The history of the experimentalization of life.

March 2, 2009 6:52 PM

The Virtual Laboratory - A collection of essays, biographies, instruments and trade catalogues (e.g. experiment kit) from between 1830 and 1930. I must warn you that some of the films are a bit disturbing. Check out the eerie sounding vowel experiments in the audio section too.
posted by tellurian (9 comments total)

Thank you-- there's so much to explore here. Wonderful post.
posted by jokeefe at 8:39 PM on March 2, 2009

Yeah, worth nosing around, definitely. I like the men with 1937-era prosthetic arms. And the story of Sigmund Exner, the buzzards, and the physiology of flying cherubs is odd stuff. Thanks, this is a strange and interesting find.
posted by mediareport at 9:16 PM on March 2, 2009

Wonderful. Thank you so much. Anyone got more film material from the experimental world?
posted by fcummins at 5:52 AM on March 3, 2009

Wow! I really set MetaFilter ON FIRE with this post, didn't I. Thank you all jokeefe, mediareport and fcummins for your kind words. I know that this site is most wonderful and interesting, it's a shame that it didn't attract more attention. I guess I need to work on my selling skills.
posted by tellurian at 6:08 AM on March 3, 2009

Heh, sometimes a post like this just doesn't leave much time for making comments!
posted by snsranch at 7:58 AM on March 3, 2009

Disturbing films is right! Check out this skeleton eating a cigar over and over again!
posted by orme at 8:18 AM on March 3, 2009

This is really great, thanks.
posted by bobobox at 8:29 AM on March 3, 2009

no, tellurian, this is fantastic; I love stuff like this. Thanks!
posted by xbonesgt at 2:00 PM on March 3, 2009

I have a theory, tellurian, that the best posts sometimes produce the least comments. Don't worry about it. Them that like it, really really like it.
posted by jokeefe at 4:53 PM on March 5, 2009