Accession No

3315

Brief Description

Kelvin type multicellular electrostatic voltmeter, vertical scale model, Thomson type by James White, c.1900

Origin

Great Britain

Maker

White. James

Class

electrical

Earliest Date

1900

Latest Date

1900

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, white metal, iron, aluminium, steel); wood; glass; rope (two types of string); plastic (at least two types); paper; wax

Dimensions

height 388mm; breadth 247mm; depth 285mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Transferred from Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, 1986.

Inscription

‘LORD KELVIN’S
PATENTS
MULTICELLULAR
VOLT METER NO. 1817
JAMES WHITE, GLASGOW
& LONDON’ (metal plaque on front of instrument)
‘CASE’ (RH side of instrument)
‘A
4’ (stamped on back)
‘A’ (stamped on front)
‘REGISTERED WTB [monogrammed]’ (on wax disc attached to top cylinder)

Description Notes

Electrostatic voltmeter housed in rectangular brass box with front glazed window, showing vertical curved paper dial; non-linear scale divided 0, 250 - 500, numbered by 50 from 250, divided to 5. Aluminium pointer and 16 cells (?). Brass suspension tube on top of box. Brass cup for damping oil in brass case at bottom of box. Two brass terminals on right hand side of box, one terminal marked ‘CASE’; central switch. Plumb bob on right hand side of box. Fixed to wooden mounting via adjustable iron frame.

Condition good (suspension and plumb bob intact); complete.

References

Events