power regulator
Date1965-1970
Inventory Number2006-1-0094
ClassificationPower Supply
Subject
Maker
Damon Engineering, Inc.
fl. 1962 - 1972
Seller
Holt, Rinehart & Winston Inc
1960 - 1985
Associate Name
Harvard Project Physics
1962-1972
User
Harvard College
founded 1636
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions4.8 × 6.8 × 7 cm (1 7/8 × 2 11/16 × 2 3/4 in.)
Material
DescriptionPower regulator in small blue housing made of aluminum. With original shipping box and instruction sheet.
The instruction sheet reads: "The power regulator, a compact, lightweight unit of modern design, is used in conjunction with already exisiting D.C. Power Supply (or batteries) whenever it is desired to reduce the output voltage of the Power Supply without affecting its regulation."
The instruction sheet reads: "The power regulator, a compact, lightweight unit of modern design, is used in conjunction with already exisiting D.C. Power Supply (or batteries) whenever it is desired to reduce the output voltage of the Power Supply without affecting its regulation."
Signedon top: [crossed-ovals logo] DAMON
on shipping carton label: Manufactured by / [crossed-ovals logo] DAMON/EDUCATIONAL DIVISION / for / HOLT, RINEHART & WINTON INC.
on side of shipping carton: [crossed-ovals logo] DAMON / WESTWOOD, MASS.
Inscribedon top of instrument and box: Power Regulator
on green label tape: SCI CEN NS-7
ProvenanceScience Center Undergraduate Physics Lab, Harvard University
Historical AttributesThis apparatus was designed to be used with Project Physics, a national physics curriculum developed in the 1960s. Project Physics materials included teaching aids, apparatus for student experiments, and books.
The Project Physics Course grew out of a Harvard University initiative to teach all students physics, not just those who would go on to careers in science. The course aimed to be a "humanistically oriented" introduction to "science at its best."
Damon Engineering produced and marketed a set of Project Physics laboratory equipment in coordination with the curricular work of Harvard physics professor Gerald Holton, California high school science teacher F. James Rutherford, and Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Fletcher G. Watson.
This instrument is marked "NS-7." This refers to a General Education (Gen Ed) course, Natural Sciences 7, which was colloquially known as Nat Sci 7. Nat Sci 7 was a physics course for non-scientists first taught by Gerald Holton in 1966. It was part of the newly established General Education curriculum at Harvard. Holton was vice-chairman of the Faculty Committee on General Education and Holton designed Nat 7 as a model course to "make science irresistible" and improve the public image of physics.
Damon Engineering, Inc.
Date: 1962-1972
Object number: 2006-1-0084
Perkin-Elmer Company
Date: circa 1964
Accessories: gas laser (1992-1-0002a)
Object number: 1992-1-0002b
Damon Engineering, Inc.
Date: 1962-1972
Object number: 2006-1-0082
Harrison Laboratories Inc.
Date: mid 20th-late 20th Century
Accessories: Red and black patch cords, still plugged into front of unit.
Object number: 2004-1-0416
Dormitzer Electric and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Date: 1940-1950
Accessories: strobe light unit with cord (1995-1-0014a); battery charger with cord (1995-1-0014b); AC accessory unit (1995-1-0014c); instruction manual [removed to file folder] (1995-1-0014d)
Object number: 1995-1-0014
