Tools of the Trade Archives

Apothecary Trade Tokens, 1648-1678

These trade tokens would have been issued to customers by apothecaries in lieu of small change. These tokens are embossed with the names and towns ...

Baker lacquered brass monocular microscope, around 1870

This lacquered brass monocular microscope is marked ‘Baker, 244 High Holborn, London’, indicating that it was made by the microscope manufacturer Charles Baker. The microscope was ...

Bohemian Glass Shop Rounds, 1700s

These Bohemian glass shop rounds with painted labels were possibly made in Germany or Bohemia (today much of the Czech Republic) in the 1700s. Their ...

Boxwood Pill Finisher

Pills formed on a pill tile or made by a pill machine were not perfectly round. A pill finisher, a wooden disc with a raised ...

Boxwood Pill Finisher, late 1700s or early 1800s

Pills formed on a pill tile or made by a pill machine were not perfectly round. A pill finisher, a wooden disc with a raised ...

Boxwood Pill Silverer, 1800s

A pill silverer was used to coat newly-made pills. The cheapest pills were coated with talc but wealthier clients bought pills coated in silver or ...

Ceramic Porringer, 1730

Ceramic, tin-glazed earthenware, bowl with one flat 5-lobed handle. White glaze with design in blue. Decorated with flowers and bird. Inscription ‘B.S.1730’ Porringers were ...

Culpeper-type compound microscope, around 1760

This microscope is based on a design developed by Edward Culpeper between 1725 and 1730. The body tube was used for focusing. On the base, instead of ...

Delivery Van in Steedman’s Livery 1922

Black and white photograph of a Steedman delivery van. The photograph shows a van with the body work of 1913 adapted to a Beardmore chassis. Steedman’...

Delivery Van in Steedman’s Livery 1956

Black and white photograph of the side view of a van for John Steedman’s Powder Company, Walworth, Surrey. Steedman’s Powders are advertised on ...

Tools of the Trade