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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Color:  Gray
Color:  Blue
Italy 1939s Sketch Futurist Poster "Day of Two Crosses" Against Tuberculosis
Located in Milan, IT
Sketch of the futurist poster "Day of two crosses, 16th April 1939, XVII", mixed technique of pastel and water-color, for an Italian campaign against tuberculosis, to inform people a...
Category

1930s Italian Futurist Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

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 Western Germany...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Shibayama Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses by Lemaire
Located in London, GB
A superb and incredibly rare pair of gilt bronze and mother of pearl Shibayama opera glasses by Lemaire in its original leather carry case. The beautiful mother of pearl case...
Category

1880s French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Microscope cloth counting glass by J. Casartelli & Son of Manchester.
Located in London, GB
Microscope cloth counting glass by J. Casartelli & Son of Manchester. In original maroon leather velvet lined case. Marked: J. CASARTELLI & SON SALFORD.6. Rd 14755. Registered des...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Steel

Vintage Safe Deposit Box In Steel, Czechoslovakia 1980s
Located in Zohor, SK
Step back in time with this remarkable vintage steel safe box, a testament to both craftsmanship and security. Crafted in the 1980s within the borde...
Category

1980s Slovak Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Typical decors of birds, flowers and leaves in different shades of blue glaze. Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2...
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Ceramic

Antique German aneroid barometer from the early 1900s made of turned marble.
Located in Milan, IT
Antique German aneroid barometer from the early 1900s made of turned marble, brass, and glass. Good state. Working order. Diameter cm 17 - inches 6.7, thickness cm 5- inches 1.9...
Category

1910s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Marble

Large 17th Century French Slate Octagonal Sundial
Located in Madrid, ES
A Large 17th century French Slate Octagonal Sundial With wrought iron gnomon and profusely engraved with latin letters.Size:39x39 cm.With latter hanging ...
Category

Mid-17th Century Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Slate

1916s Pocket Magnetic Compass for the Raf Officers Antique Surveyor Measurement
Located in Milan, IT
Pocket compass for the RAF officers, signed F. Darton & Co London V n. 77824 1916 made of brass chrome in the shape of a pocket watch. The compass has a snap-on cover with release button inside the ring. Twelve-winds compass card. Very good condition fully functional. Diameter 4.5 cm - 1.77 inches, thickness 1.5 cm - 0.59 inches. Shipping is insured by Lloyd's London; our gift box is free. The first hints in Europe on the use of instruments using...
Category

1910s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Vintage Scientific Electrostatic Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generator Apparatus
Located in Lafayette, IN
Vintage Van de Graaff electrostatic generator apparatus by the Sargent Welch Scientific Instrument Company. This appears to be a manual version with our the ...
Category

1960s American Machine Age Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early 20th century boat compass by American Maker. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This classic marine instrument is fitted to its origina...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Vintage Sculptural Magnifying Lens Glass
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Sculptural magnifying lens glass 7.38 w x 1.5 d x 6 h Unrestored vintage condition Refer to images.
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass by Wilcox Crittenden of Middletown Connecticut. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This Classic marine i...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Brass Frame Desk Magnifying Glass with Horn Handle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Horn Handle desk style magnifying glass with brass framework and stem. The horn is quite substantial and has good weight and presence. The horn has a ribbed detail down a portion ...
Category

20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass by Wilcox Crittenden of Middletown Connecticut. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This classic marine i...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Stich Leather Hanging Barometer Westen, Germany, 1960s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice round hanging Barometer, surrounded with stitch Brown Leather. Made in Western Germany in the 1960s. Good working condition.
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Leather

Art Deco Rock-Ola "Loboy" Porcelain Enamel Coin-Op Penny Scale
Located in Norwalk, CT
Beginning in the Late 19th Century, the penny scale offered a means for passersby to quickly check their weight without going to the trouble of seeing a doctor; simultaneously - and perhaps more notably - they provided an irresistible opportunity for businesses to advertise and earn extra revenue. Penny scales quickly became a platform for creativity in advertising and design, as machines competed to attract the attention of customers on the street. This scale - the "LoBoy" model - was produced by the jukebox manufacturing company Rock-Ola in the 1930s and features a Classic skyscraper-inspired Art Deco Silhouette in black and white porcelain enamel. The mirrored glass display features instructions ("Stand Still - Keep Clear") as well as a reference chart which provides 'healthy' weights for men and women by height. The scale itself has been modified to function without needing to deposit a coin. This piece would make a super unique and functional addition to any retro bathroom!
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Navy Binoculars
Located in Paris, FR
Binoculars Navy with polished steel adjustable tripod base. With polished aluminium and steel binoculars with glass lens, magnifying x12. Adjustable height.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Steel, Aluminum

