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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
Period: Late 20th Century
1970's Vintage Olivetti Lettera 35 Typewriter
Located in San Carlos, CA
Beautiful vintage 1970's Olivetti Lettera 35 typewriter, made in Italy. This typewriter comes with a very cool vintage Olivetti shoulder bag. This typewriter is in very good cosmeti...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1986 Enorme Telephone Handset by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly postmodern telephone handset designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme telephone was the result of a collaboration between...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

1970s Era Harmon-Kardon 330B with Matching Omni Directional Speakers
By bose
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This item is a classic Harmon-Kardon 330B receiver retrofitted with Bluetooth module and matched with period correct Harmon-Kardon Omni Direction speakers. The Harman-Kardon 330B was...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Maitland Smith Art Nouveau Style Large Standing Brass Nautilus Magnifying Glass
Located in Doylestown, PA
Maitland Smith Art Nouveau style large standing nautilus magnifying glass. Lots of intricate details capture the beauty of this intriguing sea creature. It is free standing supporte...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Art Nouveau Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Bilancia pesa persona Wunder
Located in Roma, IT
Bilancia pesa persona prodotta in Italia negli anni 70 in perfetto stato Meccanica restaurata Pesata 120 Kg divisioni 500g
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Bilancia pesa persona da Farmacia Diara
Located in Roma, IT
Bilancia pesa persone da Farmacia prodotta in Italia negli anni 70 dalla ditta Diara di Livorno completamente restaurata Pesata massimo 150 kg Divisione 100 g Meccanica
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Olivetti Divisumma 18, designed by Mario Bellini, 1973
Located in Firenze, IT
The Divisumma 18 is a portable electronic calculator made by Olivetti in 1973 through which the company entered the portable electronics market. Thanks to the design of Mario Bellin...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic, Rubber

Vintage Polaroid SX-70 Tan Land Camera by Henry Dreyfuss
Located in Wallkill, NY
A very nice Polaroid SX - 70 camera, developed by Edwin Land and Richard Wareham, designed by Henry Dreyfuss Associates. This was state of the art and re...
Category

1970s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Stainless Steel

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

Rare Pierre Cardin Pop Art Futuristic Ambiance Phone
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Rare and highly collectable Pop Art futuristic Ambiance phone.
Category

1980s Taiwanese Futurist Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

21th Century Solid Silver Ruler By Richard O.A Jarvis, England, c.2003
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An early 21st century novelty "Premier Rule" measuring ruler with all the British Prime Ministers listed from Sir Robert Walpole 1721 up until Tony Blair 1997. It is made of solid silver, featuring centimeter and inch measuring markers. Presented in a beautiful original box. Hallmarked English Silver (925 standard), London, year 2003 (d), Maker Richard O.A. Jarvis (Richard Jarvis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Scientific Instruments

Materials

Silver

Mid-Century Functional Tesla AS20 Phone 1979, Československo
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition - Fully functional - Tesla manufacturer - Scratched, see photo-
Category

1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Phantom Dental Training Simulator on Custom Steel Stand
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A phantom dental training simulator used in dental school with removable rubber shroud. Mounted on a custom steel stand. The aluminum jaws have a magnetic quick disconnect sys...
Category

Late 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Vintage Saunders Rota Trim Mastercut II Rotary Paper Cutter Trimmer
Located in Dayton, OH
1996 Rota Trim Mastercut II rotary guillotine paper cutter / trimmer with self-sharpening tungsten steel cutting blade. Saunders Catalog No. 890-015. Blade marked UF-11-95. Made in...
Category

Late 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Composition, Metal

Vintage 1970s Vexilar Zoom Video Sonar Model 990 Nautical Ice Fishing 11"
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare vintage 1970s Vexilar Video-Sonar Model 990X. Serial Number 90430. Manufactured by BH Electronics for Vexilar Inc. The 990 was the top model, following the 330 and 660. "Model 990 zoom video sonar presents data on a cathode ray tube with a feature that allows the operator to zero in on any target between the surface and bottom or on the bottom itself. The operator can select and expand it to any one of the zoom sizes: 7.5, 15, 45, 90, and 180, each expressed in feet, fathoms, or meters. If, for example, the 15 ft zoom size is selected the full screen will show just that 15 ft. Model 990 reads depths to 1400 ft in five ranges and draws 12 watts in continual usage on 12v to 32v DC. A freeze-action feature allows the operator to hold a particular view on the screen indefinitely and a sea bed discrimination feature distinguishes fish and schools of fish from the bottom surface, according to the manufacturer. Measuring 10" by 7" by 8", the solid state unit weighs 12 lbs and has light intensity control and a sun screen...
Category

1970s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1970s German Sputnik Barometer Tabletop Sculpture Mid-Century Modernist Orb
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Very clean example, estate fresh to you. Wonderful design by Huger of W.Germany.
Category

