Skip to main content
DC galvanometer
DC galvanometer

DC galvanometer

Datecirca 1925
Inventory Number0427
ClassificationGalvanometer
Subject
    Maker General Radio Company 1915-present
    Cultural Region
      Place of Origin
        Place of Use
          Dimensions12.5 × 12 × 12.5 cm (4 15/16 × 4 3/4 × 4 15/16 in.)
          Material
            DescriptionA galvanometer in a wooden case, resting on four feet, with a wooden lid held in place by screws. The top of the instrument has a leather carrying strap, and the side has two bakelite binding posts.

            The face of the instrument has a fan-shaped instrument display window, through which can be seen an instrument scale, marked from 1-100, and a knife-blade shaped indicator needle.

            A metal cylindrical housing is mounted on the face of the instrument case, centered at the bottom. On top of the housing are two metal adjustment knobs, labeled, "ZERO SET" and "LOCK & FREE."
            Signedon instrument display: GALVANOMETER / TYPE 189A SERIAL NO. 17 / RES. 10 OHMS. FULL SCALE 121 MICRO AMPS / GENERAL RADIO CO. / CAMBRIDGE, MASS.;
            Inscribedprinted on two metal adjustment knobs on instrument case: ZERO SET; LOCK & FREE
            Curatorial RemarksRes 10 Ohms Full scale 121 Microamps. Zero adjust Lock free.
            FunctionGalvanometer, measures the electrical current in a circuit. For direct current.
            ProvenancePhysics Department, Harvard University. Found in Jefferson Laboratory, 1956.
            Historical AttributesGreen triangle indicates it was used in the student's labs at the Cruft Laboratory (Harvard) 1925.
            moving coil galvanometer
            Robert W. Paul Instrument Company
            Date: circa 1910
            Object number: 0539
            milli-voltmeter, Weston DC model 1
            Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
            Date: 1911
            Accessories: shunt (0438b)
            Object number: 0438a
            Rawson "micro-amp meter" ammeter
            Rawson Electrical Instrument Company
            Date: circa 1930
            Object number: 0428
            Thomson indicating wattmeter
            General Electric Company
            Date: date 1896
            Object number: 0423
            portable galvanometer
            W.G. Pye & Company, Ltd.
            Date: 1896-1928
            Object number: 0394
            Thomson indicating wattmeter
            General Electric Company
            Date: 1900-1920
            Object number: 0561
            standard milli-voltmeter
            Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
            Date: circa 1925
            Accessories: shunt (0531b); box of 6 screws, two modified bolts, and one small piece of wood (all these originally housed in petri dish, now transferred to archival box)
            Object number: 0531a
            wattmeter
            General Electric Company
            Date: circa 1940
            Object number: 0558
            wattmeter
            General Electric Company
            Date: circa 1940
            Object number: 0559
            millivoltmeter and case
            Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
            Date: 1900-1917
            Accessories: wooden instrument case (0526d); shunts (0526b and 0526c)
            Object number: 0526a
            pointer galvanometer
            Leeds & Northrup Company
            Date: 1930-1950
            Object number: 1997-1-0349
            unipivot galvanometer
            Robert W. Paul Instrument Company
            Date: circa 1900
            Object number: 0523