Until the start of Victoria's reign advances in science had moved at a very slow pace. No doubt helped by the industrial revolution science moved very fast during Edwardian and Victorian Times. Many things that we take for granted today such as Radio, Electric lights, cameras and X Ray machines were pioneered in this age. Many modern science books provide details of these inventions. To help provide the feeling of the time this site has obtained a set of cigarette cards from 1915 a sample of which are reproduced with the text below. Steam Hammer The steam hammer was invented in 1838 by James Nasmyth a Manchester engineer. His invention was improved upon in 1853 by Robert Wilson, his partner and successor. Whilst a blow of enormous energy can be given by these immense machines, so delicately are they adjusted and so perfectly controlled that they can be made to tap the shell of an egg without breaking it. Some of these hammers can deliver a blow equivalent to 4,000 tons. Edison's First Phonograph As long ago as 1856 an instrument was made which was capable of automatically registering sounds, but it was left to Edison, 20 years later, to introduce the first complete Phonograph. This consisted of grooved metal cylinder covered with tinfoil, on which the sounds were registered, and soon afterwards reproduced by means of a steel needle. A conical mouthpiece was attached to concentrate the reproduced sound.
	The Hobby Horse The Hobby-Horse or Dandy-Horse, the forerunner of the modern bicycle, was introduced into England in 1818. The rider propelled it by a tip-toe running action. Pedals were added about 1866 and the first safety bicycle was made in 1885. In 1888 Dunlop invented the pneumatic tyre and the introduction of the free-wheel tyre and two and three speed gears finally gave us the bicycle of today. The Camera The principle of photography was known as early as the 16th century. In 1802 Thomas Wedgewood wrote a paper on " an account of a method of copying paintings upon glass, and of making profiles by the agency of light upon nitrate of silver." In 1824 Daguerre commenced his experiments and in 1839 Mr Talbot published a method of producing prints from a negative. Dry plates were introduced in 1874 and in 1893 photographs in natural colours were produced by Lumiere. Electric Tram The electrically driven car has almost entirely superseded the old-fashioned horse-drawn tram. The first electric tram car was run at Leytonstone, Essex in 1882. The trolley pole seen at the top of most electric cars has nothing to do with the actual driving of the car, but simply conducts the electricity from the overhead wire, through the motorman's switchbox, to the motor beneath the car. Vacuum Flask The vacuum flask really consists of two bottles, one inside the other, the air being extracted from a space between, forming a vacuum, which is a non conductor of heat. The temperature in the corked-up inner bottle thus remains the same, whatever the temperature, outside may be, keeping the contents hot or cold as desired. The outer case is simply for protection against breakage. Marconi Transmitting Apparatus The outstanding figure in the realm of wireless telegraphy is Guglielmo Marconi. He commenced experimenting in 1895, and when only 22 years of age he sent wireless messages across the Bristol Channel. In 1901 the first wireless telegraph was sent across the Atlantic and messages can now be sent from 2,000 to 3,000 miles. Almost all large liners, battleships and cargo boats are now fitted with wireless apparatus and the distress call S.O.S has been the means of saving hundreds of lives. X Ray apparatus The wonderful X Rays were discovered in 1895. Their discovery has given a great impetus to the progress of science and surgery and has had far reaching effect in the saving of life and the alleviation of pain. The bones of the living body can be seen by means of these rays, flesh being almost transparent to them, whilst bones are almost opaque. Steam Navvy The huge steam navvy is used for excavations on a large scale. The largest weigh nearly 100 tons and the dipper can scoop up to 5 cubic yards of material, often weighing 10 tons, at a single stroke. The school which is armed with teeth is thrust against the bank about to be excavated and raised slowly scraping off a portion of the surface. When the dipper is full the neck is raised, swung around and the load deposited in a dump car. Howe's Sewing machine In 1830 a successful chain-stitch sewing machine was invented and constructed by Thimmonier who started a factory in which many of these machines were employed. In 1845 Elias Howe constructed the first Lock-stitch sewing machine using an eye-pointed needle and an independent shuttle, each threaded. In 1851 Singer patented his first machine and did much to accelerate the commercial introduction of this most useful invention. Titan Crane The two principal type of crane used for harbour construction are the 'Goliath'  or gantry crane or the 'Titan' Crane. The great advantage of the later type is that by means of its wheeled base running on rails it can be withdrawn out of reach of the waves when not in use. Some of these 'Titans' have an overhang of 100 feet and can lift a load of up to 5 tons. Electric Light There are two kinds of electric lamps employed- The arc lamp and the filament lamp. In the arc lamp two carbon rods are placed with their points almost touching. The electric current sparks across the gap and an arc of glowing vapour is formed, the carbon paints becoming white hot and a dazzling light produced. In the filament lamp the electric current passes through and extremely fine wire which creates so high a resistance as to become white hot, thus giving out light. Incandescent Gas Light Coal gas was first used for illuminating purposes by Wm. Murdock, a Scotsman who in 1792 used it in his house. In 1809 gas was used to light Pall Mall and Westminster Bridge was illuminated with it in 1814. A great advance was made in the development of gaslight by the introduction in 1900 of incandescent gas burners and mantles, the effect of which is to cause the flame to become a brilliant, dazzling white. Hydraulic Press To Joseph Bramah and Henry Maudsley belongs the credit for the invention of the hydraulic press. Whenever an enormous sustained effort is required for lifting heavy loads, bending steel plates or compressing metal etc, hydraulic power is almost indispensable. The huge press shown is used for consolidating steel ingots for armour plating. It is over 33 feet in height, weighs 1,280 tons and exerts a pressure of 12,000 tons.