Accession No

0697

Brief Description

hydrostatic equipment, including hydrometer, by George Adams, English, 2/2 18th Century

Origin

England; London

Maker

Adams, George

Class

physics

Earliest Date

1750

Latest Date

1800

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, copper, white metal); wood (mahogany); rope (string)

Dimensions

hydrometer height 150mm; maximum diameter 40mm parts in store: max length 560mm; max breadth 180mm small bob length 55mm; maximum diameter 15mm hinged rules length 147mm; maximum breadth 60mm; thickness 10mm stand no. 1 breadth 410mm; height 520mm; diameter of base 165mm stand no. 2 breadth 500mm; height 580mm; diameter of base 162mm

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased from T.H. Court on 02/03/1933. The accession register states, ‘this apparatus was originally in Buckingham Palace and was given to the Salvation Army, who sold it to a dealer, from whom Mr. Court purchased it. Shown at South Kensington from 1913 to 1933 under No 1913-530.'

Inscription

‘Q’ (underside of bottom weight on hydrometer)

Description Notes

Circular brass base supporting turned brass column on which is set a horizontal brass bar. One end carries a second column on which is set a second horizontal bar. Both bars carry a series of pulleys and weights.

Circular brass base supporting turned brass column on which is set a horizontal bar. One end carries an open brass square with assorted pulleys and weights and hooks for pulleys. The other end carries a round brass plate which carries three pulley wheels around the rim (adjustable with brass clamping screws); the angle of the plate can be adjusted along a vertical quadrantal scale divided [14˚] - 90˚, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 2˚.

Remainder of object consists of assorted parts:
Pair of hinged brass rules with crossing strut at the open end.
Brass weight consisting of two cones set base to base.
Circular base with 3 brass levelling screws (one screw missing).
Triangular cross section pillar which screws into base and has a toothed groove; also carries a triangular bracket (for the horizontal beam) .
Horizontal beam with two pulley wheels whose distance from the pivot can be adjusted.
Second triangular bracket for mounting on pillar.
Vacuum pump attachment with mahogany handle.
Hollow brass cylinder suspended from metal hook with glass tube.
Brass-covered lead cyclinder suspended from hook.
Brass roller mounted horizontally in ‘U’ shaped bar with brass hook.
Brass balance beam with steel indicator; beam divided 100 - [0] - 100, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1.
Brass and copper hydrometer; central bulb is copper. Scale below bulb divided 30 - 80, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. Scale above hydrometer, unnumbered, divided [1] - [9] with 5 marked by an open circle. Thermometer missing from lower scale.

Condition fair; complete (?)

References

Events