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Industrial Scientific Instruments

INDUSTRIAL STYLE

Industrial floor lamps, bar stools, desks and other industrial-style furnishings have experienced a resurgence in popularity with the rise of interest in minimalist design.

It's a look that celebrates the past even as it suggests vigor, productivity and brawn. The newly chic industrial style of decor repurposes the simple, sturdy furniture of an earlier world of commerce — brushed-metal storage cabinets and display shelves, task lamps and pendant lights with enameled shades, work tables with worn wooden tops and cast-iron bases — and couples them with aesthetic touches emblematic of energy and optimism, from bright upholstery fabrics to flowers.

The rise in prominence of the industrial style has come hand-in-hand with the residential repurposing of former manufacturing and warehouse districts throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. In many loft apartments created in shuttered factories, the architectural envelope has been left intact.

Industrial-style interiors feature elements like raw brick walls, exposed steel beams and oak floors whose history is written in every pit and gouge. Iron and glass transom windows give definition and interest to small kitchen areas anchored by kitchen islands made of marble, steel and brass, while taxidermy or vintage neon signs serve as wall art in living rooms dotted with leather club chairs. Patina is the keynote to a decor in sync with such surroundings. 

On 1stDibs you will find industrial furniture designs that wear their age beautifully — and were built to last.

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Style: Industrial
Cold War Japanese Defence Agency 15x80 Binoculars with Illumination Control
By Kowa
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Japanese Type 65 Naval Binoculars (1984) by Kowa – With Full Illumination Controls This outstanding set of Type 65 8cm twin-eye naval binoculars, manufactured by Kowa Co., Ltd. in Ap...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Bronze

Antique Veterinarian Syringe c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Antique metal veterinarian serum syringe with two needle attachments and original box and label. Engraved on both sides. CREATOR O.M. Franklin Serum Company. DATE O...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Antique Brass And Glass National Cash Register Size No. 347 - For Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Ornate antique brass and glass National Cash Register, size no. 347, circa early 20th century. Primarily brass, with ornate neoclassical details, wood base/drawer, and glass panels. ...
Category

20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Other

Vintage Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter c.1946
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A vintage portable Underwood Champion Four bank typewriter in grey finish and original case. This typewriter is very clean and in good working order. It has smooth typing and ...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Antique Rosewood and Mahogany Putty Knives
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A set of antique putty knives with Rosewood, Mahogany and brass handles. CREATOR Embee, Red Devil DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1920-1950. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Steel...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Siebe Gorman Fire Fighter Smoke Mask
By Siebe Gorman Co.
Located in Stockholm, SE
This is an early Siebe Gorman & Co. Ltd. smoke mask. These full face helmets are very rare and found mostly in museum collections. This example looks and feels like it´s never have ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Siebe Gorman Fire Fighter Smoke Mask
Siebe Gorman Fire Fighter Smoke Mask
$2,800 Sale Price
20% Off
French Camera Lucida from the early 20th century. Original case
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Antique French camera lucida, a mid 1800s drawing aide tool with original box. A camera Lucida is generally considered to have been invented by the English chemist W. H. Wollaston in...
Category

1880s French Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1970 s Japanese Nikon 20 x 120 Big Eye Military Binoculars Tripod
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
An iconic piece of Japanese military-grade optics, this pair of Nikon 20×120 binocular telescopes represents one of the most highly regarded large-format observation instruments of t...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Bronze

Very Large Ophtalmotrope
Located in Peekskill, NY
What is an ophthalmotrope? An ophthalmotrope is an apparatus for demonstrating the movements of the eye and the action of the different muscles which produce them, consisting essentially of a model eyeball to which are attached strings and pulleys to duplicate the line force of the muscles. We think this example is most likely French from the early 20th century. The base is marble with paw feet. It’s also quite large at well over 3 foot tall. This instrument is very complete. It also includes additional parts to set the mechanics up in a different way. In the pictures above the strings are attached to a keyboard. The alternative replaces the keyboard with string guide with a dozen hanging tubular weights. This is one of the largest and most decorative examples we have seen. I have only seen pictures of ophthalmotropes and never one this fine and complete. It’s as rare and impressive show piece. This item was also used in the movie Knives Out,
Category

Early 20th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Keuffel Esser Co. Military Transit Surveyor Telescope
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Keuffel & Effer Co. military transit surveyor. It consists of a compass and a telescope. Inside the center of the compass is hallmarked Keuffel & Esser. Also over the front...
Category

