Accession No

1871

Brief Description

hydrostatic balance, by George Adams Snr., English, c. 1750

Origin

England; London; Fleet Street; Tycho Brahe’s Head

Maker

Adams, George (Snr.)

Class

physics; balances

Earliest Date

1748

Latest Date

1772

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, steel, lead); wood (mahogany); glass; paper; rope (cord)

Dimensions

box length 433mm; breadth 158mm; height 126mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Sotheby's, in London, in 15/10/73. Lot 14. Purchased with assistance of Science Museum PRISM grant-in-aid.

Inscription

‘These and all Sorts of
Mathematical, Philosophical,
& Optical Instruments; are made
& Sold by Geo: Adams, Instrument
Maker to His Majesty’s Office of
Ordnance, at Tycho Brahe’s
Head in Fleet Street
London’ (printed label in box)
‘The weight A is a ballance to the
bucket in Air.
C Restores its Equilibrium in Water
A & B Ballance the Bubble in
Air
C & D Restores its Equilibrium in
Water’ (MS label in box)

Description Notes

Hydrostatic balance, by George Adams (Snr.), English, c. 1750.

Brass beam; rectangular cross-section; notch end-bearings of ‘v’ section; two at each end. Blued steel index, steel knife-edge centre bearing self locates in ‘v’ shaped steel notches mounted on brass head with screw thread to turned pillar and turned lead weighted base.
Two circular brass pans with suspension rings and cords and rectangular knife edge hanger. Glass bucket and glass ‘bubble’ for hydrostatic weighing with counterweights. ‘A’ and ‘C’ with turned handle, suspension ring, hook and hanger. ‘B’ and ‘D’ circular ‘slip’ weights.
Cylindrical glass jar for hydrostatic weighing. Fitted mahogany box; selection of 11 lozenge shaped weights all stamped with lion and denomination; 8 fractional weights. Pairs of hangers. Oval printed label of Adams and MS label in lid of box.

References

Events