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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Period: Mid-20th Century
Period: 1910s
Antique Mobil Dentist Rinsing Sink Stainless Steel, Belge
Located in Mortsel, BE
Elevate your space with this Antique Dentist Rinsing Sink crafted from stainless steel, showcasing Belgian craftsmanship. This unique piece is a testament to the bygone era of dentis...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Steel

Antique English aneroid barometer from the 1930s made of turned wood and brass
Located in Milan, IT
Antique English aneroid barometer 1930s turned wood, brass, and glass. Bon état. Working order. Diameter cm 19.7 - inches 7.7, thickness cm 5.5 - inches 2.2. Last photo gift box....
Category

1930s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak By R. Krengel 1910s
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak By R. Krengel 1910s Eupen Belgium High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade)...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Oak

Pair of Glass Pharmacy Jars, Italy, 1930s
Located in Palermo, IT
Pair of glass pharmacy jars, Italy, 1930s Found in an old disused pharmacy. Good condition. One has an imperceptible chip on the edge. Being handcra...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass

Mappin Paris 1950 Retro Multiuse Money Clip Sun Clock And Compass In Silver
Located in Miami, FL
Multiuse Money Clip Sun Clock And Compass designed by Mappin-Paris. Very unusual multiuse money clip, created in France by Mappin-Paris back in the 1950. In great shape and very ver...
Category

1950s French Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Silver

Sony Vintage Vidicon Video Camera, Circa 1969, Classic, Iconic With Tripod
By Sony Corporation
Located in Dallas, US
Submitted for your consideration is this, circa 1969, Sony vintage Vidicon industrial television camera complete with a studio viewfinder and a Sony TV z...
Category

1960s Japanese Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Pair WW1 Binoculars - British Officer's Issue by LeMaire, Paris
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous pair of French made World War 1 British Officers Military binoculars with both the brass on the binoculars and the leather case with the British military crows foot mark. ...
Category

1910s French Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Anatomical model: human heart, Germany 1950.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical demontable model of an human heart made out of painted lattex mounted on a round black wooden base. Germany circa 1950.
Category

Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments

Materials

Latex, Wood

Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut G.Tart Belgium
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Liege Belgium by G.Tart. High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade) Unusual design ...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Large Dramatic Streamlined Floor Fan
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is one of the most dramatic midcentury floor fan designs you will find. This example is extremely rare. It has the look of a Jet Engine. Its clean and works very well. It does s...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Streamlined Moderne Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte with Flower Motif
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Typical flower decor with the numeral indication of the temperature. Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2020) Born in the...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Ceramic

Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut 1910s
By A. de Lambert
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Belgium by A. de Lambert. High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade) Unusual design ...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Seven Large Mid 20th Century German Brown Amber Glass Apothecary Jars with Lid
Located in Haarlem, NL
A decorative collection of seven extra large German 1930s-1940s apothecary jars in blown and pressed amber glass with pressed and blown glass lids. Once used for chemistry and pharmaceutical stuff, now very pretty as decoration set. Not jet antique...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Nice Acupuncture Model Statue Sculpture, Composition on Wood Stand Vintage 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A decorative Acupuncture Model. Some wear with a nice patina. Made of composition, metal and a wooden stand. It is painted in different colors and covered with clear varnish. Found a...
Category

1960s German Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Composition, Metal

Aircraft Design Wind Tunnel Scale Model of a Late 1960s GAC-100 Airliner
Located in London, GB
A 1/10 scale wind tunnel model of a GAC-100 Commuter airliner. Wingspan: 7ft (214 cm) The model is constructed out of laminated mahogany, and is built to the highest standards,...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Mahogany

Tellurium mechanical/electrical model of the solar system Phiwe Italian 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Tellurium, i.e., mechanical/electrical model representative of the solar system, made of metal with green and gray hammered paint, lithographed tin globe, plastic Moon, and metal bas...
Category

1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Set of Two Mushrooms Scientific Models Europe , Germany 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage set of two different types of mushrooms, show Models which are native to middle Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools. Colorful...
Category

1960s German Folk Art Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper, Wood

Vintage Drawing Instrument Set, German, Draughtsman's Tools, Schcenner, C.1930
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage drawing instrument set. A German, nickel draughtsman's tool case by Schcenner, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1930. Fine German instrument set in fold-out carry case Displaying a desirable aged patina throughout Silver nickel presents a lightly tarnished appearance, commensurate with age Presented within a textured carry case with four fold design 8 pieces offering the essential tools for the travelling draughtsman Comprises a pair of compass, two bow compass and ruling pen...
Category

