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This museum contains a number of interesting scientific instruments which I have acquired while searching for telegraph instruments. I am always interested in trading scientific instruments for early and interesting telegraph instruments. The items in this museum which are still in my possession are available for such trades. Items which have been traded are also included in the museum for reference purposes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. VERY EARLY AND MODERN "PHILOSOPHICAL"
APPARATUS:
2. GALVANOMETERS:
3. DECADE BOXES AND STANDARDS:
4. STATIC ELECTRICITY AND RELATED INSTRUMENTS:
5. METERS, TEST INSTRUMENTS, WAVEMETERS, ETC.:
6. TUBES AND RELATED ITEMS:
7. OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS:
8. MISCELANEOUS AND ODDITIES:
9. SCIENTIFIC SHOWS, PUBLICATIONS, AND DEALERS:
1. VERY EARLY AND MODERN "PHILOSOPHICAL" APPARATUS:
FARADAY PHILOSOPHICAL MOTOR (Now in the John Williams Collection):(32KB) This early motor was used to demonstrate the turning force of an electric current passing through a wire It consists of two circular pools which are to be filled with mercury. Into these pools dip contacts at each end of a vertically mounted iron bar that is suspended by two pivot points at top and bottom. When electricity is applied by way of the mercury pools, the bar rotates in a horizontal plane. One of these units is on permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution. Circa 1830s. (Traded to John Williams).
KING MENDHAM PHILOSOPHICAL MOTOR:(37KB)
This copper wheel spins in a pool of mercury when a voltage
is passed through it. The label reads: KING, MENDHAM & Co.
Electrical Engineers & Contractors. Bristol.
Another front view of the motor:(15KB)
A rear view of the motor:(14KB)
A close-up view of the ivory label:(15KB)
A view of the bottom of the motor:(15KB)
BARLOW'S WHEEL MOTOR & FARADAY DISK DYNAMO:(21KB)
Demonstration apparatus manufactured by CENCO to show principles of
Barlow's Wheel, the Faraday Disk, Magnetic Braking, and Lenz's Law.
-traded.
PHILOSOPHICAL MAGNETIC FORCE DEMONSTRATION APPARATUS:(16KB)
This extremely early coil was used to study and demonstrate the principles of
magnetic force.-traded.
EXTREMELY EARLY INDUCTION COIL WITH MANUAL
INTERRUPTOR:(13KB)
This is an extremely early example of an induction coil.
Turning the knob interrupts the DC going to the coil allowing it
to step up the voltage. It may have been used fo r philosophical
demonstrations or for medical "treatments" but since it is not
labeled, it's use is unclear. It is owned by collector Peter
Malvasi - W2PM.
Another View of the Induction Coil:(10KB)
Another View of the Induction Coil:(11KB)
Another View of the Induction Coil:(12KB)
19th CENTURY GYROSCOPE:(6KB)
This is a very lovely and early gyroscope. It was used for demonstrations
of gyroscopic principles in an early University. It is put into operation by
winding a string around the lower section and pulling it while keeping your
finger on the cupped surface on top of the shaft. It is nicely machined.
ANOTHER 19th CENTURY GYROSCOPE:(6KB)Very
similar to the one shown above without the finger cup on the top.
MENDOCINO BEARINGLESS FLUX-SUPPORTED ELECTRIC MOTOR:(10KB)
This modern but interesting motor has no bearings and is supported by the
magnetic flux from several torroidal magnets. Solar panels generate
electricity which flows through coils of wire, interacts with the
magnetic fields, and produces rotation. These motors are constructed
by Thomas C. Vales who may be contacted by email at: tcv@genrad.com
2. GALVANOMETERS:
PYE COULOMB BALANCE:(48KB) This unusual device balances out the attraction between the two balls and a magnetic field created by the horizontally mounted coil of wire. It is capable of measuring very small amounts of current.
EARLY THOMPSON MIRROR GALVANOMETER:(18KB)
Manufactured by ELLIOTT BROS. - LONDON: This tripod-based all
brass Thompson mirror galvanometer number 502 has overhead
compensating magnets extending up from the top. This unit is the
same kind as the one on Thomas Edison's desk while he was
experimentg with early telegraph systems. - TRADED.
