Accession No

2133

Brief Description

three-prism spectrograph, by J. Hammersley, English, 2/2 19th Century

Origin

England; London; Islington; [41, Half Moon Crescent]

Maker

Hammersley, J.

Class

optical

Earliest Date

1850

Latest Date

1900

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, 2 white metals, iron); wood (2 types); cloth (velvet); hide (leather)

Dimensions

main part length 350mm; breadth 310mm; height 80mm; box length 530mm; breadth 335mm; height 182mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Transferred from Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, 10/1975. Transferred from Solar Physics Laboratory, Cambridge to the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, unknown date. Transferred to Cambridge University in 1913 when Solar Physics Laboratory, South Kensington moved to Cambridge (renamed Solar Physics Laboratory, Cambridge). (?) originally owned by the Solar Physics Laboratory, South Kensington, London (founded 1878).

Inscription

‘J. Hammersley
Islington,
London.’ (on top plate)
‘SOLAR PHYSICS
16’ (on top plate)

Description Notes

Parts of spectrograph, including main body with 2 tubes, and other parts in fitted wooden box with brass hinges, lock and hook fasteners, partially lined with green velvet. Some parts labelled ‘S.P.O.’ or ‘Solar Physics’ wih number (16) followed by letter denoting part number. Label attached to box reads ‘Hammersley 3 prism spectrograph. ex S & A D. [36´´ Equat Reflector ?]’. Label attached to box reads ‘Box for Hammersley 4 prism spectroscope (when not adjusted). (for Hilger spectroscope in adjustment)’.

Condition poor (box good); incomplete

References

Joshua Nall; ‘The Sun Worshippers’; Explore Whipple Collections online article; Whipple Museum of the History of Science; University of Cambridge; 2020: https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/astronomy-and-empire/sun-worshippers

Events