William Pyne (1769 - 1843) painter and writer was commissioned in 1805 to produce an illustrated book on British costumes of everyday life. He was also commissioned by Rudolph Ackerman to work on the series, The Microscosm of London, with Rowlandson and Pugin pere. Just as fascinating as the characteristic costume are the accessories of life as he saw it, the mechanical structures thast operated in the streets, the Lottery Wheel, the Knife Grinding Machine and the Pillory.