Trade advertisement for the Chadburn Brothers of Sheffield, 1851.

Illustration taken from 'The Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations', volume 8 'Machinery', 1851. The Chadburn Brothers were optical, mathematical and philosophical instrument makers based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. This advertisement shows their exhibition rooms at the Crystal Palace. The 'Great Exhibition' was an idea conceived by Prince Albert (1819-1861) to showcase Britain's technological achievements and demonstrate its industrial and economic superiority to the rest of the world. The Crystal Palace in London was built expresly for the purpose of housing the exhibits.