heliostat
Date1880-1895
Inventory Number1996-1-0536
ClassificationHeliostat
Subject
Maker
Edward Kübel
1820 - 1896
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsbox: 29.5 x 26 x 21 cm (11 5/8 x 10 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.)
Material
Accessoriesrods (3); pendulum bob; quadrant; wooden box
DescriptionThe instrument consists of a silvered circular mirror that can be adjusted (in height and inclination) to reflect sunlight to a desired location. The polar axis can be tilted to the latitude of the place where the instrument is used, from 25 to 50 degrees divided in single degrees. The hour dial is divided in 10 minutes of time. The clockwork mechanism is encased in a cylindrical drum. The base is equipped with leveling screws. There are also other rods and a larger quadrant that complements the instrument. It is stored in a wooden box.
Signedon hour dial: EDWARD KÜBEL / MATH. INST. MAKER / WASHINGTON, D. C.
FunctionThe heliostat is designed to reflect a beam of sunlight in a fixed direction, and uses a clockwork driven mirror to counteract the apparent motion of the sun through the sky. The resulting steady beam of sunlight would often be projected into a laboratory for experiments requiring intense light, physical optics studies, microscopy, analysis of the solar spectrum, etc.
ProvenanceWas part of the Ernst-Lewis microscope collection donated by the Harvard Medical School.
Louis Jules Duboscq
Date: 1850-1880
Accessories: RAPPORT FAIT A L'ACADEMIE ROYAL SCIENCES SUR UN NOUVEL HELIOSTAT, Presente par M. SILBERMAN aine. (in instrument file folder)
Object number: 2000
Adam Prazmowski
Date: circa 1877
Accessories: carrying case; winding key; instruction sheets
Object number: 1997-1-1701
R. & J. Beck
Date: 1876
Accessories: oculars (2) in microscope; Darker's selenite retarding filters (3); wheel diaphragm; mechanical rotary stage; stage slider. Other accessories are in the case (1122b), including monocular draw tube; oculars (3); objectives in cans (5); empty can; Lieberkühn; polarizing set; slides; camera lucidas (2); etc.; plus a Beck patent substage condenser (1122c); and apertometer (1122d).
Object number: 1122a
John A. Brashear
Date: 1905-1915
Object number: 1997-1-0019
Alexander Megarey
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: cover plate for compass dial; plumb bob; ball and socket tripod (2005-1-0002), carrying case
Object number: 5199
