This instrument allowed water to be heated to a temperature higher than boiling point at atmospheric pressure, resulting in considerably high pressure inside. Papin designed a model of a digester in 1680 that allowed a piston inside a cylinder to...
A hydrometer measures the specific gravity of a liquid relative to water. Nicolson's hydrometer differs from other hydrometers in being totally submerged in use.
In this demonstration apparatus, water pours into the top section of the central rotor, pivoting freely about its axis. The two pipes projecting from the bottomof the rotor are closed at the end but with a rearward-facing hole. The rotor spins as...
"This unique piece of apparatus uses Lissajous figures to show that the ratio of the frequency ratios in a diatonic scale are ratios of small numbers. On the side is an air-driven vibrating reed with a small mirror attached to its free end....
Crova's apparatus was designed for the purpose of representing vibratory movements on the screen, with 8 disks. Turning the crank past a vertical slit caused the disks to rotate, while a beam of light from the optical system impinged on the slit...
Electric discharges; X-ray tubes; Scientific apparatus and instruments
This instrument appears to be an early type of vacuum discharge tube or x-ray tube. The glass tube contains metal electrodes that have been sealed and from which the air has been removed by a vacuum system. Physical Description: Glass bulb with...
Thermodynamics--Experiments; Scientific apparatus and instruments
The brass ball will just pass through a brass ring when cold, but when the ball is heated in boiling water it expands so that it no longer passes through the ring. The ball and ring demonstration of heat expansion has been in use since the early...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Optical instruments
The spherometer was used to measure the curvature of lenses. Physical Description: In mahogany case with sliding lid. Calibrated brass disk on three legs.
Electric discharges; Scientific apparatus and instruments
When connected to a power source, a bright electric spark would flash between the two ends of the two outer posts. The middle glass post is made of photo gray glass (yellow tinted glass), which would have glowed. This instrument is visible in early...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Optical instruments
This device was used with a prism to demonstrate the seven colors of the specturm present in a beam of sunlight: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Physical Description: Seven movable mirrors, pivoted on brass holders, set in an...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Induction coils
The Ruhmkorff induction coil consists of two separate coils of wire one inside the other wound around a cylinder with a central core of soft iron rods. When a current is passed through the first primary coil, current is induced in the secondary...
The Oersted Piezometer was used to determine the coefficient of the compressibility of liquids. Gases would have been pumped into the chamber through the funnel at the top. The pressure of the gases would have been measured via the water barometer...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Electric batteries
Grenet Batteries were single-element battery sources with flasks varying in size, from 1/3 liter to 3 liters. These batteries, when filled with an acid solution and placed in series, were a common source of electrical current prior to the...
Galvanometer; Scientific apparatus and instruments
A galvanometer is an instrument used to measure the presence, direction, and strength of small electric currents in a conductor. A magnetic needle is deflected by the presence of an electric current in a nearby conductor. The needle turns at right...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Steam engines
The Eolypile (or aeolipile) is a metal sphere attached to a chariot half-filled with water and nested up to allow steam to build up. The steam is then allowed to escape in a jet making the chariot move. Physical Description: Brass 'cart' with three...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Camera lucida;
An artist's aid for drawing, the camera Lucida was a portable device that was used to reproduce visual images on to paper. An adjustable prism mounted on the end of a supporting arm reflects the surrounding light and produces the image onto the...