THOMAS EDISON USING A THOMPSON
GALVANOMETER: (144KB)
KNOTT APPARATUS COMPANY MIRROR GALVANOMETER: (12KB)
The Ivory label reads: Designed for International Correspondence Schools,
Scranton, PA. Manufactured by L. E. Knott Apparatus Company,
Scientific Supplies, Boston, MASS.
CAMBRIDGE INSTRUMENT CO. Ltd - ENGLAND: (94KB)
A large beautiful complex brass galvanometer with hair thin meter
needle, compensating magnet, and mechanism sticking up out of center
of a large round brass base with leveling screws. Number C143520.
- TRADED.
EARLY GRAMME RING HORIZONTAL COIL GALVANOMETER:(16KB)
Very early and primitive horizontally mounted multi-tapped coil
surrounding a horizontally oriented compass.
CAMBRIDGE INSTRUMENT CO. LTD - ENGLAND Very very very tiny table top
oil-filled mirror galvanometer with leveling screws.Number L-18096.
-TRADED.
CAMBRIDGE INSTRUMENT CO. LTD - ENGLAND strange and very heavy mirror
galvanometer marked C 92451. Oil filled precision mirror movement
mounted on heavy metal apparatus with round metal arms and a thermometer
sticking upwards.-TRADED
ABRAHAM RHEOGRAPH PRISM SYNCHROSCOPE: (32KB)
This extremely rare prism synchroscope has an early synchronous-motor
driven horizontally rotating triangular prism and mirror system that
provides the time-base for the light beams from the two low-mass
mirror galvanometers. This provides a dual-trace plus time-base display.
Original finished wooden case.
W. G. PYE & Co. - Cambridge England Small table-top mirror galvanometer
with large magnet and 3 leveling screws- TRADED.
LEEDS & NORTHRUP strange, very tall table-top mirror galvanometer with
very large magnet and 3 leveling screws. Hard rubber panel -TRADED.
LEEDS & NORTHRUP wall mounted mirror galvanometers with wooden bases and
brass cover plates. # 101063 and unnumbered.-TRADED
LEEDS & NORTHRUP Table-top round mirror galvanometers with cylindrical
brass vertical cylinder, Bakelite base, and 3 leveling screws. # 189352,
360738, and 732521. - TRADED
WOODEN MIRROR GALVANOMETER in large wooden box with built-in light
source mounted on wooden base. Also on base are metal pedistals
sticking up into the light beam.-TRADED
PHILIP HARRIS TANGENT GALVANOMETER:(25KB)
A large 4" diameter horizontally oriented compass indicator is located
in the center of a 7" vertically oriented coil of wire all mounted on
a wooden stand with leveling screws. The coil taps are marked 2,50,& 500.
Made by Philip Harris Ltd,Birmingham, England.
WELCH TANGENT GALVANOMETER:(14KB)
Large diameter vertically mounted multi-tapped coil
surrounding a horizontally mounted compass. The amount
of current in the coil is proportional to the tangent of
the angle of deflection of the compass.-traded.
CENTRAL SCIENTIFIC TANGENT GALVANOMETER:(13KB)
Similar to the Welch galvanometer described above.-traded.
Close-up view of base:(17KB)
Close-up view of compass:(19KB)
STOELTING TANGENT GALVANOMETER:(18KB)
Very simple and primitive tangent galvanometer consisting of a
compass mounted in a wooden block with a coil of wire wound
around the block in a vertical plane.
EARLY GENERAL RADIO MODEL 129 GALVANOMETER:(24KB)
This is an early General Radio Galvanometer. It uses two internal
horseshoe magnets and shows signs of having been partly
manufactured by hand.
A View of the early General Radio
Galvanometer with cover removed:(35KB)
1 Hartmann & Braun huge decade box with elaborate brass contacts on very
old hard rubber or ebonite panel mounted on a wooden base. Stamped:
Made by Hartmann & Braun, Frankfurt A/M for Queen & Co.
Philadelphia. Richtig Bei, 18, Grad Celsius. Extremely impressive
with mounting hole in center for meter or additional decades.
-TRADED.
2 ELLIOTT BROS - LONDON round brass decade boxes (galvanometer shunts)
with very old hard rubber or ebonite top panels and contact blocks
marked 1/9, 1/99/ 1/999. -TRADED.
1 VERY EARLY ROUND BRASS DECADE BOX with old hard rubber panel marked
G, R, +, 1, 10, 10 squared, 10 cubed, 10 to the 4th.