1950s Mid-Century Modern Olympia Sm-3 Portable Typewriter with Case
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Olympia SM3 portable typewriter with the original metal case. Circa 1950s. Features a Qwerty keyboard, a grayish green color body with chrome trims and the original metal case with a galvanized-like finish and the original lock key. Olympia SMs were once considered the Mercedes Benz of typewriters. The Hermes 3000...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Vintage Mid-Century Globe Meat Slicer C1940 Enameled Iron & Stainless
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and powerful, 1/4hp GM Delco motor. Globe deli meat slicer from the forties. Super quiet motor with a new cord and switch. In excellent vintage co...
Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Stainless Steel, Enamel, Iron, Chrome, Steel

1960s Industrial Medical Cabinet
Located in Norwalk, CT
This is a great medical cabinet from the 1960s, ready to keep all your goodies safe this is a great 1960s accent item that is sure to be a one of a kind addition to your decor!
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Decorative Blue Marianne Brandt Avantgarde Bauhaus Letter Scale, 1930s, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
An iconic light-blue sheet metal postal letter scale from the1930s in blue, designed by Marianne Brandt, executed by Ruppel Werke, Ruppelwerk in Gotha, G...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Sheet Metal, Metal, Iron

Solid Brass Library Barometer 1914
Located in Norwell, MA
Brass barometer by Taylor of Rochester, NY. Patent date of August 18, 1914. Face is printed "stormy", "change", "very dry", "rain", "fair", etc.. Brass mounting ring. Circa 1914.
Category

1910s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1960s Smith Corona Skyriter Portable Typewriter with Vinyl Case
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Smith Corona Skyriter portable typewriter with the original tan vinyl case. Circa 1960s Despite its lean lines, lightness, and s...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage 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

Russian Electromechanical Wheel-Based Cipher Machine Fialka M 125
Located in Madrid, ES
M-125 Fialka-electromechanical wheel-based cipher machine USSR rotor-based cipher machine M-125, codename Fialka (Russian: ??????), was an el...
Category

1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1920s Art Deco Antique Square Glass Ink Well
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1920s Art Deco antique square glass ink well Unmarked. Measures: 2.5 tall x 2.88 x 2.88 Preowned original unrestored vintage condition. Refer to ima...
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Vintage Plaster Anatomical Skull Model
Located in Houston, TX
Interesting vintage plaster anatomical skull model. This great plaster skull bust model is in very good condition and dates to the 1940s. A real conver...
Category

1940s Other Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Collection of French Opaline Apothecary Jars
Located in Copenhagen, K
Collection of 20 opaline apothecary jars from the 19th century. Collection consists of 14 larger jars and 6 smaller jars.
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Opaline Glass

Midcentury Seeburg Styled Wall Mount Jukebox Diner or Soda Shop Tune Selector
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This early wall-mounted coin operated jukebox tune selector is completely unmarked, but being attributed to the Seeburg Corporation of the United States in circa 1955 in the period M...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Cast Iron Personal Weighing Scales by JARASO
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Cast Iron Personal Weighing Scales by JARASO Quirky scales to keep your weight personal, the weight registered by the scales can only be correctly vie...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Brushed Aluminum Industrial Hourglass on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Modern industrial brushed aluminum hourglass - in the style of Bauhaus industrial - German, Berlin. An interesting contrast of blown glass and heavy industrial material gives this...
Category

20th Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Antique Dazey Commercial Industrial Churn or Mixer with Toleware Decoration USA
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique commercial churn or mixer was made by the Dazey Manufacturing Company of St. Louis in approximately 1920 in a period Art Deco style. The frame and gear mechanism of the ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Vintage, Commercial Grade Tri Pod by Samson
Located in New York, NY
High quality vintage camera trim pod by Samson. The trim pod is adjustable in various ways, including height ( 42- 73.5 in ) in addition the camera platform tilts and can be related ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Shell

Miele Vintage Vacuum Cleaner, Type E10
Located in Budapest, HU
Torpedo shaped vacuum cleaner in good condition.
Category

1950s German Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Antique Albertus Seba Pair 18th Century Hand-Colored Engravings Butterfly
Located in Washington, DC
Rare pair of original hand-colored prints from Sir Albertus Seba's cabinet of natural curiosities. Prints come from published volumes in Amste...
Category

Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Old Blue Scale Gwarancja Olsztyn, Europe, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
A fantastic antique weighing scale with nicely aged blue paint. Made by Gwarancja Factory in Olsztyn, Poland in the late 20th century. It presents...
Category

1970s Polish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Iron

Magnifier Accessories Gold Bronce Desktop Eagle Claw Base Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Brass adjustable desk magnifier 20th century Elegant desktop magnifying glass made of golden brass, with original magnifying glass and very ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Other Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1960s George Nelson Ruler from the SAFETY NUMBERS Graphic Design + Clock Series
Located in Hyattsville, MD
USA, c.1960s. George Nelson & Associates Lucite Ruler from the SAFETY NUMBERS Graphic Design + Clock Series for Howard Miller. This rare example does have...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Lucite

