





















































A Historical Account on Italian Mechanism Models


Elementa
Intersections between Philosophy, Epistemology 
and Empirical Perspectives

1 
(2021) 

1-2

Pierpaolo Limone
Editorial 7

First Section

Slavoj Žižek
The Vagaries of the Superego 13

Ricardo Espinoza Lolas
Nature and Pandemic 33

Paolo Ponzio
Mask and Otherness between Recognition and Concealment: 47 
Notes on the Self and the You

Daniela Savino
“Liquid” Identity and Otherness in the Phenomenon 61 
of Religious Alienation: The Loss of Critical Thinking 
and the “Barter” of the Self in the System of Communion

Francesca R. Recchia Luciani
The Sexistential Vulnerability of Bodies in Contact 85 
in the Philosophy of Jean-Luc Nancy

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Elementa. Intersections between Philosophy, Epistemology and Empirical Perspectives

Second Section

Martina Rossi
Universal Design for Learning and Inclusive Teaching: 103 
Future Perspectives

Marco Ceccarelli
A Historical Account on Italian Mechanism Models 115

Giusi Antonia Toto - Alessia Scarinci
Cyberfeminism: A Relationship between Cyberspace, 135 
Technology, and the Internet

Luigi Traetta - Federica Doronzo
Super-Ego after Freud: A Lesson not to Be Forgotten 153

Federica Doronzo - Gianvito Calabrese
Functioning of Declarative Memory: Intersection 163 
between Neuropsychology and Mathematics

Giuliana Nardacchione - Guendalina Peconio
Peer Tutoring and Scaffolding Principle for Inclusive Teaching 181

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A Historical Account on Italian 
Mechanism Models
Marco Ceccarelli
LARM2: Laboratory of Robot Mechatronics Dept of Industrial Engineering 
Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata (Italy)

doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.7358/elem-2021-0102-cecc
marco.ceccarelli@uniroma2.it

Abstract

This illustration-based paper presents and account of Italian History on the collections 
mechanism models that were used and still can be used in design, teaching, and research 
activities not only on research and development of mechanical systems. A conceptual 
procedure is outlined for the development and use of mechanism models mainly at 
reduced scaled size. Main Italian collections of mechanism models are introduced with 
their historical values and current status. Those examples are reported also to show the 
value of Cultural Heritage that mechanism models and corresponding developments may 
have as worthful for preservation and understanding of past achievements in mechanism 
design and its application even in other frames. 

Keywords: history of mechanisms; history of mechanical engineering; Italian history 
of MMS teaching; Italian collections of mechanism models; mechanism models.

Introduction

Modeling and models have been and still are used as basis for activity in 
acquiring knowledge and implementing results in design and operation of 
systems in general and more specifically in machines. The study of modeling 
and models from the historical point of view is generally not approached 
with adequate attention and in fact specific historical investigations are 
reported in the literature referring to their evolution but only simple 
comments are indicated on specific modeling and consequent design solu-
tions only for those machines that had a significant impact on technological 

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and social developments. Even in the context of the history of machines 
referring to mechanics teaching and machine design, modeling models are 
not mentioned as necessary tools for the introduction and explanation of 
the fundamental concepts for training and for practical issues in design and 
operation of functional characteristics of machines and mechanisms, so 
much so that in historical studies models are very rarely mentioned with 
such a characterization and/or aim, even if only for didactic purposes. 

However, sometimes, the History of Science and Technology is also 
explained by using short mention to models such as in encyclopedic works, 
like for example in Capocaccia (1973) and Singer et al. (2012), and in 
specific works in conferences and journals, like for example in papers at the 
HHM symposia like Zhang and Ceccarelli (2019), as well as in teaching 
activities with some entertainment purposes, as for example with LEGO 
packages (LEGO, 2019). Some specific attention is addressed to models 
of mechanisms when their historical values are considered for museum 
exhibitions and historical temporary shows as an attraction to past devel-
opments, as outlined for example in Ceccarelli (2011, 2013 and 2016). 

