Tisley's harmonograph
Datecirca 1880
Inventory Number1997-1-0451
ClassificationHarmonograph
Subject
Maker
S. C. Tisley & Company
fl. 1870 - 1880
User
Wallace C. Sabine
1868 - 1919
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsinstrument on stand: 96 x 81 x 65 cm (37 13/16 x 31 7/8 x 25 9/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriesthree weights for pendulum
DescriptionTwo large pendulums pivoted on a wooden surface that has three legs and rests on a wooden triangular base with wheels. One of the pendulums has a system of strings and pulleys attached and holds a pen on top which writes on a disk-shaped surface that is held by the other pendulum. The disk-shaped has a gear mechanism that makes it rotate and can be wound up. Both pendulum rods have another disk-shaped surface about half-way between the table their higher ends. One can attach extra weights to the pendulums.
Signedon brass knob: S. C. TISLEY & Co. London
Curatorial RemarksFrom Jefferson Laboratory; used by Professor W. C. Sabine. The file in the CHSI Library contains several articles pertaining to use of harmonographs.
For an introduction to harmonographs that includes this particular instrument, see the Harmonograph page at the Collection of Instruments for Natural Philosophy, Kenyon College, OH <a href="http://physics.kenyon.edu/EarlyApparatus/Oscillations_and_Waves/Harmonographs/Harmonographs.html" target="_blank">here</a>.
FunctionThis is an instrument that draws figures that result from the combined motion of several pendulums (Lissajous figures). The two main movements that compose the figures are given by the large pendulums. Other oscillatory movements are given by the pulley system, and the whole drawing can be made to rotate by activating the mechanism under the disk-shaped surface.
Lissajous figures or curves are constructed from complex harmonic motions. They are often used to measure a phase difference between two vibrations.
An example of how such figures are generated is found on the following website.
Lissajous figures or curves are constructed from complex harmonic motions. They are often used to measure a phase difference between two vibrations.
An example of how such figures are generated is found on the following website.
ProvenanceFrom Prof. Wallace C. Sabine, Harvard University.
Carl Krille
Date: circa 1893
Accessories: brass pendulum weight
Object number: WJ0051a,b,c
Synchronome Company, Ltd
Date: circa 1929
Object number: 1998-1-0187b
John Cuthbertson
Date: 1770-1815
Accessories: brown storage box, descriptive tag, thin strip of paper in box with the inscription "lucernal microscope" in David P. Wheatland's handwriting (which refers to figs. 47-48 and 51 in this series), page from the book "Old Science and Medicine" with a photographic copy of the first print from this series, entitled "The Large Electric Machine at Haarlem."
Object number: 1998-1-1087
Central Scientific Company
Date: c. 1910
Accessories: suspension stand (RS0328a); degree scale (RS0328b); four balls (RS0328c); lead weight (RS0328d).
Object number: RS0328
Ballou Manufacturing Company
Date: 1880-1890
Object number: 1997-1-0515
George Washington Pierce
Date: 1920-1928
Accessories: Inside the clock: long pendulum staff; cylindrical brass weight; knob; an installation plan.
in accessories box of master clock RS0116a: some of the suspension and electrical contacts are for the slave clock.
Object number: RS0116b