Accession No

6260

Brief Description

Model G ‘Electrobalance’ micro-balance, from Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, by Cahn Instrument Company, U.S.A., c. 1965

Origin

U.S.A.; California; Paramount

Maker

Cahn Instrument Company

Class

laboratory apparatus; weights & measures

Earliest Date

1965

Latest Date

1965

Inscription Date

Material

metal (steel; brass); plastic; paper; glass

Dimensions

Height: 250mm, Length: 300mm, Depth; 170mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Donated by an individual at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, 18/02/2009.

Inscription

[across base of control panel]
CAHN INSTRUMENT COMPANY
PARAMOUNT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
MODEL G

Description Notes

Model G ‘Electrobalance’ micro-balance, by Cahn, U.S.A., c. 1965, from the Cambridge Department of Zoology.

The instrument is a large round-edged box in light blue. On the front there is a control panel containing the calibration controls in the form of four black dials mounted on a dark blue background. These dials are labelled; ZERO, CALIBRATE, ZERO (ON, OFF, CAL, READ) and BALANCE.

The majority of the front of the instrument is taken up by the micro balance itself, access to which is by a sliding glass hatch in the front of the instrument. At the top of this hatch there is a label entitled ‘CONDENSED OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS’.

On the left side of the front of the instrument there are two other details. Firstly another two part dial, this dial is lockable via a small switch on the side of it. It has numbers ranging from 0 to 100 on the inside dial. On the outside dial it has numbers ranging from 0 to 14, only 0 to 10 are usable. The outside dial counts hundreds whilst the inside dial counts single units.

Above the two part dial there is a gauge with a single needle, it has a white background with only two vertical lines marked on it to measure by. It is stamped by the maker ‘CAHN’. Above this gauge is a yellow sticky label stating that this instrument belonged to the Department of Zoology.

On the top of the instrument there are two details. A red button and a complex dial marked ‘RANGE’ with two variables marked ‘A’ and ‘B’. ‘A’ is marked 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 100, ‘black dot’. ‘B’ is marked 5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1G. There is a carrying handle and a hand-written label titled ‘Calibration of 1mg range’.

On the back of the instrument there is a black plastic knob. A paper Label which reads ‘Stanton Redcroft, Copper Mill Lane, London SW17 0BN, Tele 01-946 7731, Telex 8811417. At the bottom right corner is makers label stating that the instrument was ‘MADE UNDER ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PATENTS: U.S. 3,224,517 RE 26100 UK 978,214’

The instrument has a long flex and a UK plug fitted.

References

Events