The history of teaching in Italy referring to mechanism design can 
be outlined looking at the developments in academic sites where machine 
mechanics was/is taught, as for example in Ceccarelli (2014b). The history 
of this specific historical development is often attached with an attention to 
individual figures, who used models on personal basis and experience in each 
teaching academic frame and therefore, it is difficult to get an overview that 
the author has partially attempted in the reference Ceccarelli (2016). In the 
teaching of design and functionality of mechanisms but also in the analysis 
and definition of the mechanical structures of machines and systems, today 
in mechatronics domain, the use of modeling and models can be refreshed 
of particular importance as it can be recognized in the didactic texts where 
formulations and mathematical modeling as well as calculation procedures 
for analysis and design are based on graphical schemes that can be also of 
a virtual nature requiring very often to be validated by models of a phys-
ical nature, even in prototype form. In this work an attempt is presented 
following a previous work in Ceccarelli (2020) to combine an historical 
study of the teaching of machine mechanics in Italy with the history of the 
use of models not only for teaching but also for other related activities. 

1. Mechanism models

A mechanism is defined in the IFToMM terminology (IFToMM, 2003), 
as “Constrained system of bodies designed to convert motions of, and 

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forces on, one or several bodies into motions of, and forces on, the 
remaining bodies”. From the didactic point of view in many texts, such 
as Lopez-Cajùn and Ceccarelli (2013), and Uicker et al. (2017), a mecha-
nism is recognized as a set of rigid bodies or links connected to each other 
with the aim of converting the mechanical energy input at a different level 
on an output link. Therefore, the purpose of a mechanism is identified 
in motion transmission capacity and force transmission capacity with 
the characteristics of motion generator and action generator, respectively, 
using the output link according to the characteristic imposed at the input. 
Thus, in general a mechanism can be considered a key component in a 
machine design because of its function in converting mechanical energy 
to a proper level for machine operation as also recognized in Ceccarelli 
(2018). 

Consequently, a mechanism model is represented with a schema-
tization of the structure and its functions with graphical representa-
tions and/or mathematical modeling that can be useful for analysis 
and simulation of operation and performance in carrying out the task 
for which the mechanism is designed and then applied. A model is 
understood as a simplified representation of a system and in the case 
of a mechanical design it is an ideal representation of the mechanism 
structure preserving the main mechanical characteristics, as indicated in 
Ceccarelli (2020). 

Considering the above-mentioned understanding for a mechanism 
model, it is also possible to recognize the modelling of a mechanism useful 
not only for design purposes but also for explaining the functioning with 
the peculiar operation performance. Indeed, a mechanism model can be 
elaborated for design, simulation and exhibition purposes with representa-
tions that today span from virtual solutions in computer-oriented software 
packages to scaled simplified mechanical constructions up to well defined 
prototypes or demonstrators, even referring to the same design as an evolu-
tion of the definition of the solution. 

An example of a model of a modern mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 1 
referring to a mechanical design of LARMbot arm for humanoids (Russo 
& Ceccarelli, 2018; Fort, Ceccarelli, & Laribi, 2022) in which the model is 
represented as a kinematic diagram in Fig. 1a, as a CAD solution in Fig. 1b 
and with a lab prototype in Fig. 1c. The kinematic model is aimed both 
to explain the design structure and basic parameters of the conceived solu-
tion, the CAD design is used to define the details of the mechanical design 
and to analyze the feasibility of its operation, and the prototype is used 
for design validation and testing the operation performance, with activity 
spanning from teaching to design up exhibition. 

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(a)

(c)(b)

Figure 1. – Example of models for a mechanism solution 
of a humanoid arm (Russo & Ceccarelli, 2018; Fort, Ceccarelli, & Laribi, 2022): 
(a) kinematic model for design algorithms; (b) CAD model for mechanical design 

and simulation; (c) a lab prototype for testing.

