Accession No

5249

Brief Description

demonstration of centrifugal force by Breton Frères, 1830s

Origin

23 Rue Dauphine; Paris; France

Maker

Breton Freres

Class

physics; demonstration

Earliest Date

1830

Latest Date

1840

Inscription Date

Material

wood (mahogany, cork, at least 1 other); metal (brass, steel, mercury); rope (cord); ivory; glass

Dimensions

main unit: length 715mm; height 465 mm; width 195mm. unit with attachments: height 300mm; length 300mm; width 525mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Trevor Philip and Sons, 75a Jermyn Street, St James, London, on 1-7-1998.Purchased with 50% grant from the PRISM fund.

Inscription

‘BRETON FRÈRES
Paris
Rue Dauphine, 23’ (on wood inlay in base)

Description Notes

Rectangular polished wooden base on 4 feet. Pulley wheel set near one end with wooden handle (crack from handle to edge of wheel, old chip off edge of wheel); drive belt provided by cord which connects the drive wheel to a brass pulley wheel with vertical brass stand for attachments.
Attachments:
1. Steel rod topped by knurled brass screw. Pair of steel strips bent into circles are mounted on the rod at right angles; fixed at the bottom but free to move up and down along the rod at the top.
2. Brass frame holding horizontal steel rod strung with two ivory balls separated by a loose spring.
3. Brass frame holding 2 brass-shod glass tubes angled towards each other at the centre - one contains mercury, the other shot.
4. Vertical steel rod with hinged arms each supporting a pair of brass balls which will move outwards when the rod is spun.

Condition good; complete.

References

Events