ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
WWI brass Carl Zeiss Jena "Fussartillerie" artillery compass
Located in London, GB
A WWI brass Carl Zeiss Jena "Fussartillerie" artillery compass.
3¾ inch dial marked with N W S points, the Carl Zeiss Jena logo, and B.R. 565 FUSSARTILLERIE.
Compass ring marked ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Unsigned Colonial Era Compass - Copper Compass Face & Dovetail Sight Vanes
Located in Placerville, CA
This is a fascinating compass. The compass is an odd blend or primitive craftsmanship with some sophisticated design details. On the primitive side, there is very little engraving an...
Category
1790s American Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Copper
French Barometer
Located in Tampa, FL
French early 18th century barometer. Khaki green and gold gilt all hand carved. It doesn't work but could be made to work.
Category
1780s French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Wonderful Benjamin Pike & Sons (New York) Circa 1850 Theodolite
Located in Placerville, CA
This is a Wonderful Pike & Sons Theodolite (166 Broadway) complete with Box & Tripod. American made 19th century Theodolites are VERY common. Finding one in great shape with its or...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage Metal Laboratory Beaker Stand
Located in High Point, NC
Once used as a tool for conducting laboratory analysis or experimentation, the globe-like spheres glint with the crystal clarity of borosilicate. The solid metal of the frame grants ...
Category
20th Century Czech Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
19th Century Botanic Model by Robert Brendel - Spica (simple ear)
Located in Berghuelen, DE
19th Century Botanic Model by Robert Brendel - Spica (simple ear)
A great antique botanical model manufactured by the famous Robert Brendel manufactory for botanicals models around ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
19th Century Botanic Model by Robert Brendel - Grain Grate
Located in Berghuelen, DE
19th Century Botanic Model by Robert Brendel - Grain Grate
A great antique botanical model manufactured by the famous Robert Brendel manufactory for botanicals models around 1900. H...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Victorian Silver Hog Watch Key Winder
Located in Stamford, CT
Rare Victorian solid silver miniature pig or hog. Ideal for a watch chain. Winder is metal and has no splits or cracks.
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver
Jean Baptiste Van Lerberghe Theodolite - Circa 1700 to 1720
Located in Placerville, CA
This is a fascinating and unique Theodolite that is engraved as a Semicircle - only 180 degrees.
The Theodolite was made by Jean Baptiste Van Lerberghe of Bollezelle, France. Bo...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Langlois Graphometer - Circa 1730
Located in Placerville, CA
This is a BEAUTIFUL Graphometer made by the premier instrument maker in France, Claude Langlois, after Bion and Butterfield had stopped making instruments.
As discussed on my Grapho...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Lietz Small Preliminary Transit - Great Condition - Circa 1902
Located in Placerville, CA
This is a wonderful Lietz Preliminary Transit. Lietz received a patent on the novel design of the cool little Transit. U.S. Patent 715823. This transit was Lietz's first attempt at c...
Category
Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
Antique English Brass-Mounted Rosewood Complete Apothecary Case, Circa 1880.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rare complete antique English London-made apothecary case, circa 1880.
Rosewood with Brass Mounts.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
19th Century Botanic Model by Robert Brendel - Umbella (umbel)
Located in Berghuelen, DE
19th Century Botanic Model by Robert Brendel - Umbella (umbel)
A great antique botanical model manufactured by the famous Robert Brendel manufactory for botanicals models around 190...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Aneroid barometer and thermometer in Fahrenheit scale in late 19th century oak wood
Located in Milan, IT
Antique aneroid barometer and Fahrenheit scale thermometer in turned oak wood, brass and glass, manufacture english in the late 1800s.
Bon état. Working order.
Diameter 28 cm - i...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Claire Voyant Crystal Ball "Two World Ltd" Spiritualist Fortune Teller Occult
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A highly decorative and thought provoking little object, this Claire Voyant crystal ball was likely produced by Two Worlds Ltd of 18 Corporation St Manchester, early 20th century.
T...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
A set of bronze imperial standard bell weights by De Grave & Co
Located in London, GB
A set of bronze imperial standard bell weights by De Grave & Co of London, circa 1900.
4 bell weights: 7, 4, 2 and 1 lbs.
With a case of smaller ounce and dram disc weights. (8, 4,...
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Antique "Le Jockey Club" 1930's Horse Racing Binoculars with Compass
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French silvered brass and brown leather Horse Racing binoculars stamped "Le Jockey Club Paris" presented in their original brown leather case. Case. AS evident from the photos, t...
Category
Early 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Tabletop Flower Press, English, Cast Iron, Rotary, Book, Victorian, 1850
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique tabletop flower press. An English, cast iron rotary book pressing machine, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850.
Wonderfully tactile mechanical press ...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Large Late 18th Century Hourglass
Located in Firenze, IT
Shipping policy No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included).