Set of Two Antique Spanish Wooden Stamps, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of two antique wooden stamps, made in Spain by unknown manufacturer, circa 1930. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age...
Category

1930s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Shell

Vintage Panasonic Toot-a-Loop-Radio, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Panasonic toot-a-loop-radio is an original decorative object realized in the 1970s by Panasonic R-72 (R72) and built by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co This radio is the...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Antique 14K Gold Victorian Vintage Spectacles Lorgnette Eyeglasses with Handle
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Gorgeous Victorian old fashioned antique lorgnette with a refined design on the handle. The lens glass is in excellent shape and is framed by decorat...
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Gold

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Shell

National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition National Geographic This is a beautiful large library or hardcover coffee table book. Title: National Geographic Atlas of th...
Category

Early 2000s Maltese Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Vintage Minolta HI-MATIC 7 Film Camera with Leather Case
By Minolta
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Collectible vintage 1960s Minolta HI-MATIC 7 35mm film camera in hard leather case. A technologically advanced vintage film camera. With origi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Shell

Early 20th Century Brass Electric Fan, by Frost & Co
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Early 20th century brass electric fan, by Frost & Co A very stylish good looking piece, with aluminium blades and metal cage This piece looks to be...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Shell

19th C. German Stag Horn Thermometer and Barometer
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A remarkable German Folk Art Weather Station in the Black Forest Style. Elaborate and sinuous construction with stag horns of various sizes, boar tusk...
Category

19th Century German Folk Art Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Antler, Horn

Mid-Century Modern Coral Pink Crosley Model T-60 AM Tube Table Radio
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This Mid-Century Modern working tube radio was made by Crosley in Toronto Canada in approximately 1965 in the period stream-lined style. The radio is done with a molded coral pink pl...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Shell

Mid Century Enameled Dayton Meat Scale Hobart Mfg Co Butcher Deli
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage white enameled Dayton Scale Division meat scale, made at the Hobart Manufacturing Company, style 970, 30lb capacity. Measure: 18".   
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Rare Print of a Nilometer, a Structure Used to Calculate Taxes in Egypt, 1802
Located in Langweer, NL
How high is the water, mama? Johny Cash was asking his mother, when it is was '6 feet high and rising'. In Egypt it would probably mean that taxes that year would be low. In Egypt it all depended on the behavior of the Nile and a Priest, who would monitor the so-called Nilometer. A nilometer was a structure for measuring the Nile River's clarity and water level during the annual flood season. If the water level was low, there would be less food. If it was too high, it would be destructive. There was a specific mark that indicated how high the flood should be if the fields were to get good soil. Their predictions would determine how much money...
Category

Early 1800s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Victorian Lightening Rod
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice Victorian lightning rod made of a wrought iron tripod base and a slender copper rod pole with original glass ball, circa 1920s. The piece is in good vintage condition wit...
Category

Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments

Materials

Copper

Decorated Cast Iron Scale for Babies Antique Measuring Instrument 19th Century
Located in Milan, IT
Scales for babies made of cast iron with depictions of flowers. The scale is equipped with a double scale: on one side from 0 to 15kg, on the other side f...
Category

1880s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Carl Zeiss 12 x 60 German Observation Binoculars, Second World War
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is an exceptional 20th century WWII German 12x60 observation binocular, presented on an adjustable wooden tripod. The binoculars were manufactured by the company Carl Zeiss. Carl Zeiss is a German manufacturer of optical systems, founded in Jena, Germany in 1846 by optician Carl Zeiss. These binoculars were used for long-watch land and sky observation by German forces between 1939 and 1945. The binoculars were ruggedly constructed to withstand the rigors of field service. They were used for various tasks, including daylight observation of enemy troop movements, directing fire from artillery toward advancing enemy troops and armor, directing fire at enemy aircraft, and night observation. The angle of the binoculars allowed the observer to sustain watch for long periods of time. The angle also permitted a necessary versatility, as the watchman was able to perform both higher aerial observation and observation of enemy troops on the same visual plane as the watchman. The wartime code for this binocular, “blc”, is engraved on the side of the binocular. “blc” is the secret manufacturing code assigned to Zeiss by the German Army Ordnance Department. The use of the “blc” code instead of the company’s normal logo on the side was a precautionary one, to ensure the secrecy of factory production should the binocular fall into enemy hands. World War II binoculars are true military weapons, designed for defense and reconnaissance. They were never designed for civilian use, and were constructed without cost in mind, as the reliability of the optics far outweighed the monetary cost. The eyepieces can be adjusted for focus and the distance between your eyes with a turn of a knob, as can the shade settings for the lenses. This particular binocular also possesses sun filters. It was a known military tactic to fly in line with the sunlight and filters helped to cut the glare of the sun to increase plane and bomber tracking. This stunning antique...
Category

1940s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

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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