on-off module
Datecirca 1950
Inventory NumberWJ0974
ClassificationSwitch
Subject
Maker
B. F. Skinner
1904 - 1990
Maker
Department of Psychology, Harvard University
founded 1934
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions18.7 × 6.4 × 5.1 cm (7 3/8 × 2 1/2 × 2 in.)
Material
DescriptionThis is a shopbuilt switch, and is currently mounted in an instrument rack (WJ1011).
A metal toggle switch is mounted below a red light in a black panel. To its left and right are painted in red letters the words "ON" and "OFF." Below it is a piece of paper taped to the panel. In ink, someone has written "DO NOT TURN OFF." The words are crossed out.
Above this are two fuses, one marked in red paint "AC" and the other "DC."
A metal toggle switch is mounted below a red light in a black panel. To its left and right are painted in red letters the words "ON" and "OFF." Below it is a piece of paper taped to the panel. In ink, someone has written "DO NOT TURN OFF." The words are crossed out.
Above this are two fuses, one marked in red paint "AC" and the other "DC."
Signedunsigned
Curatorial RemarksOriginally mounted in a tabletop instrument rack (WJ1005) dating from the early 1950s as part of a B. F. Skinner exhibition in the basement of William James Hall. In 2016, it was removed and remounted onto a larger freestanding instrument rack (WJ1011) for use in a newer exhibition on B. F. Skinner in William James Hall (ninth floor).
FunctionThis module is an on-off swtich. It switched on the power supply that provided provided 28 volt DC current to the power bars on the instrument rack, thereby powering all the deviced mounted onto the rack..
Historical AttributesUsed in B. F. Skinner's laboratory in the basement of Memorial Hall at Harvard University as part of his experiments on operant conditioning and behavioral psychology. This was part of Skinner's second experimental setup.
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: RS0505
B. F. Skinner
Date: 1960-1965
Object number: WJ0962a
Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory
Date: 1947-2002
Object number: 2003-1-0291