Universe image Treasures from the Collection

Universe image Treasures from the Collection

Treasures from the Collection

Take a look at some scientific and technological treasures from our collective past.

Video transcript

Transistor Radio

This Hippy FabuLLOYD transistor radio was made in Japan circa 1970. Its small size meant music lovers could listen to their favourite songs anywhere they went.

Production year: 2017

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Episodes of Treasures from the Collection

Lorimer Telephone - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
This telephone was connected to the Lorimer automatic switching system. Invented by Canadians around 1900, the system enabled callers to establish a connection without going through an operator.
Hairdryer - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
Canadian-made portable hairdryers first appeared during the 1960s and provided a quick way to tame your hair.
Sundial - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
The exterior ring on this bronze double sundial marks intervals of ten minutes. The interior ring marks intervals of five minutes. The design was invented in 18th-century England by William Oughtred, who also invented the slide rule and the multiplicat...
Reinventing: Museum of the Future - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
Some tasks require vertical lines as a reference point. To determine if something is perpendicular, builders use a weight suspended on a length of string. This one dates from the 17th-century Ottoman Empire.
Marconi Television Receiver - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
Designed circa 1950 by the Marconi company, it was one of the first televisions made in Canada. Its 25-centimeter screen produced black-and-white images. In addition to the modern walnut cabinet, customers could opt for high-end oak or mahogany models.
Wood-Burning Stove - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
This cast - iron wood stove was a very efficient way to heat rural homes. Its cylindrical form and decorative style are typical of the period.
Steam Buggy - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
The steam buggy is the earliest known passenger vehicle built in Canada. It was made by Henry Seth Taylor in 1867. Fueled by a coal-fired boiler, the buggy could reach a maximum speed of 24 km/h.
Nocturnal - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
Nocturnals were used by sailors to determine the local time at sea and to calculate tides. This one was made for use in the northern hemisphere. It was designed to align Polaris (the North Star) with either Ursa Major or Ursa Minor.
Polyphonic Synthesizer - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
Canadian Hugh Le Caine was a pioneer of electronic music. He invented the first voltage-controlled synthesizer in the mid-1940s. In 1970, he built one of the era´s most advanced synthesizers, the polyphonic synthesizer, which allowed musicians to play ...
Reinventing: Museum of the Future - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
This model of the Port Huon was ordered at the same time as the ship itself, in the mid-1920s. The Port Huon was a refrigerated cargo ship that sailed between the United Kingdom and Australia, transporting fruits and other foodstuffs as well as general...
Teleprinter - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
When transmitting messages, teleprinters emitted clicks. Made in 1939, this analog model worked like a manual typewriter. It featured a type wheel, and a roller and the paper moved when the user typed in words.
Polyphonic Synthesizer - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
Canadian Hugh Le Caine was a pioneer of electronic music. He invented the first voltage-controlled synthesizer in the mid-1940s. In 1970, he built one of the era´s most advanced synthesizers, the polyphonic synthesizer, which allowed musicians to play ...
Charcoal Iron - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
This iron from 1870 was heated by filling the hollow interior with hot coals. The temperature could be controlled by opening or closing a vent on the back.
Commodore 64 Home Computer - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
The Commodore 64 was the best-selling home computer of the 1980s. Its programmable console held 64 kilobytes of RAM. Used for games and word processing, it was manufactured in 1983 and helped popularize home computers.
Reinventing: Museum of the Future - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
Built in 1889 and later restored, the sled could carry up to four passengers. This model was originally made for fox hunting.
Transistor Radio - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
This Hippy FabuLLOYD transistor radio was made in Japan circa 1970. Its small size meant music lovers could listen to their favourite songs anywhere they went.
Reinventing: Museum of the Future - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
To measure the height of the cloud ceiling, weather stations and airports use a ceilometer. It measures distance by emitting laser impulses that reflect off clouds.
35mm Film Projector - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
This model K 35mm film projector was manufactured in Chicago by Motograph, circa 1938.
High-Speed Camera - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
High-speed cameras can record fast movements. This 16mm HYCAM manufactured circa 1951 can film up to 8000 images per second. It was used to film a pulp and paper factory´s assembly line for quality control.
Steam Engine - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
This three-dimensional model of a walking beam engine is fully functional. It is made of steel and brass. It was made by an amateur Toronto model maker circa 1940.
Modern Bicycle - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
"The 1890s marked the birth of the modern bicycle with the advent of the diamond frame. "
Thermometer - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
This is a replica of a sealed glass thermometer from Florence, circa 1654. It measured air temperatures from 0 to 40 degrees.
Anemometer - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
"An anemometer measures wind speed and direction. The first anemometers were made in the 15th century. A new anemometer was designed by the Canadian John Patterson during the 1920s. "
Reinventing: Museum of the Future - vidéo
Treasures from the Collection
"This model used a black mirror to reflect the images of clouds. Using the compass points and a graduated scale, it measured cloud movement as an indicator of meteorological conditions. "