The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 9, 2026

A vertically oriented black ink drawing on aged, tan paper depicts a mechanical device on a rectangular table. Above, an oval frame supports a system of pulleys and belts. To our right, a control panel features three dials and various switches. Below, cursive text explains how thoughts are translated onto copper via a photo-electric detector. The drawing concludes with the signatures of "Dave and May Hays" in the bottom right.

Untitled (Fanciful invention with Descriptive Text)

1930s

John Taylor Arms

(American, 1887–1953)
America
Ink
Gift of Carole W. and Charles B. Rosenblatt 2012.467.6.a
Courtesy of John Taylor Arms/© Suzanne Arms Hawkins
Location: Not on view
  • September 23, 1991
    (Waverly Auctions, Bethesda, MD)
    1991-2013
    Carole W. and Charles B. Rosenblatt, Pepper Pike, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    March 4, 2013-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Arms, John Taylor, and William Dolan Fletcher. John Taylor Arms, a Man for All Time: The Artist and His Work. [Place of publication not identified]: Sign of the Arrow, 1982.
    Saville, Jennifer, and John Taylor Arms. John Taylor Arms: Plates of Perfect Beauty. 1995.
  • The Gothic Spirit of John Taylor Arms. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (May 8-November 27, 2011).
  • {{cite web|title=Untitled (Fanciful invention with Descriptive Text)|url=false|author=John Taylor Arms|year=1930s|access-date=09 July 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2012.467.6.a