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

Materials

Nickel

Vintage Military Compass, American, Navigation Aid, Keuffel & Esser, 5600X Model
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage military compass. An American, aluminium and glass navigation aid by Keuffel & Esser, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930. Fascinating example of the 5600...
Category

1930s American Other Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Keuffel & Esser Co. Surveyor's Transit
Located in Savannah, GA
A 1912 Keuffel & Esser Co. railroad surveyor's transit. Includes outfitted mahogany case. All original with matching serials. Approximately 70 inches tall with a 24 inch leg sprea...
Category

1910s American Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Steel

US Navy Mark 74 Aiming Telescope
Located in Norwell, MA
1943 United States Navy Telescope. Used primarily as part of the Mark 16 Aiming System on 50 caliber anti-aircraft gun mounts. Fitted with three sun filters...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1960s Olivetti Underwood 21 Portable Typewriter With Original Travel Case
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid Century Modern Olivetti Underwood 21 Portable Typewriter With Original Case Circa 1960s Features a QUERTY keyboard, a teal and light blue metal body with a dark gray pla...
Category

1960s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Pair Of Vintage Cased Opera Glasses, French, Brass, Binocular, Mid 20th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of vintage cased opera glasses. A French, brass and Mother of Pearl Galilean binocular, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Swingline XI Electro-Pointer
Located in Sharon, CT
Important Machine Age Streamlined Electric Pencil Sharpener Designed by Edward G. Hoffmann.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Machine Age Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bakelite

Anatomical model: a human skull model life size, Stuttgard, Germany 1930.
Located in Milan, IT
Human skull anatomical model life size 1:1 Model with cranial sutures detachable 2 parts plus three cervical vertebrae for medical educational aid. The skull and vertebrae are made o...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

1960’s plaster anatomical model of dogs brain, Phywe Germany
Located in Hoogeveen, NL
Rare old anatomical plaster model of the dog's brain. Beautiful details on a plastic/bakelite base. Worn (small cracks, base repare) but still in good condition as shown in the image...
Category

1960s German Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bakelite, Plaster

Early 20th Century Belgian Black Board, Chalkboard
Located in Udenhout, NL
Early 20th Century Belgian Black Board, Chalkboard, in a good state.
Category

1940s Belgian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Slate

Carved Wooden G.Tart Liege Antique Belgium Barometer with Thermometer, 1910s
Located in Verviers, BE
Carved wooden G Tart Liege antique Belgium Barometer with Thermometer, 1910s Unusual antique carved wooden barometer in a lovely carved case, working order. With best Wishes, Geert...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Fruitwood

WW1 1918 British Army Officer's Compass - Verner's Patent MK VII by French Ltd.
Located in Bath, GB
This is an excellent original example of the MK VII. It is fully functioning, has a brass case and is mounted with lanyard ring. The glass face and numbered brass outer ring are perf...
Category

1910s British Vintage 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 Western Germany...
Category

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

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Mills Novelty Art Deco Green Porcelain Penny Scale
Located in Ferndale, MI
Art Deco period penny scale by Mills Novelty co. Period green porcelain pedestal with cream colored foot hold.
Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Antique French 1930 Art Deco Astrolabe chrome desk decoration kinetic sculpture
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Very decorative & most rare this antique Art Deco Astrolabe from the 1930s Made from polished chrome, with 5 turning rings and a large center sphere. This would make a stunning decorative piece on any desk or office space Amazing for collectors of scientific antiques The Astrolabe remains in great antique condition with only a minor patina on the metal Turns smoothly and looks great! This antique Astrolabe...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Chrome

Large Vintage Mongolian Wooden Math Abacus with Painted Wooden Balls
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large Vintage Mongolian Wooden Math Abacus with Painted Wooden Balls. Item features Painted wooden balls in red, pink, gray, orange, blue, yellow, green and brown. Circa Mid 20th Cen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Revere S-16 16mm Sound Movie Projector w Case 22"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century Revere 16 sound projector with case. Working. Dimensions: 22"x 15.5" x 7.5"
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Set of Cast Iron and Glass Rings c.1940 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A set of three cast iron rings with smaller rings on top. Convex glass on both sides in each piece. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1940-1960. MATERIALS AN...
Category

Mid-20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

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

Volta's electrophore, demonstrator of the flow of electrons Italy 1960.
Located in Milan, IT
Volta's electrophore, demonstrator of the flow of electrons from inert materials to conducting materials. Taking the instrument composed of a disc of conductive metal and a handle of...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Walter Bosse Cat Figurine with Thermometer, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian desk thermometer, consisting of a lovely cat figurine and a lantern-shaped thermometer. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in th...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Antique Art Nouveau Barometer, Sheraton Inlaid Aneroid Barometer, Scotland, 1910
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Art Nouveau barometer, Sheraton inlaid aneroid barometer, Scotland 1910, H143 Scotland, 1910 Solid Walnut and veneer The Walnut case is inlaid with exotic fruitwood Porcelai...
Category

