Accession No

1442

Brief Description

electrometer, disk, used in the Cavendish Laboratory, by James White, Scottish, 1876-1886 (c)

Origin

Glasgow; Scotland

Maker

White, James

Class

electrical

Earliest Date

1876

Latest Date

1886

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, aluminium, lead, other); glass; wood; hide (leather)

Dimensions

box height 160mm; length 108mm; breadth 125mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Transferred from the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. Purchased by the Cavendish Laboratory from James White, Glasgow, 13/03/1876.

Inscription

‘Pumice
dangerous
if not dried
once a week
SIR W. THOMSON’S ELECTROMETER No. 39
J. WHITE, GLASGOW’ (on top of plate)

Description Notes

Cylindrical brass and glass case; micrometer screw mechanism for raising and lowering upper flat disk with circular scale on top and linear scale inside (total movement 1.5 cm); two terminals on top plate, one connected to case, the other to the upper disk; the position of the light aluminium disk is viewed through a small lens projecting from bottom of case; semi-circular lead cup for pumice and sulfuric acid (dessicant). In black wooden box with leather carrying strap; metal charging rod inside.

top of wooden box cracked; suspension intact; glass on charging rod broken. Incomplete; 3 screws missing.

References

Events