20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Large Floor Model Antique Brass Scale With Wooden Case With Glass Panels
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Case on four feet with lower drawer. On four legs that are screwed to adjust for level. There is a removable wooden framed door with glass panel that slides in from the top. A bras...
Category

19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Large Studio Portrait Camera
Located in Peekskill, NY
Cameras are not my expertise but we could not pass up on this beauty. The camera is signed ANSCO and the large lens reads DARLO OPTICIEN, PARIS 35436. I'm told that this lens is the most valuable...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Antique Schaeffer Budenberg Stationary Steam Engine Model w Copper Boiler
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century Schaeffer & Budenberg stationary steam engine model. Made of cast iron featuring copper boiler The Budenberg Gauge Company was founded in 1918. The original pa...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Copper

1940s English The Viking Scale Weights by F. J. Thornton Co. Ltd.
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1940s The Viking scale & weights by F.J. Thornton & Co Ltd, Wolverhampton, UK. Cast iron black painted with gilt manufacturer's information & emblem. Brass weight & dry goods holders...
Category

1940s English Vintage Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique English Kent s Knife Cleaning, Polishing Sharpening Wheel
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An intricate and fascinating Industrial piece from London, England. English sharpening wheel with wooden drum set vertically on cast iron base with four feet with hand crank. Identi...
Category

Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Other, Iron

Antique Microscope by W. Klein Wetzlar with Carl Zeiss optical lenses, Germany
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a rare antique Microscope manufactured by W. Klein in Wetzlar. The microscope features a solid brass body that has dev...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique Italian Vineyard Iron Wine Bottle Corker Industrial Floor Cork Press
Located in Forney, TX
A rustic Italian vineyard / winery wrought iron floor standing hand crank cork press machine. Early 20th century, Italy, black forged iron apparatus with wooden handle, simplistic u...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wrought Iron, Iron

Nautical Double Gauge Bubble Clinometer on Teak Back Plate by Conn. Valley Ind.
Located in Nantucket, MA
A double gauge bubble clinometer with precision glass tubing and nickel face mounted on a teak back plate. These tilt gauges were used on vessels to measure the angular slant of the ...
Category

Late 20th Century North American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Chrome

19th Century Shop Double Paper Roll Cutter Dispenser
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century shop double paper roll cutter dispenser This is a rare and very unusual paper roll cutter, the stand is made in Beech and Iron, it ho...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

A Set of 19th c. Carpenter s Molding Wood Planes
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Antique wooden carpentry planes used to make trim and moldings. Stamped "Ohio Tool Co." on the side. Shown with life size hand mold for scale. CREATOR Unknown. DATE ...
Category

19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Vintage WESCO Oil Can
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Vintage Metal Oil Can. An automotive oil can made by Wesco, Birmingham. A fantastic piece of vintage motoring ephemera, the perfect gift for the motoring enthusiast. Who would have t...
Category

Early 20th Century British Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Aircraft Design Wind Tunnel Scale Model of a Late 1960s GAC-100 Airliner
Located in London, GB
A 1/10 scale wind tunnel model of a GAC-100 Commuter airliner. Wingspan: 7ft (214 cm) The model is constructed out of laminated mahogany, and is built to the highest standards,...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Mahogany

1920s Mahogany Brass Antique Tool Carpentry Scribe
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Mahogany Wood & Patinated Brass Antique Old Carpentry Marking Tool circa 1920s USA Carpenter Scribe Marking Gauge Vintage Wood Working Tool in Wood ...
Category

1920s American Vintage Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1890s Hand Painted Life Size Anatomical of Head
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is an early and high quality hand-painted plaster antique anatomical model of an adult human head. I would date this to 1900. The detail...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

1920s Whiting Sculptoscope Coin Op Stereo Card Viewer
Located in Peekskill, NY
Original whiting sculpt scope coin-operated stereo card viewer from the 1920s. Deposit a penny, pull trigger and look through the viewer to flip through st...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Large Kodak Folding No. 3A Camera with Mahogany Inlay c.1910
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A large Eastman Kodak No. 3A folding camera with red bellows and Mahogany inlay. The body is wrapped in leather with chrome and brass accents. The camera folds to 2.5 inches. ...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass, Chrome

Oversized Industrial Pyrex Glass Bell Jar With Small Side Arm
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This oversized Industrial Pyrex glass bell jar is certainly a unique and an impressive art object. At 29" height and 20.5" diameter this bell jar, dome, clouche can be used any way y...
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass

