copper hydrometer
Date1820-1850
Inventory Number1998-1-0270
ClassificationHydrometer
Subject
Maker
American
User
Bowdoin College, Department of Physics
founded after 1794
Cultural Region
Place of Use
Dimensions3.5 x 24.5 cm (1 3/8 x 9 5/8 in.)
box: 5 x 25.4 x 5.2 cm (1 15/16 x 10 x 2 1/16 in.)
box: 5 x 25.4 x 5.2 cm (1 15/16 x 10 x 2 1/16 in.)
Material
Accessorieswooden box with red fabric lining; extra weights
DescriptionA hydrometer consisting of an egg-shaped copper bulb, with a metal rod that has a weight at its end attached to the blunter end of the bulb, and a wooden stem marked with a scale fixed at its sharper end. The scale on the stem goes from 20 at the far end, to 70 close to the bulb.
Signedunsigned
FunctionMeasures the density of liquids. One can modify its range by placing more weights (from the box) on the weighted metal rod.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Physics, Bowdoin College.
Historical AttributesLabelled: "Used for teaching at Bowdoin College, probably during Parker Cleveland's time." From 1820 until his death in 1858, Professor Parker Cleveland gave an annual course of lectures on chemistry to the medical students at Bowdoin. He was a professor of chemistry.
English
Date: 1820-1850
Accessories: glass vase; thermometer with bone scale from 20° to 120°; weights (10); carrying case
Object number: DW0220
Thomas O'Dempsey Buss
Date: circa 1850
Accessories: weights (9); slide rule; thermometer; mahogany case; conversion tables book (Lib.4758, in library)
Object number: DW0222
F. C. Bridges
Date: 1850
Accessories: 1 Thermometer, 8 weights (9 originally present, 1 missing), 1 cap
Object number: DW0919
Joseph C. Tucker
Date: circa 1825
Accessories: weights (10); slide rule; mahogany case
Object number: DW0499
John Dicas
Date: 1780-1810
Accessories: weights, key with an oval ivory tag
Object number: 0080
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1900-1920
Accessories: green cylindrical cardboard case
Object number: 4446
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1900-1920
Accessories: blue cylindrical cardboard case
Object number: 4447
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1890-1920
Accessories: green cardboard case
Object number: 4445
R. G. Greiner
Date: circa 1850
Accessories: black cylindrical cardboard case
Object number: DW0792