Manufacturer's Logo only is capital "A" with "C" through it in the
middle of a meter face symbol - TRADED.
1 LEEDS & NORTHRUP very early style resistance decade box. Hard rubber
panel, brass contacts, rectangular wooden base- TRADED.
1 ELLIOTT BROS - LONDON very early # 623 decade box with Hard rubber
panel, brass contacts, and rectangular wooden base - TRADED.
3. DECADE BOXES AND STANDARDS:
QUEEN & Co. Maker, number 25, 1-ohm standard:(14KB)
Closer view of standard in box:(17KB)
View of interior of standard:(16KB)
Close-up view of label on standard:(17KB)
Close-up view of wire resistor:(18KB)
Another view of internal wiring:(20KB)
1 WESTON CLARKE STANDARD ELEMENT: A very old 5" high cylindrical metal
base with rubber panel on top engraved Zn and Hc. 2 Brass terminals-
TRADED.
1 WESTON CLARKE STANDARD: A very old 1-1/2" cylindrical metal base with
rubber panel on top & tapped coil of thick wire inside.
Four Brass terminals are located on top - TRADED.
4. STATIC ELECTRICITY AND RELATED INSTRUMENTS
VERY EARLY GERMAN STATIC ELECTRIC GENERATOR:(9KB)
A Closer view of the hub of the machine:(15KB)
A Closer view of the leather pad:(18KB)
A Closer view of the bottom of the machine showing the wooden nuts:(15KB)
EARLY GERMAN STATIC ELECTRICITY SPARK GAP:(10KB)
This small unit measures 5 inches wide. It provides a 1-1/2 inch
spark gap for demonstrating the characteristics of electric sparks.
The wooden lower post was covered with a thin layer of lead foil
which conducted the voltage and which is mostly worn away.-traded.
Closer view of the spark gap:(7KB)
EARLY WIMSHURST STATIC ELECTRICITY
GENERATOR:(15KB)This is an early example of a simple
Wimshurst static electricity generator which was used
in many universities to demonstrate the generation and
characteristics of high voltages. The two Leyden jars
stored the generated voltages like modern-day condensers.-traded.
Another view of the Wimshurst Generator:(16KB)
A closer view of the front of the hub:(17KB)
A view of the rear of the hub:(17KB)
EARLY WIMSHURST STATIC ELECTRICITY
GENERATOR:(19KB)This is a small Wimshurst static electricity
generator which was used in Physics courses to demonstrate the
generation and characteristics of high voltages. It is nicely
decorated but it is missing the two Leyden jars.-traded.
ANOTHER VIEW of the Early Wimshurst
machine:(16KB)
MORE RECENT WIMSHURST STATIC ELECTRICITY GENERATOR:(12KB)This machine was made by Central Scientific Corporation and is shown
in their 1941 catalog. Several of the parts and both of the Leyden
jars are missing but it is an example of the kind of devices which
were used in schools and colleges to give demonstrations. It
is shown next to a static ball which was also used in
demonstrations: -traded.
A closer view of the center of the generator:(15KB)
A closer view of the static ball:(8KB)
EXTREMELY UNUSUAL SHINN "THUNDER STORM MACHINE" WIMSHURST MACHINE:(42KB)
This is an unusual portable Wimshurst machine mounted inside
an oak box with a glass window on the front through which one
can watch the rotating disks. Two unusual flat rectangular
Leyden jars are also mounted inside the box. The Spark balls
extend through the top of the box. Label reads: W. C. Shinn.
Maker of the Copper Cable Lightning Rod. also Shinn's
Thunder Storm Machine. Pat'd Dec 10, 1907. Apparently
used to demonstrate lightning rods in action to potential
customers.-TRADED
GILBERT CLOUD CHAMBER TOY:(13KB)
The air pressure in the cloud chamber is increased by pumping
the hand-pump to produce a "cloud" of water vopor. Then a high
voltage is applied allowing the trails of the particles emitted
by the source to become visible.
3 LARGE LEYDEN JARS:(20KB)
From a very large Wimshurst machine. TRADED.
