spectrometer
Datecirca 1938
Inventory Number1998-1-0105
ClassificationSpectrometer
Subject
Maker
Spencer Lens Company
1895 - 1945
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsspectrometer: 24 × 27 × 38 cm (9 7/16 × 10 5/8 × 14 15/16 in.)
piece: 5.8 × 5.8 × 5.8 cm (2 5/16 × 2 5/16 × 2 5/16 in.)
box: 28 × 27.3 × 43 cm (11 × 10 3/4 × 16 15/16 in.)
piece: 5.8 × 5.8 × 5.8 cm (2 5/16 × 2 5/16 × 2 5/16 in.)
box: 28 × 27.3 × 43 cm (11 × 10 3/4 × 16 15/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriescarrying box; instruction manual
DescriptionThis rugged instrument is built unusually low and compact. Its three point support with points far apart gives the instrument more stability. The supports of the telescope and collimator are designed to hold them in perfect alignment ("even when subjected to the constant knocks of unskillful handling," according to a 1930 Spencer's catalogue). This rigidity is chiefly provided by the clamping device for the vertical tilt adjustment. The spectroscope is also equipped with slow motions for the telescope and prism tables. The circle is graduated to half degrees on a brass disc. The verniers read to single minutes. The latter are mounted to rotate on the same level as the circle graduations. This construction eliminates parallax. The prism appears to be missing. When not in use, the instrument is stored in a wooden box.
Signedon instrument: SPENCER / BUFFALO USA
Curatorial RemarksThe date is according to the manual found inside the box and accompanying the instrument.
FunctionThis instrument is used in studying the properties of substances by means of light spectra.
For more examples of this type of instruments and how they work, see the following website.
For more examples of this type of instruments and how they work, see the following website.
Jakob Amsler
Date: circa 1906
Accessories: instrument is in four (4) parts; the rail is in own box and is inventory # 2006-1-0002b; letter from Prof. William Brower containing the complete history of ownership and use (missing)
Object number: 2006-1-0002a
Bausch & Lomb Optical Company
Date: circa 1920
Object number: 1996-1-0657
Hilger and Watts, Ltd.
Date: circa 1963
Accessories: acrylic case; instruction manuals for spectrometer (a) and microscope (b) are in the library; extra silver knob in plastic bag
Object number: 1999-1-0021a
Hilger and Watts, Ltd.
Date: circa 1963
Accessories: acrylic case; instruction manuals for spectrometer (a) and microscope (b) are in the library; extra silver knob in plastic bag
Object number: 1999-1-0021c
Ball Brothers Research Corporation
Date: 1970-1973
Accessories: in file folder: 3 manuals for Skylab and 1 Preprint Series No. 638
Object number: 2001-1-0018