Cabinet of Curiosities – Blower Foundation

Tape Measures

Collection of various tape measures used in surveying, construction, and office work.

Smiths Darkroom Timers

These mechanical darkroom timers were used in photographic processing and printing during the analogue photography era.

Drainage Testing Equipment

Set of drainage testing equipment comprising expando stoppers, lifting irons, rubber tubing, connection pipes, grips, wrench, and a wooden carrying crate with surviving inventory list.

Drawing Inks in Wooden Box

Collection of coloured drawing inks stored in glass bottles with a wooden storage box.

Keys

Collection of labelled metal keys stored within wooden boxes associated with projects undertaken by the architectural practice.

Drainage Testing Bellows

Hand-operated bellows device manufactured by Banner Sanitation Co., likely intended for use in drainage or surveying work.

Kodak Retinette Film Camera & Case

Compact 35mm film camera manufactured by Kodak as part of the Retinette series of consumer cameras produced during the mid-twentieth century.

Clark’s Computer

Circular calculating device known as “Clark’s Computer”, designed for converting decimal parts of an acre into roods, perches and square yards, and vice versa.

Theodolite on Tripod

Precision brass surveying theodolite mounted on a wooden tripod stand, used for measuring horizontal and vertical angles during surveying, engineering, and construction work.

The Princess Royal Model

Handcrafted architectural model of “The Princess Royal” public house, designed by the architects Falkner & Aylwin.

Bostrom-Brady Surveying Level Transit

Precision optical surveying instrument for measuring angles and establishing level sightlines during surveying and construction work.

Magnifying Glasses

Collection of various types of magnifying glasses.

Protimeter Survey Mini

Handheld moisture meter for surveying and building inspection work.

Surveyor’s Compass on Tripod

Surveying compass mounted on a wooden tripod stand, used for measuring bearings and establishing directional alignment during land surveying work.

Imperial Typewriter Model 50

Large desktop typewriter manufactured by one of Britain’s best-known typewriter manufacturers during the twentieth century.

Wooden T-Squares

A collection of T-squares used by architects to produce accurate technical drawings.

Eclipse Smoke Drain Testing Machine

Portable smoke testing machine used by drainage engineers and sanitary inspectors to detect leaks and faults in underground drainage systems.

Olivetti Lettera 32 Typewriter

Portable Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter with pale green casing and black keyboard.

French Curves

Set of wooden French curves manufactured used for technical and architectural drafting.

Novamat 515 AF Slide Projector & Case

Automatic slide projector with its original printed cardboard carrying case.

Fire Bucket

Red painted steel fire bucket with black stencilled “FIRE” lettering and a carrying handle, used for storing water or sand for emergency fire response.

“The Volcano” Smoke Machine

Portable smoke testing machine known as “The Volcano,” used in the inspection and testing of drains, sewers, and pipework.

Water Colours

A collection of watercolour paints used for colouring architectural drawings and perspective artwork.

Surveyor’s Level on Tripod

Optical surveying level mounted on a wooden tripod stand, manufactured by Thomas Rubergall of London, described on the instrument as “Optician to the Queen.”

Wooden Travelling Case

Wooden travelling case with iron hardware, hinged lid, and surviving paper transport labels relating to Wright, Layman & Umney Ltd., wholesale druggists and manufacturing chemists.

Utility Marker Bricks

Pair of fired clay utility marker bricks used to identify the position of underground services and infrastructure.

“Uno” Technical Pen and Stencil Set

Set of lettering stencils and a technical drawing pen used for architectural drafting work.

Surveyor’s Cross Staff

Brass surveyor’s cross staff, also known as an equerre, with hollow octagonal body and cylindrical sighting tube, designed for setting out right angles during surveying work.

Maco Adjustable Template & Box

Adjustable contour template with fine sliding metal teeth, designed to replicate and transfer irregular profiles and curved forms.

Desk in a Box

Portable writing desk with hinged fall-front opening to reveal a sloped writing surface and internal storage compartments.

Watchman’s Clock

Portable brass watchman’s clock with glazed inspection lid, suspension ring, winding key, and attached keys.

Pair of Strap Fastenings

Pair of wooden strap fastenings with canvas securing straps and metal buckle fittings.

Embossing Stamps

Embossing stamps used to mark drawings and correspondence with a raised impression that served as a means of authentication and professional identification.

Set of Alphabetical & Numerical Stencils

Set of reusable plastic drafting stencils containing largeformat alphabetical and numerical characters for technical lettering and signage work.

Chalk Pounce Pad & Tin

Circular metal storage tin containing powdered chalk or pounce and fabric applicator pad with turned wooden handle.

Allbrit Compensating Polar Planimeter

Precision drafting instrument in black case, used by architects to calculate the area of irregular shapes from maps, technical drawings and plans.

Underwood Typewriter No.5

Standard office typewriter finished in black with gold lettering and circular keys.

Slide Rules

Collection of slide rules used for mathematical calculation in, surveying and architecture work.

Vanguard No.6 Stapling Press

Long-reach stapling press with blue painted metal body and black handle grip, designed for fastening large documents, plans, and drawings.

Wooden Case

Wooden storage box for a surveying instrument, lined with green felt and fitted with internal supports, though the original instrument is no longer present.

Rolling Rules

A rolling parallel rule used by architects and draughtsmen to draw accurately spaced parallel lines.

Kobler Guillotine

Heavy-duty office guillotine manufactured by Kobler for cutting card and paper within an office environment.

The Wooden Bridge Model

Architectural model of “The Wooden Bridge” public house in Guildford, designed by the architect G. Maxwell Aylwin.

Halden Calculex

Circular slide rule with its original instruction booklet and protective carrying case.

Stanley London Brass Brunton Compass

Solid brass “Natural Sine” nautical compass, modelled on traditional 19th-century navigational instruments.

Portable Drinking Set

Pair of white enamel travelling cups with gilt rims housed in a cylindrical brown leather carrying case.

Halco Rapid Binding Machine

Desktop rapid binding machine for securing documents and drawings.

Box of Drawing Pins

Small cardboard box containing assorted metal drawing pins used for securing drawings, plans and tracing paper to drafting boards.

Ink Stamp Pad & Adjustable Date Stamp

Collection comprising a Caribonum oil-ink stamp pad and a Trodat adjustable date stamp used for marking office documents.

Scotch Adhesive Tape Rolls

Collection of Scotch adhesive tape rolls stored within cylindrical cardboard dispensing boxes.

A Collection of Spectacles

Collection of metal framed spectacles and pinz-nez stored in protective coloured cases.

Transcription Dictaphone & Microphone

Philips transcription foot pedal and dictation microphone used with analogue office systems.

Wooden Boxes of Drawing Tools

Collection of mathematical and technical drawing instruments housed in wooden cases of varying sizes and designs.

Double Sided Opisometer & Compass

Double-sided opisometer for measuring curved distances on maps.

Bump Paper Fastener

Paper fastener used for both securing documents and hole punching within office environments during the early twentieth century.

Mini Cassette Transcriber

Philips LFH 0186/15 mini cassette transcription machine designed for office transcription work.