David Brewster, creator of Brewster's Law, patented this device in 1817. It consisted of a long, hollow tube containing two glass mirrors running along the length of the tube and separated from each other at an angle of 60 degrees. Where mirrors...
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...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Simple machines; Archimedean screw
A simple mechanical device credited to Archimedes. When the lower end of the screw is placed in water, turning the device raises water to the top. This principle has various applications for drainage and irrigation, but the instrument can also be...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.)
""The hydraulic press depends on Pascal's principle: The pressure throughout a closed system is constant. At one end of the system is a small area piston driven by a lever to increase the mechanical advantage. The small-diameter tubing...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.); Electric discharges;
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; Santa Clara University (Calif.); 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...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.); 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...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.); Simple machines; Archimedean screw
A simple mechanical device credited to Archimedes. When the lower end of the screw is placed in water, turning the device raises water to the top. This principle has various applications for drainage and irrigation, but the instrument can also be...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.)
The Eolypile 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.
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.); Anamorphosis (visual perception)--Instruments
Described as one of many ""Fine Optical Toys"" in James W. Queen's Catalogue of Microscopes, Accessories and Sundries, 1890, the anamorphoscope mirror rectifies distorted drawings.
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.); Induction coil
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...
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.); Electric discharges; X-ray tubes;
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.
Scientific apparatus and instruments; Santa Clara University (Calif.)
The Kinnersley's Thermometer was an apparatus designed to demonstrate the heating power of an electric spark by showing the expansion of air when an electric spark is passed through it.
