Accession No

3421

Brief Description

photometer (?) by Gambrell Brothers and Company Ltd., English, late 19th to early 20th Century

Origin

England; London

Maker

Gambrell Brothers and Company Ltd.

Class

optical

Earliest Date

1875

Latest Date

1940

Inscription Date

Material

wood (mahogany); metal (brass, white metal); glass; plastic (two types)

Dimensions

box length 233mm; breadth 105mm; height 142mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Transferred from Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, 19/09/1986.

Inscription

‘GAMBRELL BROS. & CO LTD. LONDON’ (top of top plate of instrument)
‘PATT.11840 NO 57’ (bottom of top plate of instrument)
‘Hawksley & Sons, ltd
17, ~ew Cavendish Street
London, W.1.’ (plaque screwed into top of lid)

Description Notes

Wooden box with brass hinges and hook fasteners containing photometer (?). Black plastic (?) top-plate fixed in box with one pair of white metal terminals at left, marked ‘CELL’; one pair of white metal terminals at right marked ‘LAMP’; rotatable black plastic knob which can be set to 11 positions: ‘OFF’ or any whole number between 1 and 10 (this knob controls lamp); detachable white metal column; slot and white metal clasp for filter (with green filter - Ilford number 404 - present); and white metal knurled screw (for adjusting distance of lamp from filter). Four white metal nuts unscrew to allow top plate to be removed from box, revealing inner workings. Interior shows electrical connections between terminals marked ‘LAMP’ and rotatable switch, and thence to small screw-fit bulb on adjustable mounting. The bulb illuminated the area behind the filter (the filter being held in place by spring-clips). The area behind he filter appears hollow, and forms the lower section of the detachable white metal column visible above the top-plate. Electrical connections from the terminals marked ‘CELL’ run to this area. Holders for 4 filters on inside of lid (no filters present).

Condition good (stain on one side of box); complete (?)

References

Events