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As mentioned above, in general, mechanism models are aimed and included 
in a variety of activities for teaching, study, research, design, demonstrative 
illustrations and presentations, simulation, validation operation characteri-
zation, experimental check, and even promotion and market exhibition. 
They are used not only for developing mechanical systems, but even as 
means or part of systems in activities in other disciplines, with similar aims 
or complementary purposes as for example indicated in Ceccarelli (2012) 
referring to service applications. 

Today mechanism models can be developed as sketches or drawings 
(by hand or by computer-graphics tools), mechanical constructions either 
in scaled sizes or prototype structures, and virtual computer-based designs 
as based on different type of software and visualization with or without 
human interaction. Figure 2 outlines the evolution of mechanism models 
from historical viewpoints looking at technical constructions as linked to 
achievements and technological means (Ceccarelli, 2020). 

Figure 2. – A timeline of conceptual evolution of mechanism models (Ceccarelli, 2020).

In Figure 2 the first level of a model refers to a graphical representation in the 
form of a drawing that since in Antiquity it has been elaborated as drawing 
schemes containing lot of details. Still today the first ideas are sketched with 
drawings (either by hand or by graphics software) that can be used as first 
step of an activity either in explaining or in designing mechanical systems or 
in developing concepts and solutions. A graphical drawing model can have 
different formats as well as different levels of accuracy, not only in terms 
of graphical representation and it is used in many disciplines other than 
in mechanical design. Over the time those drawing models have evolved 
from pure line abstraction to naturalistic representation towards technical 
synthetic standardized drawing languages (see for example isometric views 
and cross-sections with ruled color for material and lines), as for example 
referring to gear designs in Ceccarelli and Cigola (2012).

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The second level in Figure 2 named as “model” stresses the modelling 
as a mechanical model that can lead to a prototype solution for a machine 
design or an experiment whose phenomenon is to be investigated. Histori-
cally for long time mainly during the growing of Science and Technology, 
model constructions were widely used before proceeding to further activi-
ties and, after last decades of the success of Informatics today they have 
regained significance for a physical experience, mainly with prototypes 
with full features that are used before final constructions of machine prod-
ucts. in addition, a mechanical model can be formulated with a mathema-
tization that can give highlight of the mechanical characteristics and can 
be further used both for reiteration in design and teaching explanations of 
parameters in design and operation issues. 

A prototype as a third level model in Figure 2, is considered a full 
solution of a mechanical solution and likewise it can be developed in 
reduced scale yet. A protype model is understood as a tentative design for 
a final product and it is often the model by which the design process and 
the operation performance are validated without having the full products 
in all its details or manufacturing accuracy, before entering in the market 
or in approved invention. 

Since constructions of mechanical models and prototypes require 
lot of efforts both in manufacturing and cost, the advent of Computer 
Science provided alternatives with the fourth level of virtual designs 
that are developed, operated, and tested with different level of virtuality 
from simple CAD solutions up to haptic-sensed 3D systems. The virtual 
models are today extensively used but they can be still developed after 
an activity which is based on previous levels of modelling, including 
even a first drawing model, that in last decades was somehow ignored 
although necessary and indeed worked out. The level of virtual modelling 
in Figure 2 emphasizes not only the deepening of functionality analysis 
using models even for final design products but also aspects concerning 
with the durability and economic convenience of models including 
multidisciplinary and integration for different purposes in study, design, 
and teaching. 

The today virtual models are used also to represent the other type 
of models as an expression of their interesting contents not only in the 
Science and Technology but also for the History of Mechanical Engineering 
with a value of Cultural Heritage when design formulation (graphical or 
mathematical representations) and products are worthful to be preserved, 
although not completely preserved in the original solutions, as means to 
show the historical evolution of knowledge and to stimulate inspiration for 
further developments. 

