Accession No

6536

Brief Description

electric planetarium projector, “Jupiter Planetarium”, Japanese, c. 1960

Origin

Japan

Maker

Class

astronomy; demonstration

Earliest Date

1960

Latest Date

1960

Inscription Date

Material

metal (steel; aluminium); plastic (unknown hard plastic (perspex?); synthetic rubber); paint

Dimensions

[6536.1:] 61cm (h) x 34cm (w) x 38cm (d) [6536.2:] 18cm (diam.) x 14.5cm (d) [6536.3:] 4.7cm (diam.) x 6cm (d) [6536.4:] 3.3cm (diam.) x 2cm (d)

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Charles Miller, Suite 6, 3/11 Imperial Road, London, SW6 2AG. Lot 266 in Charles Miller Maritime & Scientific Models, Instruments, Objects & Fine Arts sale, 30/10/2013.

Inscription

“JUPITER PLANETARIUM”
“MADE IN JAPAN”
“MAIN STAR MOON MOTOR POINTER PROJECT”

Description Notes

Electric planetarium projector, “Jupiter Planetarium”, Japanese, c. 1960. With Moon projector attachment, and two loose components.

6536.1: Planetarium projector sits on two-tier circular metal base (painted black). Aluminium plate on side of base carries inscription “JUPITER PLANETARIUM / MADE IN JAPAN” below four toggle switches (”MAIN” / “STAR” / “MOON” / “MOTOR”, one perspex(?) blue indicator light, and two sockets for external cables (”POINTER” / “PROJECT”). Mains power cable enters side of base. Original power cable includes an adapter socket attached to a UK-standard 3-pin plug. Projector is held on metal mount with turn-screw that loosens to allow angle of projector to be adjusted (scale showing declination north or south of celestial horizon on other side of turn screw). Fixed to mount is an electric motor that drives a perpetual screw that is connected to a screw wheel at base of projector, for rotating projector. The pulley for connecting the motor to the perpetual screw is missing. A turn handle for rotating the projector by hand is also present. Projector consists of a large spheroid made of plate metal, encasing a holder for a bulb at centre. It is fixed in place on the mount with a single screw. The spheroid consists of connected flat plates, with small holes drilled through plates to allow light to pass through, projecting stars. Larger holes have been drilled periodically around the ecliptic, for representing the passage of the sun. All but one of these are plugged with a hard rubber plug. Also ring of six sun holes drilled near north pole of spheroid, three with plugs, two missing plugs, and one with metal plug with smaller hole and mirror. Major constellations and nebulae are labelled on the spheroid with metallic red stickers. Near north of sphere on one plate is a large black plastic patch. Condition: Fair - Several plates have pale paint damage, and the top of the spheroid is generally caked with ingrained dirt.

6536.2: Circular Moon projector attachment for planetarium. Plate metal disk, painted black, with 11 holes cut into side to project various phases of the moon. Aluminium disc on top of projector is inscribed “JUPITER PLANETARIUM MOON PROJECTOR”, with painted dial showing phases of moon. Turn dial at centre, missing original handle. Underside of disc contains an attachment for a power supply, in the centre of a circular dial that reads 1 through 12, inscribed “SET TO MONTH”.

6536.3: Unknown loose component. Appears to be a circular copper and steel bulb attachment. Not clear if it is related to projecting planetarium or random piece included with sold item.

6536.4: Loose component. Black plastic circular dial handle. Does not appear to fit any of the dials on planetarium. Not clear if it is related to projecting planetarium or random piece included with sold item.

References

Events