Wundt's large control hammer
Datecirca 1892
Inventory NumberWJ0045
ClassificationControl Hammer
Subject
Maker
Carl Krille
User
Hugo Münsterberg
1863 - 1916
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions45.5 x 84 x 21 cm (17 15/16 x 33 1/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
cylindrical weight on hammer arm: 5 cm (1 15/16 in.)
cylindrical weight on hammer arm: 5 cm (1 15/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionAn intrincate brass mechanism resting on a wooden base.
"The control hammer apparatus consists of a bent lever whose arm is heavily weighted and turns about a horizontal axis. As the hammer-head descends, a cross bar on the shank makes or breaks the electrical contacts. An electromagnet releases the hammer and it falls past one electrical contact which opens the circuit to the Hipp Chronoscope, engaging its clutch and starting it measuring time. When the hammer falls past a second electrical contact, the circuit is closed, which makes the clutch on the Hipp Chronoscope disengaged and as a result stops its dial from moving."
Taken from Wundt's Laboratory webpage, Northern Illinois University, online
here.
"The control hammer apparatus consists of a bent lever whose arm is heavily weighted and turns about a horizontal axis. As the hammer-head descends, a cross bar on the shank makes or breaks the electrical contacts. An electromagnet releases the hammer and it falls past one electrical contact which opens the circuit to the Hipp Chronoscope, engaging its clutch and starting it measuring time. When the hammer falls past a second electrical contact, the circuit is closed, which makes the clutch on the Hipp Chronoscope disengaged and as a result stops its dial from moving."
Taken from Wundt's Laboratory webpage, Northern Illinois University, online
here.
Signedstamped on steel rod: C. KRILLE / LEIPZIG.
Function"The device was invented to calibrate the Hipp Chronoscope along with the Gravity Chronometer and the Pendulum Chronometer. It was designed to produce an absolutely accurate interval of time between opening its electrical contacts and closing them."
"The control hammer is supposed to provide an absolutely reliable time interval which could be used to calibrate and check on the operation of the Hipp Chronoscope. The control time is varied by shifting the counterweight on the short arm of the lever."
"Unfortunately, the control hammer itself needed to be calibrated. In order to know exactly how long the constant interval provided by the control hammer was, chronograph that accurately measures extremely small time intervals was needed."
First designed and used by Wilhelm Wundt.
Taken from Wundt's Laboratory webpage, Northern Illinois University, online
here.
"The control hammer is supposed to provide an absolutely reliable time interval which could be used to calibrate and check on the operation of the Hipp Chronoscope. The control time is varied by shifting the counterweight on the short arm of the lever."
"Unfortunately, the control hammer itself needed to be calibrated. In order to know exactly how long the constant interval provided by the control hammer was, chronograph that accurately measures extremely small time intervals was needed."
First designed and used by Wilhelm Wundt.
Taken from Wundt's Laboratory webpage, Northern Illinois University, online
here.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Psychology, Harvard University.
Historical AttributesThis instrument is found in Hugo Münsterberg's 1893 <i>Psychological Laboratory of Harvard University</i> document. It is thus listed: "126. Control hammer for Hipp's chronoscope. After Wundt, by Krille, Leipzig. $60."
See online reproduction <a href="http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Munster/Lab/" target="_blank">here</a>.
Watkins & Hill
Date: 1830-1850
Accessories: bracket legs (2 pair), removed in 1956 when conserved by staff of Hagley Museum, Wilmington, Delaware, ca. 1956
Object number: 5818
See also/See also
