Leyden jar condenser
Datecirca 1908
Inventory Number0507b
ClassificationLeyden Jar
Subject
Maker
Wireless Specialty Apparatus Company
1907 - 1930
User
Department of Physics, Harvard University
founded 1884
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions36.8 x 36.8 x 11.8 cm (14 1/2 x 14 1/2 x 4 5/8 in.)
Material
Accessoriespart of a set that includes an LC resonant circuit with variable inductance (0507a) and another glass Leyden jar (0507c)
DescriptionA glass cylinder with its lower half covered in copper plating. A cable extends from the copper.
From Instrument Card of 0507a: "Variable Inductance...A hard rubber cylinder wound with heavy wire. The cylinder is turned by a handle, and supported horizontally on a wooden frame. A slider moves along a noted scale as the cylinder is turned. Also in the frame, on which the cylinder is mounted, are two circular depressions for two glass cylinders with copper plating."
From Instrument Card of 0507a: "Variable Inductance...A hard rubber cylinder wound with heavy wire. The cylinder is turned by a handle, and supported horizontally on a wooden frame. A slider moves along a noted scale as the cylinder is turned. Also in the frame, on which the cylinder is mounted, are two circular depressions for two glass cylinders with copper plating."
In Collection(s)
SignedOn cylinder: WIRELESS SPECIALTY / APPARATUS CO. / DEPOSIT NO. 4 / NEW YORK / PAT JULY 21 1908
FunctionThis set of objects very likely a rudimentary form of LC circuit (inductance-condenser). The glass cylinders with copper plating are very likely condensers. Together with an antenna, the set could be used as a radio signal receiver. Varying the inductance by turning the crank, one can change the tuning frequency.
ProvenanceFrom the Physics Department, Harvard University, 1965. Was stored in the Lyman Laboratory attic.
Wireless Specialty Apparatus Company
Date: circa 1908
Accessories: part of a set that includes a variable inductance (0507a) and another glass cylinder (0507b)
Object number: 0507c
Wireless Specialty Apparatus Company
Date: circa 1908
Accessories: copper-plated glass cylinders (0507b and 0507c)
Object number: 0507a
Wireless Specialty Apparatus Company
Date: circa 1908-1909
Object number: 2008-1-0117
Ziegler Electric Company
Date: 1890-1930
Accessories: part of a series of four Leyden jars that comes in a box with 4 holes cut in and knob. The series includes an extra lid and a two photographs of the jar 1997-1-0677a with their negative (in Kodak safety film)
Object number: 1997-1-0677d
L. E. Knott Apparatus Company
Date: 1900-1930
Accessories: part of a series of four Leyden jars that comes in a box with 4 holes cut in and knob. The series includes an extra lid and a two photographs of the jar 1997-1-0677a with their negative (in Kodak safety film)
Object number: 1997-1-0677c
American
Date: 1850-1900
Accessories: part of a series of four Leyden jars that comes in a box with 4 holes cut in and knob. The series includes an extra lid and a two photographs of the jar 1997-1-0677a with their negative (in Kodak safety film)
Object number: 1997-1-0677a
American
Date: 1850-1900
Accessories: part of a series of four Leyden jars that comes in a box with 4 holes cut in and knob. The series includes an extra lid and a two photographs of the jar 1997-1-0677a with their negative (in Kodak safety film)
Object number: 1997-1-0677b
American
Date: 1850-1900
Accessories: part of a series of four Leyden jars that comes in a box with 4 holes cut in and knob. The series includes an extra lid and a two photographs of the jar 1997-1-0677a with their negative (in Kodak safety film)
Object number: 1997-1-0677e
Walter Balcke
Date: 1959-1960
Accessories: in library folder (Lib 4927):
-twenty-one letters from Joseph L. Walsh, mathematics professor at Harvard University, to Walter Balcke, dated between 27 May 1957 and 24 January 1964 (letters thank Balcke for the many mathematical models he gifted to the Mathematics Department, praise his skill and ingenuity, many invite him to faculty and personal luncheons, and one letter provides an analytic solution to the "13-point problem" behind one of Balcke's models)
- one letter from J.L. Walsh, dated November 17, 1959 anticipates Balcke's construction of models to demonstrate Pascal and Brianchon's theorems; another letter from J.L. Walsh, dated Januaray 18, 1960 thanks Balcke for the Pascal Model; another letter from J.L. Walsh, dated February 29, 1960 thanks Balcke for the Brianchon model;
-three letters from Garret Birkhoff (then Chairman of the Harvard Mathematics Department) dated 3 March 1954, 4 January 1955, and 10 January 1955, each expressing gratitude (and in one case, an official department thank you) for the many mathematical models he gifted to the mathematics department
-photocopy of original envelope in which correspondence between mathematics department and Walter Balcke was stored (original was destroyed on 13 July 1997)
-photocopy of instructional card for object 1997-1-1671
- seven instructional cards that accompany the following Balcke models: Pascal's Theorem (may pertain directly to this object), Brianchon's Concurrent Lines (may pertain directly to this object), Trisector, Twelve Point Ellipse, Rolling Parabola, unknown, Equation Solution with a 'Constant' Variable and Thread
- photograph of the display case containing Balcke's models in the Harvard Mathematics department
Object number: 1997-1-1603