1970s German Scandinavian Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Postmodern Funnytime 105 Kitchen Timer by Roberto Pezzetta for Wikidue
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A whimsical Italian postmodern multicolor kitchen timer designed by Roberto Pezzetta for WikiDue. Stacked green, red and yellow discs give it a fun Me...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

1986 Enorme Telephone Handset by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly postmodern telephone handset designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme telephone was the result of a collaboration between Sottsass and David Kelley, founder of the design firm IDEO. Sottsass created the conceptual design, and Kelley and his team were responsible for the engineering and detail design. To produce the telephone, the two formed the Enorme Corporation with Jean Pigozzi. Examples of this phone design are found in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, RISD Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum. In vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use. This is the handset only and it has not been tested. Molded manufacturer's mark on handset and base: "Designed by Ettore Sottsass Enorme...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Bolex 280 Macrozoom Video Movie Camera & Case 1:1.8/7-56mm 11"
By Bolex
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Bolex 280 Macrozoom video camera and case. Includes camera strap, remote shutter button, lens cap, rubber lens hood, and camera strap. Made in A...
Category

Late 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Nikon Lot N90 35mm Camera with MB-10 Grip SB-25 Flash MF-26 Control
Located in Dayton, OH
Lot includes Nikon N90s 35mm camera, MB-10 Multi Power Vertical Grip, SB-25 Speedlight flash, MF-26 Multi-Control Back, instruction books/original boxes, Complete User’s Guide Nikon ...
Category

Late 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Nikon AF Nikkor Camera Lens Set 28mm 50mm 85mm Speedlight Flash & Case
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Nikon camera lens lot. Comes with Lightware case, 3 Nikon AF Nikkor 1:1.4D lenses (28mm, 85mm, and 50mm), Nikon Speedlight SB-28 flash, 4 Nikon lens hoods (HN-31, HK-&, HN-1...
Category

Late 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

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

1986 Gray and Black Enorme Telephone by Ettore Sottsass for Enorme
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly postmodern telephone designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme phone was produced in another color way but this is the much rarer gray and black version. The Enorme telephone was the result of a collaboration between Sottsass and David Kelley, founder of the design firm IDEO. Sottsass created the conceptual design, and Kelley and his team were responsible for the engineering and detail design. To produce the telephone, the two formed the Enorme Corporation with Jean Pigozzi. Examples of this phone design are found in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, RISD Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum. In good vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use. Works great! Molded manufacturer's mark on handset and base: "Designed by Ettore Sottsass Enorme...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Large Mid-Century Italian Giorgio Armani Eye Glasses Factice Shop Display Piece
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This is a rare and unique item! The Armani Eyeglasses Factic for display in a shop comes with its original cardboard packaging and is made of metal a...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Olivetti Lettera 36 Portable Typewriter Designed by Ettore Sottsass. circa 1970s
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Olivetti Lettera 36 Portable Typewriter with the Original Case. circa early 1970s Created by famed Italian designer/architect Ettore Sottsass...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1980s Green Bang & Olufsen Beocom 2000 Phone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1986 Lone and Gideon Lindinger-Lowy, the Bang & Olufsen Beocom 2000 telephone is Danish design at its finest, and the epitome of 1980s high-tec...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Spanish Analog Telephone by Telefonica, circa 1980
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Vintage Analog Telephone manufactured by Telefonica from Spain, circa 1980. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. M...
Category

1980s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Supreme x Hoto Red Tool Set, 5-Piece, Spring, 2023
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Supreme x hoto red tool set, 5-piece, Spring 2023. Made exclusively for Supreme (Spring 2023), limited edition. Red, Supreme-printed case. Includes 3.6V 3-level torque adjustable scr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Memento Mori by Callum Campbell
Located in Geneve, CH
Memento Mori by Callum Campbell Objects for Self Collection Signed Dimensions  W 3.5 x H 9.3 cm Materials: Brass Finish: Polished Engraved with clients name and date of birth...
Category

2010s Australian Modern 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

Render by Callum Campbell
Located in Geneve, CH
Render by Callum Campbell Objects for self-collection Signed and numbered Dimensions: W 24 x D 8.8 H 36 cm Materials: Brass, stainless steel Finish: Polished Physical appearance...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Honne by Callum Campbell
Located in Geneve, CH
Honne by Callum Campbell Objects for self collection Signed and numbered Dimensions: W 9.5 x H 19- 25 cm Materials: Brass, LED Finish: Polished Note: 220-240w Australian elect...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Push Button Genie Telephone in Peach
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Very sleek & cool styling in this Genie telephone. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear retains the great color of it's early days. Not tested.
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Solid Brass Ships Nautical Miles Gauge
Located in Norwell, MA
Made in England by Thomas Walker and Son LTD Birmingham. Triple dial, anchor logo, nautical miles, and per mile and hundred miles gauges. Great piece of nautical décor. Weight: 8 ...
Category

