Accession No

3448

Brief Description

Electrically-maintained tuning fork, second half 19th century

Origin

Maker

Class

electrical; sound

Earliest Date

1850

Latest Date

1900

Inscription Date

Material

metal (cast iron, brass, copper, at least one other); wood (mahogany); cloth

Dimensions

length 598mm; breadth 280mm; height 305mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from King’s College, London, England, 10/1986. Purchased with the assistance of a grant from PRISM Fund.

Inscription

Description Notes

Black-painted cast iron base with four feet (one with brass levelling screw) supports two mahogany standards. One of these carries a horizontal tuning fork which is held in place by a knurled brass screw. The of the tuning fork carries a metal spring. A vertical cast iron is attached to the frame, part way down the length. It carries two cloth-bound coils, set one above the tuning fork and one below. Wires connect the coils to a brass terminal between them and to one on the tuning fork itself. The position of the bar carrying the coils can be adjusted by a pair of brass screws moving in grooves in the frame of the instrument.

Condition fair; complete.

References

Events