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Mechanism models have been and are still developed in different 
formats as above indicated in Figure 2 for different aims and frames of 
applications for activities in teaching, analysis, design, experimental activity 
and historical investigations with still a key role not only for mechanical 
systems, but even as means or part of systems in other disciplines. The 
example in Figure 1 illustrates the still current interest in the practice of 
model developments in the different forms and formats, as referring to the 
very modern domain of Robotics. 

2. Italian collections of mechanical models

Examples based on illustrations are discussed below with the aim of 
showing the characteristics of the models and of the modeling introduced 
above in the context of the Italian historical panorama with the relative 
peculiarities. 

Since ancient times, the analysis and design of mechanisms was 
carried out using examples and models to define characteristics and solu-
tions suited to required tasks. Probably also scale models with perishable 
materials were used, which in fact have not reached us, but which have been 
illustrated and discussed in treatises or even represented in artistic works. 
Figure 3 shows an example from the work of Archimedes (ca. 287-212 BC) 
of the third century BC. relating to the schematic of the functioning of the 
machines with the basic conceptual principle recognized in the mechanics 
of the lever (Ceccarelli, 2014b). Figure 3a shows the graphic representation 
reconstructed during the Renaissance as from the work by Guidubaldo 
Del Monte (1577) as the re-edition/discover of the Archimedes work 
(Commandino, 1558) with an explanation of a text and a synthetic repre-
sentation of the mechanism, whereas Figure 3b shows the scheme still 
synthetic but for a mechanical study for the purposes of a formulation 
for analysis and design due to Galilei in his explanations during the first 
academic lectures on machines of his course held in 1593-98 in Padua 
(Galilei, 1964; Ceccarelli, 2006). In this figure it is evident the formulation 
of the model in terms of graphic design coming from an ancient text that 
could probably have been accompanied by a graphic scheme, but enriched 
with the characteristics of an essentially graphic modeling for the char-
acteristics of explanation and design of the functionality of the machine 
to which it refers or to the lever mechanism A. D. for a marble cutting 
machine with the characteristic of being illustrative in the main mecha-
nisms and with a publicity purpose, even if it was found on the surface of a 
sarcophagus near the city of Hierapolis (currently in Turkey) as the tomb of 

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Marcus Aurelius Ammianos, a local miller. In this model of an artistic type 
as an archaeological finding, the informative and explanatory purposes can 
be noted with emphasis, although the design features are not detailed also 
in order not to allow readers to reproduce a machine with high techno-
logical value that can be considered of even economic value, not indifferent 
for the family of the person housed in the sarcophagus.

 (a) (b)

Figure 3. – The lever model by Galilei (1964): 
(a) a natural description model; (b) a kinematic diagram model.

(a)

(b)

Figure 4. – Bas-relief representing the Hierapolis saw (Rossi, Russo, & Russo, 2009): 
(a) the archeological finding; (b) a mechanical model.

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Figure 4b shows a modern mechanical model of the marble cutting 
machine formulated with a CAD elaboration with the clear interpretative 
intention not only of the archaeological bas-relief of Figure 4a, but also of 
the functionality of the machine, highlighting the main elements recogniz-
able in the hydraulic turbine as a source of energy and in the slider-crank 
mechanism that guides the saw in the operation against the marble. This 
example highlights that already in ancient times the modeling of machines 
and mechanisms was used for various purposes, that is, popularization 
and commercial and social advertising. It should be noted that the CAD 
model of Figure 4b can be used, as indeed it with various solutions that can 
be found in websites and museum exhibitions, for a virtual model with 
animation of the operation of the entire machine, with emphasis on the 
kinematics and the role of the fundamental of slider-crank mechanism. 
Figure 4a (Rossi, Russo, & Russo, 2009) shows an example of a model in a 
marble bas-relief of the third century.