A large 19th century hour glass, o...
Category
Late 18th Century British Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood
1920's Gladstone Bag
Located in Eindhoven, NL
1920's Gladstone Bag in perfect condition. The bag closings are in perfect shape and condition and everything works perfectly. The bag has some minor spots but for the age of the bag...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Leather
20th Century Czech Wooden Industrial Element
Located in High Point, NC
This 20th-century wooden foundry mold, repurposed as a captivating decorative piece, stands as a testament to the fusion of industrial history and artistic charm. Crafted from solid ...
Category
20th Century Czech Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Pocket barometer by J H Steward in original case
By J.H Steward
Located in East Geelong, VIC
This pocket barometer was made by the firm of by J H Steward and is still in its original leather covered case. The silvered dial with its blued pointer is surrounded by a rotating a...
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Cylinder Sundial Late 19th Century
Located in Firenze, IT
Shipping policy No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included).
A boxwood cylinder sundial, also kn...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Pocket barometer by C Baker in original case
Located in East Geelong, VIC
This pocket barometer was made by the firm of C Baker of 244 High Holborn, London and is still in its original leather covered case. The model number is 7073, and the silvered dial w...
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Teaching Model Longitudinal Profile of the Grain
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Teaching Model Longitudinal Profile of the Grain
A great antique hand-painted model of the grain with removable germ. Made of papier maché and plaster, mounted on a turned w...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Fine Pair of Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses by Dolland, London
By Dolland
Located in Bath, GB
A splendid pair of Edwardian Opera / Theatre glasses professionally re-polished to gleam, making them as good as they would have looked over 100 years ago.
This is a pair with a tel...
Category
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Victorian Kitchen Balance Scales, from Boots with Weights
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Victorian Kitchen Balance Scales, from Boots with Weights
The scale is in Cast iron with a removable brass scoop on one side
The scales are 8” high, 12” wide and 9” deep
TSW196
Category
1930s Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
A Wunderkammer object: the mechanical paradox, France half 19th century.
Located in Milan, IT
A Wunderkammer object: the mechanical paradox. It consists in a double cone, which is able to climb up along an inclined plane. The double cone rises when the slope of the inclined p...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ebony, Oak
Collection of Friedrich Ziegler wax model human heart development forms
Located in London, GB
Collection of Friedrich Ziegler wax model human heart development forms
A rare collection of 4 wax models of the human heart, showing its early development to full size. The hand-col...
Category
Early 1900s German Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Natural Fiber
Floor Standing Globe On A Turned Hardwood & Brass Stand Model No 16
By Cram's
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Crams Imperial World Globe
Floor Standing Globe On A Turned Hardwood & Brass Stand Model No 16
Manufactured by George F Cram Co. Indiana, U.S.A
Sizes are guesstimates
Category
Early 20th Century American Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage, New and Antique Scientific Instruments
Decorating with vintage, new and antique scientific instruments, as well as other authentic collectibles and curiosities that can be found on 1stDibs, presents an opportunity to create a unique, natural history museum-like atmosphere in your home that can provoke conversation as often as it pays tribute to how far we’ve come in understanding our world.
The Age of Discovery (or the Age of Exploration) refers to a period during the 15th to 18th centuries that saw Europeans taking to the high seas to explore, trade and conquer various regions of the world. What we know about geography, the advancement of sea vessels and the development of scientific instruments all broadened significantly during this time.
With every new finding about our world, scientists invented tools to measure and record. While many of these objects are now obsolete, they are essentially works of art and have a rich history. Scientific instruments of a bygone era represent how far science and technology have advanced.
If you’re interested in introducing antique scientific instruments and tools to your decor to add contrast or draw attention to otherwise unexplored corners of your living room or dining room, there are many options to consider as far as textures and colors go. Like any curious decorative object that draws attention to your home library or mantel, vintage scientific instruments will likely add spirit to any conversation that might take place over cocktails or dinner.
Create an intriguing focal point with Georgian scientific instruments, such as stick barometers with mahogany cases or lacquered brass telescopes. These items stem from an era named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who ruled England in succession starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign, which lasted until 1837). Just as there was beautiful jewelry produced during the period that today is coveted by collectors, there is much to be found in the collectibles and curiosities realm too.
Mid-century modern scientific instruments also capture a period of rapid progress, representing groundbreaking discoveries that defined the 20th century. Wouldn’t antique anatomical models of the 1950s pair well with your eye-catching abstract paintings, George Nelson clock or Florence Knoll sofa?
Whether you’re looking for a way to showcase your passion for chemistry or aviation or are making room in your foyer for a breathtaking industrial-style electronic time tower manufactured by Patek Philippe, 1stDibs offers a collection of vintage, new and antique scientific instruments that includes topographic tools, laboratory equipment and more.
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