1910s Scottish Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Mid Century Revere S-16 16mm Sound Movie Projector w Case 22"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century Revere 16 sound projector with case. Working. Dimensions: 22"x 15.5" x 7.5"
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

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

Pair Of Large Antique Italian Globes
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair Of Large Antique Italian Globes Large pair of terrestrial and celestial globes from Italy 1940s. The globes are in good conditio...
Category

1940s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Vintage Teaching Aid Modell of An Ear - Somso ca. 1960
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Teaching Aid Modell of An Ear - Somso ca. 1960 A folding model of an ear. Used as teaching material in German schools ca. 1960. Made of wood and plastic by Somso, Germany. ...
Category

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

Materials

Plaster, Wood, Paper

Antique Vintage Scale Weight, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique scale weight made in Spain by unknown manufacturer, circa 1930. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, pre...
Category

1930s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1970s Wooden Foldable School Abacus, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
Mid century wooden colorful abacus that was used in schools in the 1970s. Can be folded as shown in the pictures. Good original condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

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

Antique Salter Family Scales No 50 a Well Loved and Used Family Scales
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Antique Salter Family Scales  No 50 A well loved and used Family Scales, made by Salter, the cast iron body is in Dark green with Gold highlights, it has...
Category

1940s Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Mid Century Collection of Leica Ernst Leitz Camera Lenses Summaron Hektor
By Leica 1, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar
Located in Atlanta, GA
A collection of mid 20th century Leica / Ernst Leitz lenses. There is a Summaron, a Hektor and a Range Finder. Also, cases and lens caps. All of these have been previously used. What makes Leica so good you may be asking. Well here's a quote that's sums up the appeal, "Shooting with a Leica is like a long tender kiss, like firing an automatic pistol, like an hour on the analyst’s couch...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Nikon's Photomic FTn 35mm SLR Camera Fitted with Nikkor-H 50mm Prime Lens F2.0
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Nikon's Photomic FTn 35mm SLR Camera Fitted with Nikkor-H 50mm Prime Lens F2.0 With Brown Ever Ready case Great build quality, heavy weight camera made in Japan. In good working co...
Category

1960s Japanese Machine Age Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Chrome

Large 1960's Vintage Scientific Anatomical Human 3D Ear Model
Located in Lafayette, IN
Large 1960's Vintage Scientific Anatomical Human 3D Ear Model. Manufactured by the Nystrom Co. of Chicago, Illinois. Large 17" scale and great patina!
Category

1960s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Rubber, Wood

French Pendulum Clock & Aneroid Barometer, circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
Clock and aneroid barometer in walnut made circa 1960. The aneroid barometer (or holosteric barometer) was developed by the Frenchman Lucien Vidie who filed a patent for it in 1844 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century English Inlaid Burlwood Barometer / Thermometer
Located in Germantown, MD
Mid-Century English Inlaid Burlwood Barometer / Thermometer. Clean vintage condition. Measures 8.5" in width, 33" in height and 2.25" in depth.
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Stereo Speakers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Inspired by the iconic Dynaco A25 loudspeakers, our twenty-fives offer modern performance with classic proportions. A ten-inch woofer and 1.5 inch textile dome tweeter are sourced fr...
Category

Mid-20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Motorola Model 68L11 '1948' "Tape Measure" Radio
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This item is an exceptional unrestored vintage Motorola Model 68L11 (1948) tape measure radio in very nice condition. Complete except for dry cell battery. This unit is untested and ...
Category

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

Materials

Bakelite

Pair Antique French Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses circa 1910, Lorgnette Handle
Located in Bath, GB
A splendid pair of late Victorian Opera / Theatre glasses professionally re-polished to gleam, making them as good as they would have looked over 100 y...
Category

1910s French Edwardian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Vintage Draughtsman's Set, German, Drawing Instruments, Tools, Richter Pracision
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage draughtsman's set. A German, nickel silver drawing instrument set by E.O. Richter Präcision, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1930. Five piece instrument set ...
Category

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

Materials

Nickel

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

Italian Modern Wooden Botanic Model
Located in Roma, IT
A botanic didactical specimen in the manner of the famous German botanist Robert Brendel. "In the late 19th century Robert Brendel and his son Reinhold produced beautiful and accur...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

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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