1970s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1980s Black Bang & Olufsen Beocom 2000 Phone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1986 by Lone and Gideon Lindinger-Lowy, the Bang & Olufsen Beocom 2000 telephone is Danish design at its finest, and the epitome of 1980s high-...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Bausch & Lomb Optical XD 7489 Medical Supply Test
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Bausch & Lomb Optical XD 7489 Medical Supply Test. Item features a Bausch & Lomb optical device. We are not exactly sure what is used for or wha...
Category

Late 20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Marco Zanuso & Richard Sapper for Brionvega TS 505 Cube Radio, 1976
Located in Naples, IT
The TS 505A is a unique portable transistor radio, designed by designers Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper in 1962 and launched two years later by the Milan-based company Brionvega. The TS 505 - also known as the 'Cube' - is a worldwide icon of industrial design, and is exhibited in the most important museums of contemporary art. It can also be found at the MoMa in New York. A cult object composed of two cubic plastic 'valves' that make it resemble a cuboid shell. The radio bears the Florentine silver...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Vintage Laboratory Microscope, German, Scientific Instrument, Carl Zeiss Jena
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage laboratory microscope. A German, enamelled metal scientific instrument by Carl Zeiss Jena, dating to the late 20th century, circa ...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique Fountain Pen with Papers & Boxes
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This fountain pen was made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. This fountain pen is their 'Meisterstuck' model and has...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Gold, Stainless Steel

1986 Enorme Telephone by Ettore Sottsass for Enorme
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly postmodern telephone designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme telephone was the result of ...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Rainbow SP019 Softphone, Design by Canetti Group for Canetti
Located in FERROL, ES
Rainbow SP019 Softphone, design by Canetti Group for Canetti. Made of multicolored foam. Has some wear to bottom buttons. Measures: 22x7x3 cm.
Category

1990s Chinese Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Foam, Rubber

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

1980s Chocolate Brown Touchtone Desk Phone
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage chocolate brown touchtone desk phone. Circa 1980s Features a bright chocolate brown body with contrasting gray buttons. The base has rubber feet ...
Category

1980s South Korean Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Pair of Vintage Montblanc Meisterstruck & Starwalker Pens with Boxes & Papers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of vintage rollerball pens were made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. theiThe black cased pen from this grouping is their "Meisterstruck" model with a clear tip on the cap, and a gold band around the center of the barrel with "MONTBLANC" and "MEISTERSTRUCK" in block letters. The other pen of this group with the brushed metal case is their "Starwalker" model. Both pens come with thier original fitted boxes, and we have one outer box and some paperwork. Both of these Montblanc rollerball pens...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Stainless Steel

German Reflecting Telescope in Limited Edition from the Deutsches Museum in 1978
Located in Sofia, BG
Gregory brass spyglass - Deutsches Museum 1978/79 limited edition. This reflecting foldable telescope is being published in a worldwide limited edition...
Category

Late 20th Century German Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Anatomical Model: the Skeletal Part of a Foot, Germany, 1970’s
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model depicting the skeletal part of a foot, made by Somso, Sonenberg. Germany, circa 1970.
Category

1970s German Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Personal Weight, Luxa/Vista Semily, 1980's
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in czechoslovakia. Made of Metal,Plastic. Fully Functional. Good original condition.
Category

1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Space Age Food Scale by Marco Zanuso for Terraillon
Located in San Diego, CA
Great design on this beautiful scale design by Marco Zanuso for Terraillon, circa 1970's, very light use and perfect working condition.
Category

Late 20th Century French Space Age Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

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

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

Gimballed Brass Boat Compass by Dirigo
Located in Norwell, MA
Gimballed brass boat compass by "Dirigo" of Seattle, Washington. With fleur-de-lis pointing north. Fitted to a birch box with lid. Circa 1975. Overall Dimensions: 5" H x 8" L x 8"...
Category

1970s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Space Age Orange Vintage Television Ikaro by Minerva, 1970s, Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age orange vintage television from plastic model Ikaro by Minerva, 1970s, Austria. This portable television with an orange plastic casing by...
Category

1970s Austrian Space Age Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

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

Greta Garbo Limited Edition Mont Blanc Ballpoint Pen with Pearl
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Greta Garbo Limited Edition Mont Blanc Ballpoint Rollerball pen with pearl. Montblanc honors Greta Garbo in the form of another mystical writing i...
Category

Late 20th Century German Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Resin

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 Yves Saint Laurent Sunglasses
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses. Vintage 1990s oval YSL sunglasses, vintage Yves St Laurent silver sunglasses, brown lens, YSL. These sharp ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Resin

Handcrafted Wooden Mortar and Pestle, Italy
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wooden footed mortar and pestle hand turned and carved from one piece of dense fruitwood. Handcrafted by artisan in Italy, hand turned wood Mortar and Pestle...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Organic Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood, Fruitwood

1980s Spanish Banjo Weather Station w/ Original Glass
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Spanish wooden banjo weather station, with original glass domes, barometer, hydrometer and thermometer.    
Category

Late 20th Century Spanish Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass, 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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