Eccentric Contraptions
Author(s): Maurice Collins
The incredible clockwork teasmade on the cover is just one of over 100 bizarre and ingenious gadgets in Maurice Collins' collection from the complexity of mechanical fruit peelers and a hand-pumped automatic shaver to the simplicity of the 'toe socks' of the 1920s which claimed to cut hosiery bills by 80 per cent. If you thought burglar alarms were a modern invention, there is a Victorian brass clockwork one in the collection, if you've always found striking matches too taxing, someone in the 1920s invented an automated self-striking match box to save you the trouble. Fascinating and humorous Eccentric Contraptions will intrigue and amuse, and is a testament to human ingenuity and resourcefulness.
Product Information
As well as being a passionate collector of gadgets, Maurice Collins also has extraordinary collections of posters and printed ephemera and gives regular talks about his collections. He is the co-founder of the charity Kith & Kids, which provides a range of services to families with disabled children and has been awarded an OBE for his services to disabled people. He has also been the chairman of Haringey Mencap and Mencap London Region. He lives in North London.
Preface; 1. Domestic; 2. The Kitchen; 3. Business; 4. Social; 5. Medical; 6. Transport; 7. Miscellaneous; Afterword
General Fields
- :
- : David & Charles
- : David & Charles
- : 0.408
- : 24 September 2004
- : 155mm X 165mm X 17mm
- : United Kingdom
- : books
Special Fields
- : Maurice Collins
- : Paperback
- : 608.7
- : 224
- : 100+ colour photographs