1 LEYDEN JAR: Very early and beautiful tapered glass Leyden Jar. -TRADED.
1 PITH BALL ELECTROMETER.Pith ball hangs from glass rod. Wood base. TRADED
1 ELECTROSCOPE: Not exceptionally old but an interesting one.-TRADED.
1 STOELTING wind-up metronome / mercury-dip variable repetition rate
square wave pulse generator. Consists of a typical spring wound
metronome with separate mercury dip make and brake contacts that are
activated every time the metronome ticks.
1 EARLY "FIRTH" Wavemeter. Old unit in lovely oak case. Label reads:
WAVE METER, Bureau of Standards. Type L, Serial No. 38. Range 1500 -
20,000 Meters. Manufactured by John Firth, 81 New St. New York-TRADED.
1 HAND CRANKED DEMONSTRATION GENERATOR: This large old hand
cranked generator has both slip rings for generating AC,
and a commutator for generating DC. Made by Central Scientific.
-TRADED
1 Very unusual HAND-MADE VOLTMETER with unusual tapered pole piece.
1 WESTON neck-worn model 280 multimeter for hands-off operation.
1 LEEDS & NORTHRUP 78770 Ultra high voltage double pole, double throw
knife switch on very old hard rubber base.-TRADED.
1 ELECTRICAL TESTING LABS. Photometric Standard Lamp # 9351. A
calibrated and numbered lamp in a fitted wooden box. - TRADED.
1 SIGNAL CORPS VT-1 TUBE (Traded out)
1 WESTERN ELECTRIC 102 Golf-ball tube. (Traded out)
1 KELLOGG type 403 tube. (Traded)
2 FRANKE - HERTZ tubes. (Traded out)
1 CATHODE RAY TUBE GUN ASSEMBLY PROTOTYPE in glass tube neck with uncut
connecting leads. - TRADED.
5. METERS, TEST INSTRUMENTS, WAVEMETERS, ETC.
7. OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS
BUFF THEODOLITE:(25KB)
BUFF THEODOLITE AND CASE:(30KB)
LARGE PRISM SPECTROMETER:(15KB)
PHOTOMETER:(20KB)
Another view of the photometer:(15KB)
8. MISCELANEOUS AND ODDITIES, ETC.
19th CENTURY SALESMAN'S SAMPLE TOWN FIRE PUMP:(23KB)
Another view of the salesman's sample fire pump:(26KB)
ORIGINAL PATENT MODEL OF EARLY WINDOW SCREEN:(14KB)
This is an original model which was submitted in support of a patent
number 213,091 which was granted on March 11, 1879. The patent model
was stored in the US patent office until recently. The patent covers
an improvement to a window-mounted window screen which allowed the
screen to be tightened through the use of a concealed roller.-traded.
Closer view of the model:(15KB)
Closer view of the patent:(10KB)
1 CURTA MODEL 1 POCKET CALCULATOR:(29KB)
This is a most complex mechanical pocket
calculator with elaborate internal gear systems. Complete with
original plastic carrying case and instruction manual. Traded 12-17-97.
9. SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT SHOWS, PUBLICATIONS, AND DEALERS:
Tom Perera at the 1996 AWA show in Rochester, NY:(38KB)
The AWA or Antique Wireless Association show is held every August
in Rochester, NY. Membership in the AWA is $ 15 per year and the
address is: Post Office Box E, Breesport, NY 14816. The wetsite is:
http://www.antiquewireless.org
ANTIQUE SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT FAIR: This big show WAS held semi-annually
in Central New Jersey and run by Marvin Hurvitz. It is no longer in
operation.
A photograph taken at the October 4, 1998
show:(15KB)
A photograph taken at the October, 1999
show:(35KB)
A photograph taken at the October, 2000
show:(20KB)
SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL, AND MECHANICAL ANTIQUES - ISSN: 1080-2088:
This publication contains interesting articles and advertisements
and lists the important scientific instrument shows in the USA.
Subscription is $ 24 per year.
Greybird Publishing, PO. Box 412, Taneytown, MD. 21784.
THE GEMMARY: Dealer in Scientific Instruments:
P.O.Box 2560, Fallbrook, CA 92088. (619) 728-3321
Online Internet Catalog:
http://www.gemmary.com/rcb/
LINKS TO MY OTHER SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT-RELATED MUSEUMS:
TELEGRAPH AND SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT CYBER-MUSEUMS, HISTORY AND COLLECTING
(2KB)
The main museum page.
MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTATION (4KB)
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