The explanatory purpose of models of mechanisms with content of 
cultural heritage value with today’s attention can be seen in the mechanical 
model of Figure 5 of the Roman catapult. Figure 5a shows the graphic 
representation reconstructed during the Renaissance in the work of Fra 
Giocondo (1433-1515) for the princeps re-edition (Fra’ Giocondo, 1511) 
of the treatise De Architettura by Vitruvius (80-15 BC) in which the model 
of the war machine structure also explains how machine works as based on 
the mechanism consisting of two levers with elastic joints connected by the 
launching cable, also with a brief explanation text. Figure 5b shows a scale 
wooden model exhibited at the Museum of Roman Civilization in Rome 
(2010) with a clear explanatory purpose of the structure both in functional 
aspects referring to the mechanisms as in the constructional peculiarities 
with assembly of parts that the Roman legionaries could find in the field 
during the war campaigns. 

Another significant reference referring to the modeling in Antiquity 
with reconstructions in the Renaissance and beyond, can be considered 
the work of Vitruvius (80-15 BC), whose specific studies on machines and 
mechanisms in liber X were then rediscovered during the Renaissance and 
republished also with sets of figures and graphic models resulting from 
interpretations of the text and the direct experience of the authors of the 
reproductions with machine designs that have been a reference for a long 
time both at a technical and historiographic level, as discussed in Cigola 
and Ceccarelli (2016). This last aspect of historiographical attention has 
recently received even greater attention with the creation of virtual models 
that have been elaborated and exhibited, also with scenic animations of 
various scenography in various occasions and occasions, such as the virtual 

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exhibition of Vitruvian machines linked to Leonardo da Vinci in 2019 in 
the Malatesta palace in Fano, the birthplace of Vitruvius. 

Actually todays, virtual models even with 3D views and animation 
are extensively used mainly in exhibitions within museums or events 
showing past design of machines and mechanisms with aim to show the 
functionality of those past machines with cultural heritage values but also 
with modern concepts for design and functionality. 

(a)

(b)

Figure 5. – Ancient Roman repeating catapult: (a) a mechanical scheme, by Fra’ Giocondo 
(1511); (b) a reconstruction in the Museum of Roman Culture in Rome (2010).

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 (a) (b)

Figure 6. – Models of the Archimedes pump: (a) graphic diagram of the structure 
and functioning of the screw (Galilei, 1964); (b) mechanical model 

of 17th century in Florence Museum (Miniati, 1991).

Figure 6, referring to the Archimedes pump for lifting water as an example 
of the experimental mechanics that was established since the 17th century, 
shows how mechanical models were used for didactic and experimental 
purposes. Figure 6a shows a graphic model again from Galilei’s lessons with 
a graphical representations as traditional means for a long time in the study 
of the functioning of machines and mechanisms while Figure 6b (Miniati, 
1991), shows the mechanical model built for research but also used in 
teaching for more than a century, in the form that today is preserved at 
the museum of the history of science in Florence having also acquired a 
character of historical value and cultural heritage of science and technology. 
In the mechanical model of Figure 6b it is worth noting the accuracy of the 
mechanical construction aimed at representing the main elements for the 
functionality of the mechanism with which the screw performs the function 
of water lifting pump according to the mechanics and the representative 
scheme of Figure 6a. This link between mechanical models and graphical 
models is still essentially based on the modeling of the design and func-
tional characteristics useful not only for the analysis of the functioning but 
also for the design and use of the examined mechanism. Therefore, it can 
be recognized that one type of model completes the other and vice versa. 

The use of graphic models has been persistent for a long time and 
of practical utility especially in the technical-scientific literature as in the 
didactic one with characteristics still considered necessary today both in the 
didactic aspects and in the design formulations. Already in the Renaissance 

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it can be thought that this graphic modeling was flanked by mechanical 
models in scale which, however, have not come down to us not only for 
their limited purpose in terms of use and validation of concepts at the time 
of design and restricted teaching practice, but also and above all for having 
probably been built with perishable materials such as wood. 

