Accession No

6091

Brief Description

“Compendium” Geissler tube set, by Richard Müller-Uri, probably early 20th century

Origin

Braunschweig, Germany

Maker

Richard Müller-Uri

Class

chemistry; demonstration

Earliest Date

1899

Latest Date

1929

Inscription Date

Material

Wood; glass; metal

Dimensions

Width: 526 mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Christie’s, South Kensington, London, on 12/07/2006.

Inscription

“Richard Müller-Uri Braunschweig” (plaque on top of set)

Description Notes

Glass-fronted display cabinet with two terminals, containing six Geissler tubes. Described in R. Müller-Uri, Katalog, from top to bottom:

1 - “Straight cylindrical tube with homogeneous Nitrogen-light”,
2 - “Tube with uranium glass spiral and capillary lengths; shows glass-fluorescence and increase of luminous intensity of constriction”,
3 - “Tube with several globes with luminescent gas, Sulphurous Acid”,
4 - “Compound tube with 2 different pure gasses, e.g., N and CO2 and with stratified light”
5 - “Tube with luminescent pulverulent substance — phosphorescence”
6 - “Tube with alcoholic solutions — fluorescence”.

Condition: good; complete.

References

Events

Description
This glass-fronted display cabinet containing six Geissler tubes of different shapes, gases and substances such as nitrogen, uranium, sulphurous acid, as well as phosphorescent and fluorescent materials. This set of Geissler tubes was made by Richard Müller-Uri (1859–1929), a glass-blower and instrument maker. In 1895, Müller-Uri established his own firm and cultivated a business relationship with the Technical University of Braunschwieg and the Society of German Natural Scientists and Physicians where he lectured about instrument innovation. For university demonstrations, Müller-Uri produced extra-large tubes so that phenomena were visible to the entire audience in a lecture theatre. The ‘Compendium’ is described by Müller-Uri in his Katalog published in 1899.
10/03/2014
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 10/03/2014

FM:46560