Accession No

3801

Brief Description

Morin-type fall demonstration machine, tentatively attributed to Clair, French, c.1860

Origin

France; Paris [based on attributed maker]

Maker

Clair [tentative attribution]

Class

physics; demonstration

Earliest Date

1860

Latest Date

1860

Inscription Date

Material

wood (two types); metal (brass, oxidised brass, white metal, steel); rubber

Dimensions

height 1244mm; breadth 570mm; depth 242mm; cylinder length 1120mm; diameter 135mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Peter Delehar, London, England, 1991.

Inscription

Description Notes

Wooden frame on four brass levelling feet, supports wooden cylinder driven by pulley system, operated by pair of weights on one end of frame. Cylinder is kept from turning by a brass lever (part missing) on the base of the frame, which is operated by the user’s foot. The falling weight is set on two steel wires and is released by a spring-loaded catch on the top of the frame. The weight carries a pencil which draws the path of the fall on a sheet of paper wrapped around the cylinder. (Paper, string and weights for pulley system are currently missing.) The tension in the wires can be maintained by a knurled brass screw on the top of the frame. A knurled brass and steel screw locates the cylinder on its pivots and holds it in position.

Condition good; incomplete (part of foot lever missing).

References

Events