Rare Antique Agfa Ansco Readyset Traveler Folding Camera c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An antique Readyset Traveler folding camera. The body of camera is covered in a luggage canvas with a a pop out view finder and it folds smoothly closed to 1.5 inches. This ...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass, Chrome

Antique Rosewood Stanley No. 12 1/2 Veener Plane c.1904-1943
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Cabinet makers veneer scraper plane with Rosewood handles and bronze knobs. CREATOR Stanley Tools Inc. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1904-1943. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Carl Zeiss cold war era 10 x 50 periscope binoculars
Located in London, GB
A cold war era Carl Zeiss Oberkochen 10 x 50 periscope binoculars, German, circa 1965. Specifications: 10 times magnification, coated optics, objective diameter 50 mm, grey filter and drop down grid. Original transport case. (included protective feet pads and rubber eye guards). Dimensions of the case: 29 x 18 1/2 x 11 inches. (73 x 47 x 28 cm). Mounted on an adjustable height tripod. Height of periscope in photographs: 77 inches. This model of Zeiss periscope...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Steel

Antique Steel and Wood Chisels
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A set of antique steel and wood chisels with bronze collars. One steel nail punch. CREATOR Stanely. Buck Brothers. E.A. Berg Eskilstuna. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1850-1...
Category

19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Original Vintage Scale from the 20th Century Designed by Berkel
Located in Udenhout, NL
Original personal scale from 1946 designed by Berkel in Belgium. (Made in Brussels.) Very nice Industrial decorative object.
Category

1940s Belgian Vintage Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Collection of 19th c. Mortise Marking Guages
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Collection of 19th century Rosewood and Boxwood mortise marking gauges with bronze knobs and accents. One is stamped "Pat. Oct. 22, 1872". CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF M...
Category

19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Collection of 19th and 20th Century Spoke Shaves
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Collection of antique 19th century wood spoke shaves and early 20th century steel spoke shaves. CREATOR Stanley, Made in England. Kunz, Made in Germany. DATE OF MAN...
Category

19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Cold War Japanese Defence Agency 20x 120 Binoculars with Illumination Control
By Kowa
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Tokyo Optical Company 20 x 120 Naval Binoculars official issue for the Japan Defence Agency, manufactured in October 1984, supplied via Yonei Shoten (government contractor), manufact...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Bronze

Antique Brass Plumber s Blowtorch c.1900, Made in England
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An antique brass Heathware No: 66 English plumber's blowtorch with a Bakelite handle. Original sticker. Shown with life size hand model for scale. CREATOR Heathware Pr...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Five 19th C. French Bronze Metric (Apothecary ) Weights, Original Wooden Block
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Set of 5 Antique French Bronze (Apothecary) Metric Weights with Original Wooden Block, Circa 1880 A handsome and authentic set of 19th-century French bronze metric weights, housed i...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Micro-Barograph by Short Mason of London
Located in London, GB
An open scale Micro-barograph by Short & Mason of London in enameled glass case. Number: 551/41 Seven day clockwork drive by Horstmann Gear Co Ltd, of Bath. Serial number: 7027/59 With Meteorological Office “MO” logo. Meteorological Office calibration certificate dated 27.6.96 Literature: Barometers - Aneroid and Barographs, Edwin Banfield, 1985. page 131 fig. 116. Short and Mason...
Category

Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Antique Decorative Butcher s Steelyard, English, Iron, Weighing Instrument, 1800
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Early 19th Century Butchers Steelyard for Weighing Scale A good original industrial piece, the balance has blacksmith made sliding hook for adjustment of balance weight The Steel...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Semi-Automatic Large Bakelite Grocery Scale, Czech Republic, 1930s
Located in Żory, PL
Old shop scale from the 1930s/1940s, manufactured in the Czech Republic by Zbrojovka Brno. Semi-automatic scale, with internal weights. The scale is set with stylish metal buttons. Adjustable legs and built-in spirit level. Original tray made of thick white glass. The scale has been cleaned and is in very nice vintage condition. In working condition, but not entirely precisely (+/- 100 grams), it probably requires minor adjustment. A beautiful and original item for the grocery store...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Antique J.C Ulmer Co. Survey Transit Compass In Original Mahogany Box
Located in New York, NY
Brass and steel survey transit and compass in the original mahogany box. Made by J.C Ulmer Co. Good condition with appropriate wear from age. One availa...
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Steel

