Accession No

6497

Brief Description

three metronomes with electrical contacts: one driving a mercury tilt switch; one, by J. Wagner, driving a bell striker; one, wind-up clockwork driven, by Radiguet & Collas; French, late 19th or early 20th century

Origin

France; Paris

Maker

Wagner, J. [6497.2] Radiguet and Massiot [6497.3]

Class

metrology; laboratory apparatus; physics; sound; electrical; horology

Earliest Date

1875

Latest Date

1950

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass; steel); wood (mahogany?); rubber (ebonite?); paint; string; glass

Dimensions

[6497.1] 160mm wide x 190mm deep x 260mm tall. [6497.2] 120mm wide x 120mm deep x 230mm tall. [6497.3] 110mm wide x 125mm deep x 230mm tall.

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased on or before 23/12/2010.

Inscription

[6497.2] “J. WAGNER N & VEO HORLOGER D -- 47 R. NEUVE DES PETITS CHAMPS PARIS” “METRONOME DE MAELZEL”
[6497.3] “RADIGUET & MASSIOT CONSTRUCTEURS 13 & 15, Bould. des Filles du Calvaire. PARIS”

Description Notes

Three metronomes with electrical contacts, one driving a mercury tilt switch, one, by J. Wagner, driving a bell striker, one, wind-up clockwork driven, by Radiguet & Collas. Late nineteenth or early twentieth century.

[6497.1] metronome, with wind-up clockwork (brass winding key on side), driving an adjustable pendulum. This pendulum in turn drives a mercury tilt switch, which has one electrical contact into it, and two electrical contacts out. These contacts are attached to string-covered wires leading to electrical contacts. Presumably, this apparatus was used to convert a DC current into an AC (square wave) current. Around the base of the metronome are also positioned 6 brass electrical contacts, wired together under the base, enabling various circuits to be constructed by moving the wired contacts. Adjustable pendulum consists of steel metal strip, hinged at base, with movable steel weight. Metronome’s wooden case has a removable hatch (secured with a brass hook) at the front for securing the pendulum for transport. On underside of metronome body is a removable wooden hatch allowing access to the clockwork mechanism within. No inscriptions or maker’s mark.

[6497.2] metronome, for driving a bell-striker, in black painted wooden case. Brass maker’s plate on front hatch to case. Hatch, for securing pendulum for transport, is secured with a brass hook. Adjustable pendulum consists of steel metal strip, hinged at base, with movable steel weight. Removable hatch in base exposes internal mechanism, which includes a bell and striker. Bell body can be attached to an electrical source via brass contact on side of metronome.

[6497.3] metronome, with wind-up clockwork (brass winding key on side), driving an adjustable pendulum. Three brass electrical contacts are mounted on front of metronome, below removable hatch. One contact is mounted on a piece of ebonite or similar hard rubber/plastic. Adjustable pendulum consists of steel metal strip, hinged at base, with movable steel weight. Metronome’s wooden case has a removable hatch (secured with a brass hook) at the front for securing the pendulum for transport. On underside of metronome body is a removable wooden hatch allowing access to the clockwork mechanism within.

References

Joshua Nall; ‘Eclipse Teamwork’; 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/eclipse-teamwork

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