potentiometer
Date1900-1930
Inventory Number0289a,b
ClassificationPotentiometer
Subject
Maker
H. Tinsley & Company
circa 1900-present
User
Harvard Engineering School
1918 - 1951
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions18.2 × 50.4 × 26 cm (7 3/16 × 19 13/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
Material
DescriptionSlide wire potentiometer with auxiliary step switches mounted on hard rubber. Enclosed in rectangular wooden box with external binding posts. Slide operated by knob and string and protected with glass.
Signedswitchboard marked: H. TINSLEY & Co / LONDON. S.E. No 2208
Inscribedplate on wooden base: Harvard University 1129
case marked: PROPERTY OF HARVARD ENGINEERING SCHOOL
FunctionA potentiometer is an instrument for measuring the potential (voltage) in a circuit. Before the introduction of the moving coil and digital volt meters, potentiometers were used in measuring voltage, hence the '-meter' part of their name. The method was described by Johann Christian Poggendorff around 1841 and became a standard laboratory measuring technique.
This information, and more, can be found on the following website.
This information, and more, can be found on the following website.
ProvenanceFrom the Harvard University Engineering School, 11/56.
Leeds & Northrup Company
Date: circa 1930
Accessories: cover; instruction sheet inside of cover
Object number: 1997-1-0204
Leeds & Northrup Company
Date: circa 1926
Accessories: cover; instruction sheets inside of cover (2)
Object number: 1997-1-0205
Leeds & Northrup Company
Date: 1925-1935
Accessories: cover; instruction sheet inside of cover
Object number: 1997-1-0201
H. Tinsley & Company
Date: 1900-1930
Accessories: plugs (15)
Object number: 0292
Leeds & Northrup Company
Date: circa 1932
Accessories: mahogany cover
Object number: 1997-1-0200
Leeds & Northrup Company
Date: circa 1930
Accessories: mahogany cover with sheet of directions attached inside
Object number: 1997-1-0157
H. Tinsley & Company
Date: 1900-1920
Object number: 0293
