Skip to main content
Advanced Search
hanging spring pendulum scale
hanging spring pendulum scale

hanging spring pendulum scale

Date1870-1930
Inventory Number1998-1-0277
ClassificationBalance
Subject
    Maker American ?
    Cultural Region
      Dimensions16.3 x 11.1 x 2.7 cm (6 7/16 x 4 3/8 x 1 1/16 in.)
      Material
        Accessoriesa 200 grams weight
        DescriptionA small metallic weighing instrument meant to hang from its top hook. It consists of a scale drawn on a quarter-circle going from 0 to 16 (presumably pounds) upon which a metallic pointer can rotate. Below it is a hook that would hold the weight to be measured. This hook is connected to a mechanism on the scale's backside consisting of two metallic bars roughly shaped like a hanger, which are also connected to the rotating pointer.

        The instrument is stamped with an old Harvard inventory number: "19 29"; on back in pencil "PHYSICS"; in orange paint: "H" (for Harvard).
        Signedunsigned
        FunctionDetermines the weight of an object hanging from the hook at its bottom. It works by the downward displacement that the hanger-shaped set of metallic bars undergoes when subjected to a force. It is this displacement that drives the scale's pointer.
        ProvenanceFrom the Department of Physics, Harvard University.
        spring balance on rope
        spring balance on rope
        Landers, Frary & Clark
        Date: mid 19th-mid 20th Century
        Accessories: large wooden box (996-1-0072a) used to contain all objects in series
        Object number: 1996-1-0072b
        analytical balance
        analytical balance
        Paul Bunge
        Date: 1870-1940
        Object number: 1996-1-0193
        Berman precision torsion balance
        Berman precision torsion balance
        Roller-Smith Company
        Date: date 1938
        Accessories: carrying case
        Object number: 1997-1-1763
        gold balance
        gold balance
        French
        Date: circa 1880
        Accessories: original wooden storage case with 2 cup weights (rest missing)
        Object number: 1998-1-0173
        Timing weights for use with Shortt and Synchronome clocks.
        Shortt free-pendulum regulator, Primary Clock, no. 17
        William Hamilton Shortt
        Date: circa 1929
        Object number: 1998-1-0187a
        hydrostatic balance
        hydrostatic balance
        Benjamin Martin
        Date: 1766-1780
        Object number: 0081
        Westphal specific gravity balance
        Westphal specific gravity balance
        Fisher Scientific Company
        Date: circa 1963
        Accessories: Reimann thermometer-Plummet, cat. no. 2-155 No 4402 WK missing glass jar (pygnometer?); one rider
        Object number: 1998-1-0090a
        spherical cast iron weight
        spherical cast iron weight
        American
        Date: 1900-1950
        Object number: 1998-1-0278
        spring balance
        spring balance
        John Chatillon & Sons
        Date: circa 1905
        Object number: 1996-1-0222
        precision torsion balance
        precision torsion balance
        Roller-Smith Company
        Date: circa 1936
        Accessories: instruction manual; three standard weights in their small glass tubes; a little cardboard box
        Object number: 1988-0003
        dial reading chainomatic analytical balance
        dial reading chainomatic analytical balance
        American Balance Corporation
        Date: circa 1960
        Accessories: brush; aluminum blocks
        Object number: 1996-1-0204
        almucantar
        almucantar
        Ballou Manufacturing Company
        Date: 1884-1910
        Object number: 1997-1-1809