Accession No
4352
Brief Description
recorder, strip (Callendar), by Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company Ltd., English, 1898 (c)
Origin
England; Cambridge
Maker
Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company Ltd.
Class
electrical
Earliest Date
1898
Latest Date
1898
Inscription Date
Material
wood; metal; glass
Dimensions
height 705mm; breadth 440mm; depth 195mm
Special Collection
Cambridge Instrument Company Collection
Provenance
Donated by the Cambridge Instrument Company.
Inscription
‘SCIENTIFIC INST CO LTD
CAMBRIDGE
CALLENDAR’S PATENT
No 47’ (on front of frame)
Description Notes
Upright rectangular wooden box for wall mounting; hinged, locking, glazed door; instrument, considered in three horizontal sections: upper, including suspended coil D’Arsonval galvanometer, contacts operated by galvanometer pointer, and clock mechanism to polish contact surfaces; centre, including two clock mechanisms (to drive the pen and slide-wire contact to left and right, respectively) whose brakes are released by the signals from the galvanometer relays, and the recording-paper drum, driven by a fourth clockwork; lower, including two pairs of electrical input terminals (marked ‘C’ and ‘P’), switches, and resistance coils. With clockwork key, and hand-written paper, dated 17-1-24, giving bridge specifications for use with two pyrometers.
Similar to Wh: 4351.
Complete.
References
Events
Description
A strip recorder is a device for tracking trends on a paper roll. This model was designed by H.L. Callendar (1863-1930) of the University’s Cavendish Laboratory, and manufactured by the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company.
CSIC offered the Electric Recorder for use for in a number of different applications, including temperature measurement; recording electrical parameters; and measuring the weather. This example comes with handwritten instructions, dated January 1924, explaining how to use it to track high temperatures.
Accurate readings were vital in the pottery and blast furnace industries. Industrial workers, though, were suspicious of recording devices, seeing them as a way for the manager to keep tabs on their work. CSIC marketed them accordingly, suggesting that each worker should be given a bonus for his accuracy in maintaining a consistent temperature, as evidenced by the recorder.
Working in collaboration with University scientists to patent and bring their instruments to market enabled CSIC to build up their high reputation as specialist manufacturers. Callendar had his own financial reasons for developing the device. By working closely with CSIC, he made enough money to marry and start a family. In the year before his wedding, he patented nine new devices.
08/07/2024
Created by: Hannah Price on 08/07/2024
FM:43728
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