wavemeter
Date1915-1918
Inventory Number2012-1-0034
ClassificationWave Meter
Subject
Maker
General Radio Company
1915-present
Associate Name
Rawson Electrical Instrument Company
1918 - 1968
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions17 × 21 × 14 cm (6 11/16 × 8 1/4 × 5 1/2 in.)
Material
Accessoriesloose calendar page with circuit diagram
DescriptionRectangular wooden case with hinged lid.
Black top panel contains a General Radio hot wire galvanometer with circular window. Arched meter with arrow-shaped needle, meter range 0-100.
Smaller circular window under the meter shows part of the scale from a disk behind the top panel which is turned with the lever described below. The range of this scale is 180-580 and the numbers appear vertical.
3 metal binding posts. Top pair labeled "TEL." bottom post labeled "BUZ".
Brass lever with insulating handle can turn the bottom half of a circle.
In the box there is a loose calendar page with a circuit diagram drawn with a pencil on the back. It is uncertain whether the diagram is related to this device or not.
Black top panel contains a General Radio hot wire galvanometer with circular window. Arched meter with arrow-shaped needle, meter range 0-100.
Smaller circular window under the meter shows part of the scale from a disk behind the top panel which is turned with the lever described below. The range of this scale is 180-580 and the numbers appear vertical.
3 metal binding posts. Top pair labeled "TEL." bottom post labeled "BUZ".
Brass lever with insulating handle can turn the bottom half of a circle.
In the box there is a loose calendar page with a circuit diagram drawn with a pencil on the back. It is uncertain whether the diagram is related to this device or not.
Signedetched and white filled on top panel: H.E. RAWSON / WAVEMETER / TYPE 145 SERIAL No. 108 / GENERAL RADIO CO. / CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
on face of meter: HOT WIRE GALVANOMETER / MODEL 127 NO. 549 / GENERAL RADIO CO. / CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
Curatorial RemarksThis appears to be a wavemeter designed/invented by H.E. Rawson while he was still working at the General Radio Company in 1916. It was presented at a meeting held at the Cruft Laboratory, Harvard in October 28, 1915. This particular instrument is Serial No. 100 so probably made 1915-1918.
FunctionWavemeters can be used to check the wavelength of a strong signal source. It can also check the output of a transmitter for harmonics.
The output of this instrument is an electric current, which is read using a galvanometer, which is included.
The output of this instrument is an electric current, which is read using a galvanometer, which is included.
General Radio Company
Date: 1920-1935
Accessories: key tied to handle
Object number: RS0229
General Radio Company
Date: 1920-1935
Accessories: key tied to handle
Object number: RS0235
Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory
Date: 1947-2002
Object number: 2003-1-0291
General Radio Company
Date: early 20th Century
Accessories: diagrams (3)
Object number: RS0251
George Washington Pierce
Date: ca. 1924-1926
Object number: RS1441
Panelvision Corporation
Date: 1984
Accessories: single-board display controller
cable for display (1997-1-0686c)
shipping ticket/ hand carry pass dated June 11, 1997 (in instrument file)
letter to Dr. Richard V. Kollarits from William Andrewes dated June 16, 1997 regarding donation of MiniGraphic display and letter to William Andrewes from Dr. Richard V. Kollarits that accompanied the object upon donation on June 11, 1997 (in instrument file)
four sample color prints made with this display on micro-encapsulated photographic paper. 1. man in business suit, 2. woman crouching next to lawn ornament, 3. two clowns painting a third's face, 4. woman in winter hat and scarf (in instrument file)
copies of two articles by AT&T Bell Laboratories staff (Richard V. Kollarits, William, H. Ninke, David C. Gibbon) on color imaging and printing (in instrument file)
Panelvision pamphlet introducing the MiniGraphic multipurpose flat panel display, including instrument specifications, consumer prices, functioning and features (in instrument file)
1984 article by Panelvision employees (Peter Brody Fang-Chen Luo, Paul Malmberg) on active matrix technology (in instrument file)
Panelvision Corporation Fact Sheet, including details of company history and recent developments (in instrument file)
article about commercial debut of active matrix technology from Design Engineering newspaper, June 18, 1984 (in instrument file)
full circuit diagram and schematic for MiniGraphic Display Controller (in instrument file)
instruction manual and description of MiniGraphic Display Controller (two copies, in instrument file)
circuit diagrams and instruction manuals for the MiniGraphic Display (two booklets, in instrument file)
Object number: 1997-1-0686a
General Radio Company
Date: circa 1926
Accessories: 3 batteries (removed during FAE inventory).
Object number: RS0205