Images(3)

hydrometer for salt solutions

Date1900-1920

Inventory Number1998-1-0297

ClassificationHydrometer

Subject

Maker Eastern Salt Company fl. 1900 - 1920

Cultural Region

Place of Origin

Dimensions29.5 x 2 cm (11 5/8 x 13/16 in.)
case: 33 x 2.2 cm (13 x 7/8 in.)

Material

Accessoriescarrying case

DescriptionA hydrometer consisting of a glass tube with three sections: a thin stem, an air-filled bulb, and a bulb at its tip filled with fine lead shot. It has a paper scale in the glass stem, calibrated from 0 to 100.

The green cardboard case is labelled: "Hydrometer for light liquids, Baumé and Sp.[ecific] De[nsity] Scale / 1.00 to 0.70."

Signedon scale: EASTERN SALT COMPANY, BOSTON, MASS.

Inscribedon tube: Per Cent. Scale for salt, temp. 60°F Made in U.S.A.

FunctionThis is a hydrometer with a scale designed to measure the saturation percentage of salt in a water solution. As with most hydrometers, the user would let it float in the liquid and the level reached by the surface on the scale would be the reading. The scale is valid at a temperature of 60°F, and for other temperatures one would need to correct the reading using tables for salt solubility at different temperatures.

ProvenanceFrom the Department of Physics, Harvard University.