Collection of kinematic mechanisms

[Dick Linn]

"The 220 models in Cornell University’s Reuleaux Collection were built in the late 19th century to demonstrate the elements of machine motion, as theorized by the German engineer Franz Reuleaux. The University acquired the models in 1882 for use in teaching and research."

http://kmoddl.library.cornell.edu/model.php?m=reuleaux

[colin340]

i i can say is- dang that's beautiful

if only they would let be play with them for a few hours

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Wow,

What a treasure.

[M. Mellott]

This is a great collection of a different kind of history. Just think that these simple mechanical concepts that our teams of young students take for granted today had to be taught at the college level in our not too distant past.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by M. Mellott

This is a great collection of a different kind of history. Just think that these simple mechanical concepts that our teams of young students take for granted today had to be taught at the college level in our not too distant past.

Education, especially higher education, is about training the mind to think -- not the particular body of information selected to fill the memory. Curriculum (like lubricant) has to be changed from time to time, else the educational institutions dry out and get stiff, resisting new ideas.

Of course, much of the old knowledge retains value over time. The beautiful intricacies of steam engines, vacuum tube amplifiers, and COBOL routines can still charm those of us who have chosen to specialize in the modern fields that have evolved from those older ones. But it is inevitable that older material get's replaced as engineering curricula evolve.

Even so, some examples exhibit a timeless beauty. Like da Vinci's notebooks, or Franz Reuleaux' mechanisms.