Accession No

0109

Brief Description

Kaleidoscope, by Robert Brettell Bate, after Dr. Brewster’s patent, English, c. 1820

Origin

London; England

Maker

Robert Brettell Bate

Class

optical

Earliest Date

1816

Latest Date

1847

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, oxidised brass, speculum metal (?))

Dimensions

length 136mm; maximum diameter 72mm

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased by Robert Stewart Whipple from T.H. Court on 31/05/1923.

Inscription

‘DR. Brewster’s Patent
NO. 30
Bate, London’ (body)

Description Notes

Kaleidoscope, by Robert Brettell Bate, after Dr. Brewster’s patent, English, c. 1820.

Tapering brass tube with rotating collar in centre of body which adjusts angle between speculum metal (?) mirrors. Oxidised brass eye-end with sector aperture. Screw mounting at objective end (no objective).

Condition fair (some wear and corrosion); incomplete (objective missing).

References

Events

Description
This optical toy was made by the London instrument maker Robert Brettell Bate (1782–1847) according to the design patented by Sir David Brewster. Brewster invented the kaleidoscope in 1816 in the course of his research into the polarization of light. Brewster became interested in the multiplied images which occurred when reflecting plates of glass were inclined at a small angle to each other. The tube contains two mirrors, the angle between which may be adjusted by rotating the central collar; the light coming through a coloured glass slide at one end would then be reflected by these mirrors to produce varying symmetrical patterns when viewed through the eyepiece at the other end.

For more on Bate’s life and works, see Wh.6262.
20/12/2013
Created by: Joshua Nall on 20/12/2013

FM:39739