The New York Public Library holds one of the most comprehensive collections of British patents dating back to the 17th century (30,000+ volumes!). Publications such as The Mechanics Magazine, founded by a Scottish patent agent, described many patented inventions. Fortunately, many of its issues have been digitized and are available via HathiTrust database.

The Mechanics Magazine was published weekly in London by John Knight and Henry Lacey beginning in 1823. It was founded and edited by Joseph Clinton Robertson (c.1787–1852), a writer who published under a pseudonym of Sholto Percy. In the first issue, he explained that his object was "one of entire novelty, and no inconsiderable importance" to the  "numerous and valuable portion of the community, including all who are manually employed in our different trades and manufactures", and who needed "a periodical work, which, at-a price suited to their humble means, would diffuse among them a better acquaintance with the history and principles of the arts they practise, convey to them earlier information than they had hitherto been able to procure—of new discoveries, inventions, and improvements, and attend generally to their peculiar interests, as affected by passing events. (...)" It was a low-priced scientific weekly believed to be the first publication of its kind. 

After a tug of war with his publish ers, Robertson moved his magazine to be printed by M. Salmon (1829) and the title was expanded to The Mechanics' Magazine, Museum, Register, Journal, and Gazette. After a new publisher, Robertson, Brooman, & Co. took over in 1853 the title was first shorten to Mechanics' Magazine but in 1858 it was once again expanded, this time to The Mechanics' Magazine and Journal of Engineering, Agricultural Machinery, Manufactures and Shipbuilding. In 1871 the magazine became self-published and the title was set as The Mechanics' Magazine and Journal of Science, Arts, and Manufactures. In 1873 the title was incorporated into a new publication Iron printed for the proprietors by Ranken & Co. There was also an American edition first published as Mechanics' Magazine (1825) and later continued as American Mechanics' Magazine (1825-1826), The Franklin Journal, and American Mechanics' Magazine (1826-1828), and Journal of the Franklin Institute. It was originally planned as a copy of the London title but soon was turned into the publication of original matter which included selections from other journals of somewhat similar character.

Below are brief descriptions of a few innovations as they appeared in The Mechanics' Magazine.

Design for Dredger

The Clyde Trust, which was established by Act of Parliament in 1858, was composed of ten members of Town Council of Glasgow and fifteen steamship owners. Its goal was to develop and manage the Clyde River as well as its trade and shipyards. The dredger shown above was built entirely of iron for the Clyde Trust by Thomas Wingate and Co. of Glasgow in 1855.  "It is 120 ft. long and 33 ft. broad, with a flat bottom, and 5 ft. draw of water; the plates are 7-16ths in. thick at the bottom, and 6-leths in. at the sides. The two boilers A A fixed in the centre of the vessel, are low pressure cylindrical flue boilers, 6 ft. diameter and 15 ft. long, working at 3 lbs. pressure above the atmosphere; and the coal consumed is about 2k tons per day of ten hours..." Read more in the July 21, 1865 issue.

Boot-making Machine

"Mr. Charles Baumlch, of Bristol, boot manufacturer, has patented improvements in machinery for the manufacture of boots and shoes. This invention consists in constructing machinery for sewing or uniting the soles to the uppers of boots and shoes, and for sewing or uniting other hard substances; also for causing the boot or shoe to move into proper position as the sewing is performed." Read more in September 1, 1865 issue.

Cigar-making Machine

"The machine (...) is designed to manufacture cigars complete. It is to roll the filling, to wind the inner and outer wrapper around it, to form the point, and to cut off the end so as to form a perfect cigar. It is the invention of Mr. Bright and Mr. Stone, of New York, and has been patented in England." Read more in the September 24, 1869 issue. 

Improved Velocypede

William Williams Hooper and James Drummond Hooper received a British patent (no. 1086, dated April 9, 1869) for Improvements for the construction of vehicles and in the means of propelling the same (velocipedes). "The inventors connect a lever with the axle of the driving wheel, or to a wheel so placed that it may be connected with the driving wheel to multiply its revolutions. The lever is made to act on the wheel with which it is connected by means of a pawl furnished with lugs or claws, which impinge against or grip a flange on the wheel axle in one course of their stroke, and are released on their return stroke. Springs are employed in connection with the levers and pawls, to ensure their proper working." Read more in October 22, 1869 issue.  It's interesting to mention that US velocipede patents covering 1789-1892 were published in two volumes and two years later a supplement to this publication was issued.  

Steam Fire Engine

Merryweather & Sons of Clapham, later Greenwich, London, were builders of steam fire engines and steam tram engines.  "This engine, weighing about 20 cwt., is mounted on high wheels and springs, so as to be drawn rapidly and easily either by men or by one or a pair of horses, and is equal to the power of 80 men in pumping water. It has a horizontal steam cylinder 5 ½ in. diameter, and a horizontal direct and double-acting pump 4 ½ in. diameter, the stroke of steam and water pistons being 12 in. (...). The boiler is on the well-known 'Field' system adapted for use on steam fire engines, and is tested to 300 lb. per square inch; it has all the requisite fittings, and is handsomely cased in brass. The ordinary time required to raise steam to working pressure is but eight minutes from lighting the fire." Read more in the February 17, 1871 issue. The company later published this periodical:  The Fireman and journal of the civil protective forces of the United Kingdom and it continues its operations to this day.

Electric Anemometer

In January 12, 1877 issue of the The Journal of the Society of Arts dr. R.J. Mann eloquently explained that: "In Gordon's anemometer, No. 2,876, both direction and velocity are printed off every quarter of an hour by the instrumentality of an electric current. A strip of white paper, covered by a black web, is drawn out slowly by a clock, under the rim of a wheel, which has steel letters, expressing twenty different bearings of the compass, projecting from it. The direction vane turns this wheel round so that the letters which correspond to its proper direction at the time are immediately above the paper. Every quarter of an hour an electric current is established, and this at the instant makes an electromagnet, which pulls down the wheel against the paper, and so causes the embossed type to be imprinted upon it. The black web leaves its black pigment on the white paper in the form of the letter when pressed against it. (...)" Read more in the February 3, 1872 issue of the Mechanics' Magazine.

Improved Printing Press

In the second volume of Reports on the Vienna Universal Exhibition of 1873  Messrs. Hughes and Kimber, of London were mentioned as exhibitors of "(...) four machines of various kinds, the principal one being a Wharfedale press of the familiar type. This machine is for fine colour or black printing, and is of double demy size, 36 in. by 24 in. It will print 1,200 sheets per hour. The most noticeable difference between this and the Continental machines is that the sheets here are fed in from a table nearly level with the bottom of the cylinder and pass directly underneath it. After being printed the sheets are carried upwards over rollers upon a frame, and delivered at the other end of the machine. (...)" Read more in the August 31, 1872 issue of the Mechanics' Magazine.

Improved Agricultural Locomotive

Charles Burrell & Sons built traction engines/road locomotives, agricultural machinery, steam trucks wagons and tram engines out of their factory in Thetford, Norfolk since 1770. "This engine is of 10 horse-power (nominal), fitted with a single cylinder,  which is placed at the smoke-box end of the boiler. (…) The driving wheels, which are 18 inches wide on the face, are made with cast-iron naves, wrought-iron spokes, and cast-iron rims. (…) The steering apparatus is very simple, and is managed from the man-stand. The engine travels at a speed 1 1/2 and 3 miles an hour, and carries a supply of coal for a whole day, and of water for about three hours.” Read more in November 30, 1872 issue. The company at its height employed 350 people. With the invention and implementation of combustion engine it lost a lot of business and was forced to close its doors in 1928. A part of its plant survives as a museum.