Vintage Goodell-Pratt Brass and Wood Level c.1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A vintage level with two bubbles, large brass label and brass accents. CREATOR Goodell-Pratt Company, Mass. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1930-1940. MATERIALS AND TECHN...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique Iron Worker Hand Forged Vintage Tools Set of 9
Located in Chula Vista, CA
collection handmade Iron Blacksmithing Tools- Set of 9 Antique Iron Worker Tools forging metal circa early 1900s tool total 9 25 the longest x 3...
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron, Metal

Antique Weber Costello 12 Inch Globe - Rare Tall Base
Located in Peekskill, NY
I checked the globe and its signed Weber London but could not find a date of printing. This is an 12 inch desk globe is a bit different because of the extra tall decorative stand. I ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Rare Early 8x10 Double Bellows Double Exposure Camera
Located in Peekskill, NY
When have you ever seen one of these? This is a first for me. This very unique camera came out of an important 2 generation New York Collection. This was a custom built double exposu...
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Antique Draw Knife and Mezzaluna Knife c.1860-1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Antique 12 inch draw knife with wooden handles and one mezzaluna knife with Beech handles. Brass collars. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c. 1860-1900. MAT...
Category

19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel, Brass

1800s Veterinarians Horse Gag and Cutaway Skull
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is an early medical school demonstration model. The horse skull on its own very interesting. It shows a professionally done cutaway of the skull showing the teeth below the gum ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bone

Palethorpes Butcher’s Balance Scales, Advertising Sausages
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Palethorpes Butcher’s Balance Scales, Advertising Sausages Palethorpes’ Butcher’s Scales with Brass Bell Weights The scale has a brass weight plate on one side and a Painted glass ...
Category

1930s Vintage Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Brass Balance Shop Scales with Eagle Crest
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Brass balance shop scales with eagle crest Decorative large brass balance shop scales  I super looking set, the slightly dished pans are hung on brass...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Super Rare 1880s Spoon Top Conformatore
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is a wonderful example of 1800s inventiveness. We believe this is American made and ie signed and dated 1888. This is only the second example we have ever found. We will only se...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

19century English Balancing Scale
Located in Tarrytown, NY
19century English balancing scale.
Category

19th Century European Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Antique Rosewood and Bronze Push Drill Brace
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Antique push drill brace with Rosewood wooden handle and bronze collar. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c. 1860-1900. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Bronze, Stee...
Category

19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel, Bronze

Large Early 20th c. French Medical Hand Model c.1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Early 20th century large French plaster hand model used as a medical teaching device. Lacquered plaster custom heavy steel stand. Shown with life size hand model. CREA...
Category

Early 20th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Anatomical Eye Model by New York Scientific Supply Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Anatomical, composition, organ model of the eye by New York Scientific Co., Inc disassembles into six pieces deconstructing the eye and its nerves. Th...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Composition

Vintage Mid-Century Globe Meat Slicer Sculptural Enameled Iron Stainless
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and powerful, 1/4hp GM Delco motor. Globe deli meat slicer from the forties. Super quiet motor with a new cord and switch. In excellent vintage co...
Category

1940s American Vintage Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Stainless Steel, Enamel, Iron, Chrome, Steel

Antique Cast Iron Pharmacy Scale Weights c.1890-1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A cast iron balance scale with bronze plated dish and embossed maker's mark "Lewis's 7lb". Three original cast iron weights, 2 lbs, 1 lb and 8 oz. The piece is solidly built a...
Category

19th Century American Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

German Anatomical Muscular Bust Model
Located in Brooklyn, NY
German, anatomical, plaster model of a cross-section of a bust, depicting the muscular and circulatory systems.
Category

Mid-20th Century German Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Full Display Box of Early Camera Lens Salesman Samples
Located in Peekskill, NY
The velvet lined case is full and contains 45 sample lenses. The case is signed in gold stamped letters L.O. BITTNER & CO., OPTISCH FEINMECHANISCHES WERK. MUNCHEN. I have never seen ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass

Antique Working English Cast Iron Cheese Press Thomas Corbett of Shrewsbury 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A rare antique and all original fully functioning cast iron English cheese press, by Thomas Corbett of Shrewsbury, circa 1880. This cheese press has just ...
Category

1880s English Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

19th C Surveyors Metamorphic Instrument Box/Table A very rare piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th C Surveyors Metamorphic Instrument Box/Table A very rare piece, the carrying box originally held many pieces of the surveyor’s equipment, t...
Category

19th Century Antique Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Industrial scientific instruments for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Industrial scientific instruments for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage scientific instruments created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Industrial scientific instruments made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original scientific instruments, popular names associated with this style include Short Mason , Berkel, Casella, and Crouse-Hinds. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for scientific instruments differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $52,265 while the average work can sell for $995.