cumulative recorder
Date1955-1960
Inventory NumberWJ1229
ClassificationCumulative Recorder
Subject
Maker
Ralph Gerbrands Company
1930 - 1994
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions23.5 × 38.6 × 18 cm (9 1/4 × 15 3/16 × 7 1/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionThis metallic box is essentially a mechanical pen that transcribes input signals on a sheet of paper rotating on a cylindrical drum. A hinged plexiglass cover is used to protect the mechanism.
The case contains a roll of paper recording fed from a storage roll (missing) over a drive roll. This instrument is powered by an electric motor. The storage roll is rotated by hand with the black knob on the side (missing here).
The movable stylus (missing) is carried on a traversing carriage. The second stylus (also missing) is a non moveable one, which records information on the margin of the paper. The carriage is moved along its supporting guide rods by means of a cable clamped to the back of the carriage by two drums. This drive and clutch mechanism is complex and is at the heart of the novelty of this recorder.
This example still contains a piece of recording paper. The back panel of the instrument is marked with red paint: "Pigeon - - - - - - - - - / C-12" and is decorated with a drawing of a pigeon head in profile.
To record operant responses in a Skinnerian conditioning experiment.
The case contains a roll of paper recording fed from a storage roll (missing) over a drive roll. This instrument is powered by an electric motor. The storage roll is rotated by hand with the black knob on the side (missing here).
The movable stylus (missing) is carried on a traversing carriage. The second stylus (also missing) is a non moveable one, which records information on the margin of the paper. The carriage is moved along its supporting guide rods by means of a cable clamped to the back of the carriage by two drums. This drive and clutch mechanism is complex and is at the heart of the novelty of this recorder.
This example still contains a piece of recording paper. The back panel of the instrument is marked with red paint: "Pigeon - - - - - - - - - / C-12" and is decorated with a drawing of a pigeon head in profile.
To record operant responses in a Skinnerian conditioning experiment.
Signedon cover: CUMULATIVE RECORDER / manufactured by / RALPH GERBRANDS COMPANY
Inscribedon cover: 96 RONALD ROAD / ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS / PATENT APPLIED FOR
Curatorial RemarksThe Gerbrands cumulative recorder mechanism was patented in 1960.
FunctionAccording to the patent, "It is the object of this invention to provide a somewhat different form of recorder, adapted for indicating discontinuous phenomena, wherein the record is in the form of a step function rather than a smooth curve. It is a further object of this invention to provide a very high speed count recorder in which both the total number of counts and the varying rates at which the counts are received may be readily determined from the information provided by the record." [...]
"It is a further feature of this invention that the apparatus may be used to provide several types of information simultaneously on the same record. It is a still further feature of this invention that it will record a very high input rate of counts which may exceed 500 counts per minute while maintaining a clear and acurate [sic] record."
"It is a further feature of this invention that the apparatus may be used to provide several types of information simultaneously on the same record. It is a still further feature of this invention that it will record a very high input rate of counts which may exceed 500 counts per minute while maintaining a clear and acurate [sic] record."
ProvenanceCenter for Behavioral Sciences, William James Hall, Harvard University.
Ralph Gerbrands Company
Date: circa 1960
Accessories: grey power cord; roll of paper; spare pen; cleaning wire; rubber hat (under pens)
Object number: 1999-1-0007a
Ralph Gerbrands Company
Date: circa 1960
Accessories: grey power cord; spare roll of paper
Object number: 1999-1-0008
Ralph Gerbrands Company
Date: circa 1960
Accessories: Spare pen; roll of paper; power cord; cleaning wire; small sponge; gears (2)
Object number: 1999-1-0002
Ralph Gerbrands Company
Date: circa 1950
Accessories: bob hanging by green thread on side; black and red power cord; spare fastening pins in envelope; spare roll of paper
Object number: 1999-1-0004
Ralph Gerbrands Company
Date: circa 1965
Accessories: power cord (attached)
Object number: 1998-1-0012
Scientific Prototype Manufacturing Corporation
Date: circa 1960
Accessories: roll of paper; instruction manuals
Object number: 1999-1-0086
Zeiss-Aerotopograph
Date: circa 1950
Accessories: in wooden storage case with metal handles; documentation booklet is now kept in the instrument's file; all other accessories are kept in the box and are included in the description.
Object number: 2009-1-0002b