Crompton-type potentiometer
Date1890-1910
Inventory Number0334
ClassificationPotentiometer
Subject
Maker
Crompton & Company, Ltd.
1878 - 1927
User
Department of Physics, Harvard University
founded 1884
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions12.2 × 78.4 × 27.9 cm (4 13/16 × 30 7/8 × 11 in.)
Material
DescriptionSlide wire 26'' l., scale 0-104 units. Five dials under glass: potentiometer coils, 100's, 10's, units, and A-L. Numerous sets of binding posts marked A-L in pairs. Projecting resistance coil with adjustable knob mounted on hard rubber panel. Rectangular wooden box.
The blue triangle indicates this instrument was used in the Physics 3 course at Harvard in the late 1920's.
The blue triangle indicates this instrument was used in the Physics 3 course at Harvard in the late 1920's.
Signedtop marked: CROMPTON & Co CHELMSFORD
scale marked: STANLEY LONDON
Inscribed
Curatorial RemarksWas first incorrectly catalogued as 1997-1-0224, so slide shows it with that number.
FunctionA potentiometer is an instrument for measuring the potential (voltage) in a circuit against a standard cell. 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.
For more information on the Crompton-type potentiometer, go to the following website.
This information, and more, can be found on the following website.
For more information on the Crompton-type potentiometer, go to the following website.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Physics, Harvard University.
Leeds & Northrup Company
Date: circa 1926
Accessories: cover; instruction sheets inside of cover (2)
Object number: 1997-1-0205
Leeds & Northrup Company
Date: circa 1932
Accessories: mahogany cover
Object number: 1997-1-0200
Nalder Brothers & Company
Date: 1900-1910
Object number: 0229a,b,c,d
American
Date: circa 1916
Accessories: extra binding posts (2)
Object number: 0141
American
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: 0155a,b,c,d
