hair hygrometer
Datecirca 1780
Inventory NumberDW0832
ClassificationHygrometer
Subject
Maker
Jacques Paul
1733 - 1796
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionshygrometer: 9.5 × 32.6 × 2 cm (3 3/4 × 12 13/16 × 13/16 in.)
case: 3.6 × 35.2 × 11.7 cm (1 7/16 × 13 7/8 × 4 5/8 in.)
case: 3.6 × 35.2 × 11.7 cm (1 7/16 × 13 7/8 × 4 5/8 in.)
Material
Accessoriessilk-lined wooden case with hook closures
DescriptionInstrument has a rectangular brass frame on which hair is stretched. The hair is held by jaws and passes over a pulley with a pointer. A counterweight, connected to the pulley, kept the bundle taut.
There is a semicircular scale, 4" long, marked 0 ("secheresse extreme") to 100 ("humide extreme"), which registers the positions of the pointer.
There is a semicircular scale, 4" long, marked 0 ("secheresse extreme") to 100 ("humide extreme"), which registers the positions of the pointer.
Signedstamped on frame: PAUL À GENEVE
Inscribedinstrument marked 100;
box bears stamp: 1106;
tags 152 &11/336.
Curatorial RemarksInstrument appears identical to the hygrometer described by Horace-Bénédict de Saussure c. 1780 (see card for reference).
"catalogued 10-20-1988" conforms to one by Saussure
FunctionInstrument to measure atmospheric humidity. The hair stretched on the frame and held taut by a weight, varies in length with air humidity. The pointer positions are read on a semicircular scale from 0-100 registering the positions of the pointer.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Alain Brieux, Paris, April 25, 1964 (lot 15/9). Donated to CHSI August 17, 1988.
Department of Chemistry, Harvard University
Date: circa 1952
Accessories: a hinged wooden case with hook closures, and a paper insert
Object number: 1998-1-0828
Date: early 20th Century
Accessories: a hinged wooden case with hook closures, and explanatory diagram
Object number: 1998-1-0834
Hottinger & Cie
Date: after 1885
Accessories: a fabric covered wooden and felt box closed with two hooks;
german language instruction sheet (copy in file);
Object number: 1998-1-0818
Jones & Son
Date: 1806-1825
Accessories: hinged wooden instrument case, with interior velvet padding
Object number: 5601
Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory
Date: after 1885
Accessories: a fabric or oilcloth covered wooden and felt box closed with two hooks
Object number: 1998-1-0817
Jacques le Maire
Date: 1738
Accessories: case; plumb bob
Object number: 7416
Tiger Calculating Machine Company
Date: circa 1945
Object number: 1997-1-0233
Julien P. Friez & Sons
Date: circa 1920
Accessories: hair recording hygrometer
Object number: DW0639
