Early versions of modern devices on display at the British Library in London.
Items in the exhibition at the British Library are part of a large collection of Victorian and early 20th-century gadgets owned by author and collector Maurice Collins.
Periscope glasses, a 1920s nose hair cutter, a food processor from 1910, a peach peeler from 1890, a World War II kinetic-powered torch, and a 1940s dynamo-powered travel shaver are all on show. Some of the items in the collection are early versions of modern devices.
Maurice Collins says his favourite piece is a clockwork Teasmade from 1902.
The alarm goes off. It pushes over a lever which pushes a lever which causes a match to strike on a bit of emery cloth which sets an oil burner aflame, which boils the kettle.
Other items include an original navigation device worn on the wrist from 1926. Maurice Collins explains how the wristwatch operates using a scrolling technique.
The British Library is hosting the exhibition until 10 November to highlight an inventor in residence advice service provided by Mark Sheahan.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 August 2008. The reporter is Will Goodbody.