Subsequently, this didactic-demonstrative purpose of graphic models 
of the machines had its success in the Theatrum Machinarum in the form 
of catalogs of machines in which the structures of the machines are repre-
sented with a text accompanying as a description of the functionality and 
construction peculiarities. This approach can be traced historically starting 
from the manual by Francesco di Giorgio Martini (1439-1502) (Ceccarelli 
& Molari, 2020), up to the first printing of a real manual of the machines 
by Agostino Ramelli (1588). Figure 7 shows an example of such modeling 
from the Ramelli catalog (1588) with pedagogical purposes for a wide 
audience, also with the intention of attracting possible commitment for 
the design and construction of the represented and new machines. This 
didactic-illustrative purpose has developed since the first manuals of 
machines by Francesco di Giorgio of the early Renaissance up to the elabo-
ration of complex catalogs in the form of the Theatrum Machinarum and 
finally also in specific chapters of the didactic texts and reports of research 
activities and design during the, 19th century during the developments of 
the Industrial Revolution. 

Figure 7. – Example of graphic modeling of mechanisms in machines typical 
of Theatrum Machinarum from the work of Agostino Ramelli in 1588. 

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During the development of the Industrial Revolution these catalogs special-
ized in the representation of graphic models of mechanisms within treatises 
further developed in technical manuals among which the first European 
(Italian) manual can be ascribed to the work of Giuseppe Antonio Borgnis 
(1781-1863). The example of Figure 8 shows the modeling of the mecha-
nisms with the aim of explaining a classification of the structural and func-
tional possibilities of the various types of mechanisms.

Figure 8. – Graphic modeling of mechanisms for a classification 
from the work of Borgnis (1823).

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These aims for design and teaching activities have given rise to a specific 
literature and also to a research aimed at discovering unitary principles in 
the variety of mechanisms according to the various types also with the help 
of small scale models that have seen full success with the production of 
modeling designed by Franz Reuleaux (1829-1905) and produced by the 
Voigt company (following a well-established tradition in Germany, even if 
it also existed in other European countries, including in the states of frag-
mented Italy) with planetary circulation (Kerle, Mauersberger, & Ceccarelli, 
2011), which in fact it has also reached the engineering schools in Italy. 

In particular, in Italy this activity has seen a production of specific 
literature since the first courses dedicated to the training of mechanical 
engineers at the University of Turin which later became Polytechnic of 
Turin with Professor Carlo Ignazio Giulio (1803-1859) with his work that 
follwed didactic study by Gaspard Monge (1747-1818) further developed 
by Robert Willis (1800-1875) and continued throughout the nineteenth 
century until reaching the work of Francesco Masi (1852-1944) (Cecca-
relli, 2010) at the University of Bologna with its encyclopedic treatise 
The theory of mechanisms of 1897 in which the modeling of mechanisms 
is treated not only on a graphic level but also on an analytical-formulistic 
level as represented in the example of Figure 9. 

Figure 9. – Example of graphic-analytical models of mechanisms 
from the work of Francesco Masi in Bologna at the end of the 19th century.

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In Figure 9 it is to note how the mechanism model with its graphic drawing 
is used to identify a mathematical model with a innovative formulation, 
that can be useful both for analysis and design purposes, as today is imple-
mented with more advance algorithm of informatic expert systems.

This development of graphic models for analytical formulations with 
the purpose of analyzing and teaching the functionality of the mechanisms 
were also accompanied by products of various types of physical-mechanical 
models, both in scale with emulation of Voigt models and models specifi-
cally designed by the Italian teachers.

Figure 10 shows examples of those physical-mechanical models which 
were produced starting from the end of the, 19th century up to the 60s of 
the, 20th centuries with evident didactic purposes in courses dedicated to 
the study of kinematics and design of mechanisms for machines even with 
complex structures. Figure 10 shows as an example of the dissemination 
throughout the national level models preserved in several Italian academic 
institutions with mechanical construction structures respectively in metal, 
plastic, wood, and combination of materials to represent as such modeling 
also for didactic purposes has been produced with a great variety of solu-
tions. 

In the, 1980-90s of the past century, the advent of computers and 
related computerized modeling technologies have also produced a bursting 
development of virtual models that are still used today in courses to explain 
the structures of mechanisms and their functionality with dedicated algo-
rithms for the virtual simulation of their performance and numerical repre-
sentation as a characterization of the principles and solutions proposed and 
further developable for even innovative designs. Such virtual models are 
frequently also used in other fields, such as those indicated in Figures 4-6 
for museum exhibition purposes and preservation of contents of technical-
cultural heritage. 

Subsequently, at the beginning of this century didactic techniques for 
the study of mechanisms and machines were developed that combine the 
various types of modeling described above, i.e. graphic, physical-mechan-
ical, computerized virtual ones, in such a way that a student in training 
for not only mechanical engineering of machines with mechatronic solu-
tions can also appreciate the structure and mechanical functionality typical 
of man-machine and machine-machine interaction and integration with 
further systems from other disciplines that are now essential in the modern 
mechatronic structure of a machine and a mechanism when combined 
with various types of drives, control systems and sensorization that are 
necessary for the regulation of the machines according to the applications 
to which they are dedicated and designed. 

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(a) (b)

(c)

(e)

(d)

Figure 10. – Examples of physical-mechanical models of mechanisms for didactic purposes 
in the 20th century at: (a) Politecnico di Torino; (b) Politecnico di Milano; 
(c) University of Bologna; (d) University of Rome; (e) University of Palermo.



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Although today the teaching and design techniques are based on computer-
assisted modeling and therefore based on a mathematical and simulation 
modeling, the realization of physical-mechanical models is once again 
considered necessary and fundamental for a rational and efficient training 
to develop adequate knowledge and awareness of the problems of the solu-
tions that an engineer must face for the development and management of 
mechanisms and machines with a mechatronic structure real designs for 
correct and efficient operation, as shown in the example of Figure 1.

Conclusions

Mechanism models have paid and still pay an important role in explaining 
and validating machine design concepts and operation performance in 
teaching, research and technological transfer, even in publicity to the 
public. An historical evolution is presented looking at main features of 
model categories in drawings, mechanical models, protypes, and virtual 
solutions. Italian collections are introduced as from main Italian univer-
sity sites with an eye from the very past up todays solutions with the aim 
of recognizing an important contribution of using mechanism models in 
the development of machine designs and the science of mechanisms over 
time. 

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134

Riassunto

Il presente contributo presenta e racconta la storia italiana sulla collezione dei model-
li meccanici che sono stati utilizzati e possono ancora essere utilizzati nelle attività di 
progettazione, insegnamento e ricerca, non solo circoscritti alla ricerca e allo sviluppo di 
sistemi meccanici. Sono presentate le principali collezioni italiane, con i loro valori stori-
ci e il loro stato attuale. Questi esempi sono riportati anche e soprattutto per dimostrare il 
valore del Patrimonio Culturale che questi modelli e gli sviluppi corrispondenti possono 
avere, utili per la conservazione e la comprensione dei risultati del passato nella progetta-
zione e la loro applicazione anche in altri contesti. 

Copyright (©) 2021 Marco Ceccarelli 
Editorial format and graphical layout: copyright (©) LED Edizioni Universitarie

 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite this paper:
Ceccarelli, M. (2021). A historical account on Italian mechanism model. Elementa. 
Intersections between Philosophy, Epistemology and Empirical Perspectives, 1(1-2), 115-134. 
doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.7358/elem-2021-0102-cecc

https://www.ledonline.it/elementa
https://dx.doi.org/10.7358/elem-2021-0102-cecc

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